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=== ()pinion/Letters Page 5, News, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 1992 Making connections at Superior/Baikal NORTHERN INSIGHTS by Larry Sanders Several columns ago, I promised to be in Rossport July 29-31 for the visit of Superior-Baikal Connect--an international team of 16 kayakers who paddled around Lake Baikal in Siberia last summer. This summer, they' re doing the same thing on Lake Superior. This column and the next are dedicated to that immersion experience in international cooperation. The visitors climbed out of two vans marked with Aeroflot in big black letters. The visitors shook hands awkwardly at the roadside with the coals, gathered outside the yellow and green striped tent. The 11 host families from Rossport, Schreiber and Terrace Bay that were billeting the visitors had been arranged in minutes with a few telephone calls, but the many other prepara- tions for the two- and-a-half day stay took four months. The Rossport Fish Derby grounds were prepared for the arrival social and lake trout barbecue. Special tours were arranged for the visitors to see the sites on the Rossport Islands as well on the north shore of Lake Superior. The gala closing evening on the second night of the visit required diplomatic arrange- ments with municipalities, federal and provincial governments in Canada, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa, the news media, and the United States and Russian governments. The event was the biggest thing to happen in Rossport since the glaciers left. The arrival of Superior-Baikal Connect in Rossport was partly international diplomacy, partly a demonstration of ecosystem politics, but mostly a good party for people wanting to reach out and extend a hug of friendship. Mellowed by beer and vodka But it didn't start out that way. When the visitors arrived at the tent, they were somewhat tired form their circumnavigation of Lake Superior by kayak and vans over the previous weeks--from the expedition's arrival in Duluth July 1, followed by the voyage across the U.S. side of the lake, and up the Canadian shore of Lake Superior from Sault Ste. Marie to Rossport. Entering the tent, the two sides met each other like folks who had shown up for a dance, only to discover no one had remembered to bring music. But the atmosphere quickly mellowed as beer and vodka appeared from coolers and greetings began to melt the nervousness--with toasts extended in Russian, German, French and English. By the time the fish were barbecued, dividing lines of language and preconceptions had blurred. Encounters hap- pened all around the tent. Dr. Keith Wilkes from Terrace Bay made an instant connection with his Russian guest, Dr. Andrey Schapov. Huddled together in - one corner of he tent, the two talked at length about the practice of medicine in Siberia and Canada. John Anderson, the head of the U.S. delegation, could be seen in another corner, enthusiastically talking about Lake Superior ecology and how to enhance kayaking 'water trail' development on the lake with Rossport's Senior Statesman, 86-year-old Ray Kenney, who has spent his life trying to help all of us understand that "'we are only caretakers of our natural resources." At another table, the only woman member of the Russian delegation, Irina Darbanova, shared cigarettes and beer with two Canadian women, talking about life in each others' worlds, becoming instant friends. Spread of personal goodwill Alexander Tenyakshev, the head of the Russian delegation, says the interna- tional dialogue during the visit will be followed up with many more exchanges. In hesitant but fluent English, he told me "agreements have been arranged between two universities (one on Lake Baikal and one on Lake Superior), two national parks, and also between colleges and schools." Dr. Schapov says he will be arranging 'many exchanges" between doctors, dentists and physio ther- apists from both continents, starting in 1994. Konstantin Berezovsky, a biologist from Irkutsk, is studying how to make better use of toxic tailings ponds by developing plants that can grow on the sites and still be used as animal feed. He also wants to share his knowledge and learn from North American pollution clean-up efforts through "exchanges of research scientists." But apart form all the international learning exchanges, the vital part of the visit to Rossport was the personal goodwill that developed. By the time the kayakers packed up to paddle off on Lake Superior on the morning of July 31, bear hugs and tears were everywhere. Business cards, buttons, pins and promises to visit each other were exchanged all around. continued on page 8 Pet talk: getting fleas and ticks off your pet by Alice Scott The cool and moist weather has made this summer a particularly bad one for ticks. If your dog or cat has a pesky tick embedded in their skin, here is the correct way to treat and remove the unwanted invader. The male tick is a small and flat insect, just about the size of a match head. A"blood" tick is a female tick that feeds on the animal. She may swell to the size of a pea. When the animal has a few ticks, the easiest thing to do is to remove | them. First, kill the tick by applying alcohol, gin or fingernail polish dipped in a cotton applicator. Do not use anything like a match or gas or you may severely injure your pet. After a few moments grasp the dead tick as close to the skin as possible and apply steady traction until it releases its hold. If the tick's head remains, don't be concerned; it will clear up in a few days. If your dog has several ticks, you will have to resort to a commercial insecticide in the form of a shampoo or dip. These are available from the pet store or veterinarian. Remember to wash all bedding that the animal has used since you dis- covered the tick. And also remember to use caution when using any insecti- cide on your pet. In comparison to ticks, fleas are harder to remove from your pet and house. The flea is a small, dark brown insect which can be seen by the naked eye. They jump great distances and move very rapidly. Fleas require a warm and humid environment to survive. Even more disturbing, they mate and lay eggs on animals. but spend most of their life off of your pet. If you discover fleas on your dog or cat, you must treat the animal as well as your house. Be sure to purchase a good flea shampoo from the vet. Bathe your pet thoroughly in the flea shampoo, and then repeat the pro- cess again a week later. Vacuum your house and throw away the vacuum bag because fleas can hatch inside the bag. Spray your baseboards, carpets and furniture with a commercial insecti- cide, and repeat the process one week later. Once again, remember to use caution when using insecticides. Do not shampoo your pet and spray at the same time. Some pets are allergic to fleas. If this is the case with your cat or dog, seek veterinary advice at once. Summer's a very good time for your family to adopt a pet Many animal shelters and pounds in Ontario are full of adoptable dogs and cats. And while the summer months often see an increase in the num- ber of animals available for adoption, this summer appears to be worse than usual. The unusually large number of animals needing homes means that many of them will have to killed. In 1991, more than 120,000 (a con- servative estimate) dogs and cats were destroyed in animal shelters and pounds in Ontario. This means that an average of more than 325 pets are killed in Ontario each and every day in these institutions. The vast majority of these animals are adoptable. The reason that they have to be killed is simply one of supply and demand. The supply of acoptable dogs and cats is far greater than the demand from responsible people who are seeking to provide a pet with a good, caring home. The end result is that thousands of animals, through no fault of their own, must be killed. Is there a solution? Sure there is. A major contributor of unwanted ani- -mals is the irresponsible pet owner who allows his or her pet to have a litter of puppies or kittens. With exceptions made for animals bred for show by responsible breeders, or upon recommendation of a veterinarian, all dogs and cats should be neutered (castrated, males; spayed, female). There are numerous animal shelters and pounds province-wide that are currently experiencing crowded conditions. While the summer is often a slow time for adopting pets,.this summer has been particularly bad for sev- eral shelters and pounds. The recession is partly to blame. More people cannot afford to feed and care for their pets, so they take them to their local animal shelter or pound. The summer is often looked upon by many people as a bad time to adopt a pet. Many people feels that they are busy enough with their vacations and summer activities. On the contrary, this is a good time to welcome a pet into the family. Allocating a portion of your holidays to spend time with your new four-legged family member will help ensure a smooth transition.