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Animal control officer Charlie Meek was disturbed by what he found in front of the Thornhill
Animal Shelter last Thursday morning... eigitt abandoned puppies. It's a crime in more ways than —

one.

Fall Fair stalls entertain, intrigue

by Nancy Orr

Hours of skillful’ work went
into the goods on display at the
three stalls outside the Thornhill
Community Hall at the Fall
Fair. oe

The bright colours and large
novelties in the first stall. at-
tracted the customers to ‘‘The
Clown Stall” as one little person
called it — certainly the clowns
were very busy entertaining
everyone in that area,

Balloons squeezed into weird
shapes, young faces painted and
novelties of all kinds gave enjoy-
ment to young and old. Tables
were set up for customers; the
bands played in the background;
the traditional hot dogs and
hamburgers were being sold
from the kitchen of the Com-
munity Centre, It was a good
place to pause in the sunshine
and. rest your feet for a short

while.

In another stall, ‘‘The Chief’s
Bonnet’’, Moses Robert Stewart
and his wife Barbara of Usk
displayed the products of their
craftsmanship. Jewellry, bead
work, rawhide clothing and
footwear, cleverly designed and
executed, drew admiring buyers.

“Tl was born in Prince
Rupert,’ said Robert. ‘‘My
parents were Tsimsian and
Nisga’a, and from them I
learned my craft. But later we
travelled across Canada and
learned more about leather
work. Now we are back home
and have settled in Usk. We send
our work out for display in craft

fairs and at stores such as the

Northern Light Studio on Halli-

well on the bench, and we take
orders — we love to make in-
dividual orders.”’

4

Third in the line of stalls were

Raymond and Michelle Rank’

from Rosswood, Again, their
handcrafted and designed work
showed their skill and hours of
patient work.

Raymond and Michelle settled
in Rosswood about two years
ago, and feel they have finally
found their home.

‘“‘We travelled to many
places,’’ said Michelle. ‘‘In
America and Canada, we've liv-
ed in Quebec and Oregon — we
actually met in Alaska — but
none have the attraction for us
as Rosswood.”’

They, too, hope to sell their
wares at more craft shows and
from their home in Rosswood,
but so far have not got a phone.
“But if anyone wants a beautiful
drive, we are two miles past the
Rosswood store on the left-hand
side,”’ said Raymond,

by Betty Barton

The Terrace Art Association is
holding its Annual General Meet-
ing Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Terrace Public Ari Gallery. This
will be an especially important

‘meeting which could decide the

fate of the Art Association.

With a long-standing and dedi-
cated executive who are feeling
the need for some new blood and
new ideas, most of the positions
will be up for grabs. If a new
executive is not found, this could

- be the end of the Terrace Art

Association and the Terrace Pub-

’ lic Art Gallery.

The Association has been active
‘in Terrace for years. During that
time, they have organized and
sponsored spring and fall arts and
crafis shows for area artists to
display and sell their works.
These semi-annual gatherings of
special works of art have allowed
local residents the opportunity to

view and buy the best arts and
crafts the Northwest has to offer.
The Terrace Art Association has
operated the Terrace Public Art
Gallery (situated below the Ter-
race Public Library) for many
years. During that time, the Art
Gallery has held regular art
exhibits by local and area artisis
of all ages. They have operated
almost exclusively with donations
and the time and creative
energies of dedicated volunteers.
Anyone interested in the con-
tinued existence of the Terrace
Art Association, and all local
residents who feel the Terrace
Art Gallery is an important part
of Terrace’s cultural life are
urged to come out and support
the Terrace Art Association on
September 17 - to ensure the

continuation of a fine art gallery
with exceptional exhibits and the
co-ordination of other arts acti-
vities in Terrace.

Pups’ doom averted by
compassionate public

Animal control officer Charlie
Meek was disturbed by what he
found in front of the Thornhill
Animal Shelter last Thursday mor-
ning. At about 8:30 a.m. he
stopped to check the shelter and
found eight, five- to six-week-old
german shepherd-labrador cross-
breed puppies that had been aban-

doned at the front door. They had.

been left in two open cardboard
boxes with no food, water or pro-
tection.

The person who left the puppies
their might be relieved to know
that the Thornhill Animal Shelter
has done a great job: they've
found homes for all eight puppies.
That same individual, however,
should be distressed with the fact
that abandoning animals in that
manner is a criminal offence and
Meck is looking for anyone who
might help to identify them.

Under Section 446(1)(c) of the
Criminal Code, anyone who aban-
dons an animal or fails to provide
“suitable and adequate food, water,
shelter and care" is guilty of an
offence on summary conviction.
And anyone convicted on summary
conviction is liable to a fine of not
more than $2,000 or up to six
months imprisonment... or possibly
both.

In this instance the story has a
happy ending — all the puppies

found homes before Monday, when
they were scheduled to be
destroyed — but that doesn’t jus-
tify the owner’s actions, says
Meek, "The owner is obviously an
extremely irresponsible person," he
said Thursday moming, noting that
the owner could have brought the
puppies in during business hours
and made proper arrangements for
their disposal. True, it would have
cost the owner $10 for cach pet,

but that’s not a fine or penalty, the
$10 only represents the pet owners
share of the responsibility for
feeding and caring for the animal
while it’s a guest of the shelter.

The positive side of this story,
though, is that the community
obviously cares. Meck says the
response to their dilemma was
almost overwhelming. The puppies
were adopted by several Terrace
area residents as well as a few
from as far away as Kitimat and
Telegraph Creek. The last of the
eight was adopted at 5:10 p.m.
Saturday night.

And Meek has a very special
thank you for one conscientious
pet owner in the area, He says that
a Terrace area dog owner with a
female and one pup offered the
feeding services of her pet if any
of the puppies were to be kept
over the weekend.

Art Association, gallery in jeopardy —

ie ato