Watch out for pets
By: Jan Countryman 03/01/2012
I am the Chair of the LBNA Crime and Safety Committee and a resident of Camden for 35 years. My husband and I live on Dupont Ave. N. We have a stop sign on each end of our block, yet some drivers speed past as if it’s a thoroughfare.
I write with a heavy heart after finding our three year old cat lying dead in the middle of the street on a recent Sunday morning. To some people who didn’t know him, Ralph was just a cat. We took him in after he was discarded by a neighbor. Winter was approaching and he needed food and shelter. This was in 2010. Since he had been on his own that prior summer, he became friends with residents of the block who gave him a handout. He loved people and life. My husband and Ralph went for two walks a day. Weather and time of day were never an excuse. He was a neighborhood novelty. Often people stopped to give them the right of way, inquire about him or just to give a nod and a smile.
We made sure he received the proper care from the local vet. He was licensed, had a chip and wore an identification tag. He loved his freedom and we just couldn’t keep him confined to the house. He was hit sometime after midnight on Saturday, January 27. Next time you’re tempted to speed, slow down and remember Ralph. Please respect our neighborhoods, residents and pets who deserve a safe and quiet place to live.
Jan Countryman,
Lind Bohanon