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At the Kennel Inn on Yonge Street in Aurora, it is raining cats and cats. Little furballs with names such as Smokey, Bo, Copper and Dizzy are awaiting adop- tion, as are many more of their fellow felines. At the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter, some 300 eats were waiting for a home early last month. It is sad to see, after all the years of public education on the importance of spaying or neutering pets, the number of unwanted cats and dogs ending up in animal shelters in York Region. “It’s at a crisis level," said Kristin Wil- liams, spokesperson for the Ontario SPCA, whose provincial oflice is steps from the society's York Region shel- ter on Woodbine Avenue near Vivian Road. “People know about spaying and neutering. but it’s not translating." Game show host Bob Barker used to end the Price is Right with the words, “Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered". But Bob’s no longer on the air and maybe not that many of us were really listening. How could we be if we are seeing this explosion in the number of cats without a home? We cannot all adopt a pet, but cer- tainly those of us who are pet owners can adopt a new attitude when it comes to cats. Many of us seem to think cats should be able to roam free. This just leads to unwanted kittens being born in the spring, cats with no identifica- tion ending up at shelters and even worse, cats been killed by cars or other animals. Whether through incentives or bylaws, it may be time to force cat own- ers to spay and neuter their animals, properly microchip and collar them, and keep them close to home â€"- or bet- ter yet, in their homes. if left to their own devices, cats will keep breeding, by the thousqnds. As for those wanting to adopt a pet, some people are turned off by the roughly $125 charge to adopt a cat, or up to $200 for a dog, by local shelters. Keep in mind, these pets have been fed and sheltered, spayed or neutered, have been given their first shots and have been dewormed â€" all things you would have to pay for if you got a kitten from a neighbour whose unfixed cat had given birth. If you can’t adopt, consider a donaâ€" tion or giving time to a shelter to help them keep these pets alive until they find a home. lETTERS POLICY The Sun-Nbune welcomes your letters. All submissions must be less than 400 words and must Include a daydme telephone number. name and address. The Sunfmbune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to cdlt for clarlty and space. Lotion to lilo Edllor. The Sun-“loom 6290 m St m, 094 L“ 007 Scratching heads over cat crisis Stoujfville Sun-Tribune I Thursday, July 24, 2008 lmuonflrmpcom Editorial Immcrmz MEDIA Marketing I: Advetflslng Dawna Andrews dandmmfl'ynngmm EnmomAL Editor Iim Mason immn®ynngrom i am referring to the excellent upgrade Stouffville Fine Furniture at 6327 Main St. did to improve the appearance of the downtown core. - .Not only has the storefront been improved immensely, but the entrance is accessible for peo- ple with disabilities; a cause I will always advo- cate. I think, if the aforementioned business orgaâ€" nizations are sincere about revitalizing the down- town core, it is time for them to stop wringing their hands. Instead of waiting for the town to do something, they should both take a page out of Stouffville Fine Furniture’s book and get started. Re: Fireworks in Stoufli/ille safe, regulated, childfriendly, letter to the editor by Mario Vella, July 12. It's a dangerous world out there, in and out of fireworks factories ‘Mr. Vella should be applauded for striving to make ethical purchases. EXCUSE us, -â€"I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL 20” FOR MY GROCERIES! Classified Manager Bonnie Rondeau bmndeaufiyrmgrom Retail Manager Stacey Allen Anvmmsmc SW‘i-fi'ibune PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot 6290 Main St. Stoufiville, ON. MA 167 www.yoMegion.oom Letters to the Editor WILF MORLEY ‘ STO UFFVILLE Pnonucnon Team Leader Children and fireworks is a combination that needs great care. Fireworks are fun, but they are not toys. As for “automated factories” .. let us not live in a fantasy safety world about people who make and use explosives. lust Google “fireworks plant explodes". But, interestingly enough, it might be safer to work in an explosives factory in China than to be a coal miner in Cape Breton. In China, you have a chance; but Canadian government health studies show the mine will always get you. Be.careful out there; living is dangerous to your health. 72) read additional letters to the editor, editoriaLs and columns, go to yorktegion.com b What do you think of these issues or others? E-mail letters to the editor to jmason@yrmg.com HAVE YOUR SAY, WHITCHUHBH-STDUFFVILLE Arr" la Afi'tfi'fl. Busmnss MANAGER Robert Lazurko Emma IN Cum! Debora Kelty Classified Fax Fax DISTRIBUTION 905-640-2612 ADVERTISING 905-640-2612 icd: 1-800-743-3353 1x: 905-640‘8778 905-640-2612 x: 905-640-8778 EDI TORIAI. INTERACTIVE MEDIA a Wewcv Iohn Futhey RON BOYD STOUFFV I LLE A York Region Media Group community newspaper The Sun-Tribune. published every Thursday and Saturday. is a division of the Metroiand Media Group Ltd‘, a wholly-owned subsidiary oiTorstar Corporation. Metroiand is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Newspaper Group includesThe Liberal. sewing Richmond Hill and Thomhiii. Vaughan Citizen, The Eraâ€"Banner (Newmarket/ Aurora). Markham Economist Sun, Georgina Advocatevorir Region Business Times. North of the City, yorkregioncom and York Region Printing. Dmncmn, Cmcuunou SYSTEMS Lynn Pashko DimmADvumsmG You REGION PRINTING a. Dnmmunou 01mm MANAGER Ban}, Black Bob Dean Ever been to the Whitchurch- Stouffville Museum? Gone horseback riding in your home town? Riadeh the York-Durham Heritage Railway to Uxbridge? Even with soaring fuel prices, you and your neighbours will spend thou- sands this year to see the world_._ ‘ Go ahead and gawk at the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. Wander past the ruins of ancient Rome, the Holy Land or Ground Zero. There's nothing wrong with that. The number of folks able to travel, and even work, far abroad continues to grow. Heck, as a child of the 19605, 1 can recall when it was a big deal for some- one to be flying across the continent. Dressed in their Sunday best, they were shown off at the airport by every living relative from a 20-kilometre span. Now, folks wear ultra casual clothing as they board big jets as if they were get- ting on a G0 bus. But, in all of this desire to conquer more and more of this planet, we miss many gems in our own little world. We can hit a few buckets of golf balls and grab an ice cream at one of the premier mini golf facilities in the GTA. Timber CreekGolf. Ma§be $1.30 litres of unleaded will make us think smaller. Or embrace your community’s heri- tage at the aforementioned museum in Vandorf. Ever been to the Woodbine Avenue hamlet? More? There’s fishing from shore at Burd’s Family Fishing. Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area is home to a driving range of its own, plus the Community Safety Village, 11 km of walking trails and more than 50 species of birds. You can do your own mini Vintners tour and visit Willow Springs Winery on Bethesda Road and Applewood Farm and Wmery on McGowan Road. Want more area ideas? Go to york tourismcom And get out there. Iim Mason is editor of The Sun Tribune. Ever play tourist right in your own back yard? SEW-Tribune with Iim Mason Off The Top