Cruel, Gruel North —

By I.D.H. - Watson Lake

It seems that when it's vacation time,
there's something about the north th-.-
at draws tourists like flies to honey.

The Yukon as we all know is proba-
bly one of the most beautiful places
to visit in Jume or July or thereab-
outs. That's when you see cars, ca-
mpers, trucks, etc., piled up around
the local body shop because of the ex-
cess traffic and poor driving habits;
And of course you'll always hear some-
one comment, ''Probably some dumb Yan-
kee who didn't know how to drive."

Well I wonder how many of the to-
urists have ever thought of coming to
the North in the winter months, when
the thermometer is down to rock bot-
tom, like -70°F. That's the time when
you seperate the men from the boys .
and get a true picture of the way
things really are up here.

You'll see wild dogs who haven't
seen a bit of food for weeks, except
what they can scrounge around the lo-
cal dumps or occasional litter barr-
els. They'll be easy to spot by the
ribs that seem to be pushing out th-
rough their sides.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot to men-
tion the horses. These are the anim-
als that will walk or run for you for
as long as you tell them. They'll go
till they drop if you don't tell them
to stop for a rest.

All that need be done to get this
from a horse is; a few oats and a bale
of hay a day. That's a pretty good ex-
change for an animal with that kind of
loyalty.

Yes, you'll see them along the high-
ways in the winter in the same shape
as the starving dogs.

I've heard it said, that if your
horse cant make it through the winter
on his own, he's not much of a horse.

There are a few exceptions, of co-
urse. I know of one outfitter who sp-
ends the entire spring and fall rai-
sing hay for his 35 or 40 head of
pack horses.

Then there's the outfitter I met in
the local grocery store one day. I
asked him if he'd like to buy some
alfalfa pellets this winter for his
horses. He quickly replied,''No!" I-
asked him what he fed his horses, and
he immediately and sternly said, ''Not-
hing!'' I looked at him for a moment
and then he added, "Oh, if you've got
a few ton you don't want, I'll take
them off your hands."

Anybody up north knows alfalfa pel-
lets come from Dawson Creek by truck
at. 11¢ a pound freight charge, so you
never have any you don't want!

In future editions I'll be writing
stories of individual cases such as
I mentioned above and we'll see what
the public thinks of an honest lock
at the North the way things really
are.

I'll tell you about a six-month old
filly that was left on the highway to
die in pain with a broken leg and bad
lacerations on her body, after being
struck by a car.

Any person knowing of any case of
animal abuse, please write to Box 113,
Watson Lake, Y.T.

I.D.H.-Watson Lake

r

Ext prevents not only unwanted preg-

borhood store, Remember, it's called

13

WILDLIFE REPORT

FISH AND. WILDLIFE BRANCH

All eligible Status Indians who wish
to hunt for food must be in possession
of a permit from the Fish § Wildlife
Branch or charges will be laid. These
permits can be obtained from the Con-

‘servation Office in Cassiar, or by lea-

ving their name with the R. oF M.P.. All
Indians who apply must verify their
Status.

All Furs, Hides, Horns and Meat, etc.
that are shipped out of the Province of
B.C. must be accompanied by a Game Ex-
port Permit. Failure to comply may
result in charges being laid under the
Game Export Act.

For your pet...

Designed espécially for those who fe-
el they cannot afford the spaying fee
of their family pet, this device is
not new or revolutionary, but has been
given the test of time.

It can be obtained without a pres-
cription at many local stores.

Many satisfied, responsible pet
owners report that, if properly used,

nancies, but also a host of other ac
quired problems, such as injuries re-
sulting from automobile accidents,
animal fights and damage to their ne-
ighbors private property.

Ask for it by name at your neigh-

a leash.

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