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Ginger, our 30-pound, 15-year-old cat never really did much in the way of activities. Mostly just eat and lay on the porch. For 11 years she laid in her favorite cat bed on the porch, just looking around, getting fresh air. But last Friday, while laying in her favorite spot, she was attacked by two dogs, dragged off the porch and killed in her yard. She was 15 years old and arthritic, missing all but one or two of her teeth.

Fifteen years is a long time. Ginger was there in the happy times of my mother’s marriage; she was there when my father died to comfort my mother; Ginger made the move from Ephrata to Grand Coulee with my mom, like an anchor, and was there when my nephew was born nine years ago. My nephew grew up with her and called her his “babygirl.” Even though she wasn’t very playful, she had a way of communicating with her eyes that we all could understand. She was part of the family, a very important part that was with us the last 15 years. It was devastating to see her killed before her time, and so suddenly, it broke the hearts of my mother, 9-year-old nephew and myself, who witnessed the dogs attack and had to fight them off — too late, unfortunately.

I have never seen my nephew cry so hard, and get so angry at the same time. He is only 9 years old; I’m sure it is not so easy for him to suddenly lose one of his best friends. As he was crying, he told me he never even got to say “good bye.” And have you ever seen your mother cry from a broken heart? I hope you never do, because it is heart breaking. If you have ever lost someone you love, you know how empty the house feels … your eyes rove to the spot you used to see them sit or lay, and it is vacant. And how can you replace a friend you have known and grown up with and shared memories with for 15 years. Think about it; a lot happens in 15 years, think back on your own life.

So, of course, we involved the police and were informed that these particular dogs have had similar instances involving other people, and the police officer even thought that perhaps I had been bitten while trying to save my friend.

The officer informed us that the dog owner would most likely be issued a fine, but if you have ever had a broken heart or lost someone you love, you know money is no comfort, and my family would gladly pay multiple times the fine if it had never happened and we had our loved one back, something that can never happen.

My question is, how many people have to suffer as we have before something is done about dog owners who can’t control their dogs? Putting the dogs down won’t solve the issue, the owners must learn that they are responsible and hopefully they can feel the pain and suffering they have caused in other people’s lives by not being able to take responsibility for their own pets. And if they can’t, maybe the city needs to step up and make tighter laws so that this doesn’t happen to you or the people that you love.

Jay Kemble

Elizabeth Palachuk

Grand Coulee