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Jennifer ORMS'IDN REPORTER an. 203 jormstonowaterioochrornceca Peter WINKLER PUBLISHER EDITORIAL Andrea BAILEY EDITOR an. 215 editoriaiiewatertoochrorticteca .owATEtttdN"Mgtotithedrteur, Mum M. 21!)? 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Fax; 5I9~8869383 www‘mmoochmmdcu t6.rtg".w-_ceca FAX 5 11386938‘ HM All Light rapid transit music to region's ears recent decision by the provincial government Ari'iiii, come as music to the ears of motorists in Waterloo Region who are getting used to sitting in gridlock on a daily basis, The government committed about $100 million in its budget for the first phase of a Iight-rapid-transit system that would run through Waterloo and Kitchener. "I was pleased to hear about the Sl00 million for light-rapid transit," said Waterloo regional Coun. lane Mitchell, She attended a public input session on the LRT last week. and found the majority of people who attended the event are in favour of the proposed transit system. And why wouldn't they be? Getting around the reginn seems to he tougher than ever, with short trips turning into seemingly endless journeys, I A Lirr system would certainly address this hassle. as would the funding the provincial government commit- ted m developing a four-lane highway parallel to High- way 7, That would ease "amt congestion on the east side of the region, and provide another accefur point to Highway 401. The prayed also includes another sorely needed bridge over the Grand River. The only drawback to the LRT system raised atthe information session was its cost. But these fears could be allayed. as long as the provin cial and federal governments get behind the project. Plus, a better-system would encourage péople to take public transit. which would not only ease traffic conges- tion, but would also help preserve the environment. Let's hope this profech continues moving down the road it's on. VIEWPOINT It's been an interesting experience to say the least. and I'm happy to report the biting has stopped... I was getting tired of picking fur from my teeth, . However, on the heels of getting little Garth settled, we faced our man quandary: the scare that had all pet owners scrambling for ansyvers and reassurance from their local veterinarians and pet-food retailers. Company should pay the price Rg,t,ar, readers of this COL mn may remember the trials and tribulations I shared two weeks ago on welcoming Garth the cat into my home. Hearing how a number of cats and dogs in Canada and the [LS were being diag- nosed with - and. in some cases. dying from r kidney failure brought on by a toxic ingredient in some pet-food brands was unnerving to say the least. Before adopting Garth, I had talked to bther cat own- ers and asked them what brand of food they recom- mended. I found out that while dry kibble should make up 80 per cent of a cat's diet, a bit of wet food each day keeps the animal's digestive system moist and moving. But, during a visit to the vet a few days later, I found out my choices weren't "the worst choices." but they warm the best either. I chose a couple of hands that I thought would be a healthy choice tbr Garth. _ Shegavemealistofthree brandsshebeiimedtobethe most nutritional for a grow (Ill ing kitty, with her top pick being Eukanuba. produced by Menu Foods _-- the com- pany at the mm of the pet- food scare, I immediately headed to the pet store to buy a few of the brand's we: and dry vari, eties. I had the can in my hand, but for some reason I put it I'm not sure what changed my mind -- whether it was price, ingredi- ents or the colour of the packaging - but I decided to go with the vet's second less than one week later. the list of infected foods -- which included Eukanuba's wet food - was splashed all over the media. Rmunately for Garth and me, the Science Diet food I had purchased didn't make the cut. Apparently the only Sci- ence Diet item that was in himisight. I'm calling it a divine imervention. being recalled as a precaw lion were cans of wet savoury cuts and gravy that were dated a while hetirre the cans I purchased. I also learned that the two brands I'd had him on before talking to the vet were also unaffected try the recall. Asl breathed a sigh of relief and filled Gartlis bowl with his favourite seafpod meal. I couldn't help but feel for fellow pet owners who weren't as lucky with their choices. People like Usa Vergeer of Waterloo who lost her six. year-old friend, oinkers the cat, to severe kidney failure late his! month. Watching ()inkers' health deteriorate. she made the decision all pet owners dread: she decided to have her put down. After the news of the pet food scandal broke last week, she discovered that the kind of food she was feeding Oinkers was on the list of foods that were at risk of contamination, Class-action lawsuits have been launched in Canada and the US, against Menu Foods, alleging the company failed to imple- ment quality assurance pro- cedures and adequately test thcfood before releasing it to thetnaNetplace. I can only imagine her heartbreak. Some may believe such a step is extreme, and that pets aren't worth the legal costs that will be incurred. Those people should stuff it., be6ttingty with a heaping bowl of wet pet food