Home Ownership — A Blessing or a Curse?
There was a time, long ago, when owning a home was a source of pride and interestingly, it was profitable. A family that owned their own home was the envy of the climbers in the ladder of success. Nothing could be more impressing upon a kid growing up in an apartment than to have a friend whose parents owned a home. “Gee, I wish my parents had their own home like my friend Freddie. Those people have so much money, they own a house!” And so it seemed.
Today, it’s a different story, in my opinion. You own a home and you will be hunted down by city taxes, insurance, utilities and the inevitable day when your furnace, roof, sidewalk or basement needs repairs, even replacement. And, don’t forget, you have to get a permit. Check with the city offices to see if you’re allowed to move a finger. God forbid you make repairs without obtaining a permit. I know we need to comply with regulations but there are so many that after a while you’ll begin to wonder, gosh I thought I was king in my home. Not anymore. Big daddy comes first. And what about those restoration companies: the landscapers, the roofers, the plumbers, the electricians. When you own a home , you will find that you have many followers. Everyone seems to be looking to make a buck on you. It’s nice to have a roof over your head but isn’t the aggravation a little overwhelming? Personally, I say it’s gotten out of control. Blessing? Maybe. Curse? Many will say it is.
Eralides E. Cabrera, Esq.
Anti-Tethering and Extreme Temperature Ordinance
This letter was presented to Mayor Henry and the South Amboy City Council on 7/9/15
Dear Mayor Henry and Council,
My name is Amy Dundee and I am a resident of South Amboy. I am writing to ask you and your council to consider imposing an anti-tethering and extreme temperature ordinance. Regulating the tethering of dogs and upgrading care standards will give animal control and law enforcement officers an important opportunity to educate dog owners on proper care, and provide law enforcement with more consistent and enforceable minimum care standards.
A dog on a chain is lonely and isolated and must live in a cruelly confined space, eating, sleeping and eliminating all in one small worn down spot. They are forced to live in a backyard, forgotten, forced to endure the elements, attacks by animals or people, often go unfed and are denied the most basic veterinary care. They frequently die from heatstroke in the summer and freeze to death in the winter.
Statistics show that chained dogs are much more likely to bite than unchained dogs. Chained dogs can become a community danger. Increases in territorial behavior, fearfulness and poor socialization make them more prone to aggression and likely to attack those who enter their space. There are many documented cases of chained dogs biting children or getting loose from their chains to attack passing people and pets.
Furthermore, chained dogs are often a nuisance because they tend to bark incessantly. It brings down the property value and causes stress among the neighbors. It is also well know that dog fighters keep their dogs tethered, often on heavy logging chains, to help spur aggression. Often times, unattended dogs are stolen to be used as “bait dogs.”
The laws in NJ are archaic and provide very minimal provisions for animals. I cannot begin to tell you the countless reports I see on various Facebook pages of dogs chained up or confined to a yard with no water or food and a torn tarp for a shelter, with law enforcement not being able to help because the owner wasn’t breaking any “laws”. It is gut wrenching.
I am not asking that tethering be banned all together, the ordinance can certainly allow for the use of tethers to restrain dogs for brief periods of time ie. getting fresh air, elimination, spending time outdoors with the family. The goal of the ordinance would be to promote responsible, compassionate care. Such regulation will provide a tool to prevent neglect, help in the battle against dog fighting, help make a safer more responsible community and ensure that our pets receive the care they deserve.
I will be dropping off information packets tomorrow 7/10 for your review, it includes information on the topic as well as copies of some of the ordinances already passed in other NJ towns such as Helmetta, Plainfield and Toms River. I would like the opportunity to speak in more detail at the next council meeting on July 15th.
Sincerely, Amy Dundee
Thank you, Perth Amboy
Twice now I’ve experienced devastating hardship while living in Perth Amboy. First when my home had a serious fire in 1976 and last week when I lost my loving wife Betty. Both times the people of Perth Amboy responded with an outpouring of generosity and sincere friendship. I could never consider living anywhere but this unique historic city.
Thomas P. Ward
