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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, February 29, 2012 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Oakville Beaver THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Be safe, have fun Even without the snowstorms and freezing temperatures, winter brings its share of danger. The edges of ponds may appear frozen, but the mild weather hasn't allowed any open waters to freeze solid enough to support anything. A recent near-tragedy north of us on Fairy Lake in Halton Hills, in which a resident and his dog were (thankfully) rescued after falling through the ice, is a reminder to everyone local ponds and waterways aren't safe to walk on. Impress upon children to steer clear of water. All dog owners should remember their pets should always be on a leash when out for a stroll. It's not just a safety issue, but a courtesy to others who either aren't dog fanciers or have restrained dogs of their own. Avoid walking near bodies of water. With the unusually mild winter we've enjoyed, ponds, lakes etc., haven't been able to freeze over. There must be at least 10 cm of clear, good quality ice before you can walk on it. With temperatures well above freezing this week, don't expect to encounter ice. If you do fall into water, you only have about 10 minutes to get out before succumbing to hypothermia. It's not easy. Rule number one is don't panic and control your breathing. Cold shock will cause you to hyperventilate for up to three minutes. Don't try to get out yet. Once your breathing slows down, you can attempt to get out of the water. Get out the way you came in, because it's obvious the ice was strong enough to hold your weight before you fell in. Don't lift yourself up. Place your arms and chest on the ice and kick hard so your body is horizontal, and then just shimmy or roll along the ice. The best advice is to avoid bodies of water. And with spring just around the corner, those same ponds and waterways that were dangerous in winter, will be running high, hard and fast -- and will still be very, very cold. Be safe while you have fun outside. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Help find dog owner The Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) is appealing to the public for help in locating the owner of a young Boxer-type dog that may have been tossed over a fence into a locked play area at a public school in Milton on the evening of Friday, Feb 24. It is also asking for anyone who may have witnessed the dog being left there on one of the coldest nights this winter to come forward with information. The dog was discovered by Halton police patrolling the area. An OMHS officer attended and removed the dog, taking it for immediate veterinary care. The dog was reported in pretty rough shape, but let the officer pick him up, wagging his tail as he shivered. The dog, a young un-neutered male white Boxer-type dog has a very advanced case of Demodex Mange, a parasitic skin condition caused by mites. The dog is missing large patches of fur with sores and thickened reddened skin over most of his body. His right hind leg is also fractured at the hip, leaving him without the ability to bear weight on the leg and in great pain. He is between one and two years of age, and white with a brown right eye and a blue left eye. The dog is now under the care of a local veterinarian and its condition is still being fully assessed. Anyone with information about the dog or the incident should call the OMHS at 905-845-1551, ext 12. All witness information is confidential. Brenda Dushko Media Relations Oakville & Milton Humane Society Rescued dog Calling residents to take action Re: Donors needed, Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012. I want to thank you for your recent editorial on organ donation. As the readers of The Oakville Beaver already know, I have recently undergone a kidney transplant due to the generosity of my husband. (Husband gives wife the ultimate gift, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, The Oakville Beaver). My experience has reminded me not only how lucky I am, but how unfortunate it is for those who do not have the same luck. We need to do something about the rate of organ donation in this country. We may not be able to change the system as a whole, but maybe we could at least make a difference here in Oakville. We should challenge City Council to become the first city council to have every member join the National Registry for Organ Donation. If they are willing, they will inspire numerous Oakville residents to follow suit. I hereby challenge each member of council to sign their donor card, go online and sign the registry and tell your family your wishes. The last full week of April is National Organ Donation Week -- let's make it a special one here in Oakville. Jennifer Malabar, Oakville Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Follow Oakville Beaver staff on Twitter @OakvilleBeaver @NewsHooked @DavidLea6 @DominikKurek @BeaverSports @Halton_Photog