My Account
Defence of cattery
I would like to put in a good word for the Sandspit Road Boarding Cattery. I have known Julia for over 60 years and have always sent our various cats to her cattery when necessary. My son even brings his beautiful Burmese up from Sandringham as the cat is so happy there. Not all cat owners are considerate either. On occasions Julia has had to put herself out to meet their demands – some even expect the cattery to be open on Christmas Day. What has happened is a tragic accident – no cat has escaped from this facility before and I know Julia is devastated. Fortunately, she has received a lot of local support. As for certifying catteries, I think most owners vote with their feet. If a cattery is not up to standard, they will not leave their cat there. I am really sorry about what happened to the lovely cat, but it seems a pity that this unfortunate accident should bring such harsh criticism of the cattery which has served the community so well for the past 15 years.
Gillian Carline, Algies Bay.
Disappointing coverage
It was with great disappointment that I read the front page article regarding the Sandspit Road Boarding Cattery (MM March 4). Until then I thought that the Mahurangi Matters paper was a supporter of local people, businesses and events. Obviously not! If this essential business should close down as a result of your article it will leave a huge gap for Rodney area pet owners, many of whom have left their cats numerous times with utmost confidence regarding their care. I am a cat owner and know from experience that this is a well-run, clean, efficient and, above all, caring environment for the cats. They treat all the animals in their care with respect and affection. Mr and Mrs Fraser are well respected and community minded people and I consider that they have suffered more than enough trauma and stress since this sad and unfortunate incident without a local paper printing this vilifying and biased account.
Billie Hurdley, Warkworth
No favours
I am writing to you regarding the article on the Sandspit Road cattery in which you have victimised the owner to the point of affecting her health. You omitted to mention she has run the cattery for 15 years without incident. It was indeed a tragic accident for everyone which did not need to be sensationalised. I am a cat lover and own a cat, so I do understand. It is a bad example of small town journalism. This article does your publication no favours.
Helen Rattray, Matakana
Editor’s note: To clarify, Mrs Fraser told Mahurangi Matters that she was closing the cattery as a result of the incident and her age. Also, the article did refer to the cattery’s almost unblemished record over the last 15 years. Though Mrs Fraser identified one incident 11 years ago when a cat escaped the isolation area when she was heading out to see her daughter in intensive care.
Global warming hoax
The New Zealand scientist Professor Ralph Cooney calls for more action on climate change (MM March 4). But large numbers of very experienced climate scientists are stating that we are getting too much biased reporting, including calls for action. It is not hard to research information today that calls out these sorts of statements as false and non-scientific, based on emotive and political propaganda. There is an increasing daily diet via our media that gets our daily weather and global warming science confused. Even our children at schools can be getting fear-based, non-science material, Greta style. Serious researched science reveals conclusive evidence that so-called man-made global warming is not settled science at all.
See the Era of Light publication, where over 31,000 scientists say global warming is a hoax. Over 9000 of those signing have PhDs with the consensus that carbon dioxide is essential for the earth for it to survive and has been a lot higher in the past. Recent recorded evidence relating to Australian bush fires, temperature rises, Great Barrier and reef coral health are covered by two Australian scientists who have researched scientific material evidencing the political and media falseness.
Maurice Hooper, Snells Beach (abridged)
Clarification
In a story headlined Camera key to liquor robbery (MM March 4), Mahurangi Matters identified the community groups and businesses that had contributed to the cost of a high-tech surveillance camera in Snells Beach that was instrumental in generating leads in a liquor store robbery. The story neglected to mention that the Algies Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association was a significant contributor towards the cost of the camera. Apologies for the oversight, and a big thanks to Algies Bay Residents and Ratepayers.
