LETTERS

Mountain Lion around Deerfield Park

It is with great dismay that our family learned of a mountain lion in the Rifle area only after two of our cats went missing. Their disappearance spanned the course of a couple of weeks, the last just within the past few days.

After inquiring around Deerfield Park where we reside, we learned that there have been numerous cats disappearing in our immediate area as well as many other areas around Rifle. A call to the Rifle Police Department confirmed that the rumor of a mountain lion being in the area is in fact true. According to the officer, a woman walking her dog reported seeing the mountain lion on the heavily used dirt trail above the bike path in Deerfield Park. This took place a least a couple of weeks ago, yet another red flag was raised when a city of Rifle employee made the discovery of a deer that had been found dead in Centennial Park with its bones nearly picked clean.

I understand that wildlife is a concern where we live and I don't blame the mountain lion for doing what it was born to do. What I don't understand is why haven't the residents of Rifle been notified of this potential danger? The fact that many children, including my own, walk home from Wamsley Elementary via the bike path where so many of the cats have gone missing and in such close proximity of the actual mountain lion sighting, unsettles me.

I feel its the responsibility of city officials to let residents know of such a danger, especially when human lives may be at stake. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but until the mountain lion has been caught and moved to a remote location, it's best that people are informed.

Stephanie Pasternak

Rifle

An apology would be nice

Is there a man or woman in the city of Rifle justice system that is willing to admit they were wrong … and offer an apology for the wrong doing that was bestowed upon me?

Maybe the Rifle police officers, who used poor judgment and no common sense that night and gave me the ticket for “harassment” at my own house — instead of to the guy who showed up at my place drunk and out of control and with an underage girl to drive him because he was too drunk to drive.

Or maybe the Chief of Police, who told me a “thorough and complete investigation” had been completed regarding the police officer's poor judgment and lack of common sense that night, but I was never asked a question or allowed to participate in the investigation.

How about the City Prosecutor, who laughed in my face when I tried to tell him the truth.

Well, maybe it could be the City Manager, whom from the get-go made it clear he just didn't care.

I spoke to each and every one of these public servants, and no one cared about the truth.

It's a sad day when a Rifle citizen has to remind the very people that we count on to serve and protect us, that justice is about the truth. Maybe one day in the future, because of this letter, they will listen to you before they condemn you, flip out their little ticket pad and cause you all these problems.

After 5 months, $2,400 and 5 days of my vacation gone (In a recession, mind you), you owe me something for your ignorance. I called you for help and I got trouble.

In the end, you guessed it, all charges dropped against me, I chose to fight for what was right when I could have just paid a $200 fine and plead guilty and been done with it. Is this the way Rifle increases their revenue?

I will not call the Rifle Police again if I need help. You shouldn't go around frivolously writing tickets when you don't know what else to do.

Dennis Palardy

Rifle

Some people should not own pets

This letter is to the person(s) who so kindly chained your family pet at the Rifle Animal Shelter on Oct. 11, to a fence with no food, water or shelter. With a note “his name is Jake and how he beat up your other pet and bit strange children, but, find him a good home, thanks.” My husband and I happened to be driving by and saw this poor dog just sitting there with his big brown eyes, looking confused and extremely scared, looking around (probably for his family) whom he loved unconditionally.

My husband got him untangled and walked him around so he could relieve himself, now that he had room and could get away from or reach away from the fence. I called dispatch and was dutifully informed that the police were busy and we were last on the totem pole. He was old and far from mean, and the sad thing is, you could have came back three weeks later, and he would still love you not knowing or understanding what a heartless, cowardly, mean, cruel thing you did to him.

After spending an hour we finally put him in the outdoor kennel that cowards like you are too stupid to see, with shelter, water and room to relieve himself and we left. It took an hour for the officer to call and when he did he accused us of being the owners.

To the officer who asked that, good job, at making us feel like it is OK to call when in need but be sure to expect to be blamed first. Like we would have tied him, wrote the note, folded it all up, and then chained him there and called to tell you “hey we are dumping our family pet and we will wait for you to get here.” No kind deed goes unpunished.

Back to the owner, you should be banned from owning pets, bet you sure loved him when he was a cute puppy, now; he's scared to death and wondering why he isn't home with you. When you get a pet you are responsible for feeding it, sheltering it, loving it, and if needed, find him a home. It is so cowardly to just dump him off the way you did. I will sleep better knowing you my friend have to get up each day and look in the mirror and wonder “how's Jake” or “what a cruel mean thing I did” for the rest of your life, and, to anyone reading this, thank you for loving your pets and taking care of them and to those who pay for idiots like this to dump their unwanted pet in the worst possible way you all deserve a big thank you from animal lovers like us. We would never do such a cowardly thing!!! Sleep well whoever you are we will just call you “Jake's” family, the ones who dumped a sweet old dog and didn't look back!

Shawn and Chamaigne Wade

Rifle