Rise and shine
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7. 39
Details, page 2
Thursday
Published since 1889 by the students of the University of Kansas
March 12, 1987
Vol. 97, No. 114
(USPS 650-640)
House approves resolution to cut aid to contras
Measure faces Senate,
United Press International
WASHINGTON - The House approved a symbolic resolution yesterday that would cut off military aid to the contras, rejecting Republican accusations that members were handing Central America over to the Soviets.
The measure, which passed the House 230-196 in an extremely partisan atmosphere, would suspend for six months all assistance to the contras, notably the final $40 million of a $100 million package that Congress approved last year. The resolution also demands a public accounting of millions of dollars already sent to the contrasts.
The resolution was supported by 213 Democrats and 17 Republicans and opposed by 40 Democrats and 156 Republicans.
Speaker Jim Wright of Texas conceded the resolution stood little chance of passage in the Senate and no chance of being enacted over President Reagan's veto. But he said it would send a potent message to the White House that arming and aiding the contra is near death.
Wright cal
diplomacy and economic aid to curtail subversion in Central America and warned that Reagan's request for $105 million in aid in fiscal 1988 faced probable defeat later this year.
The measure faces a likely filibuster in the Senate where there was strong opposition to the contra program before the revelation of the Iran-contra scandal in which profits from U.S. arms sales to Iran apparently were used to bankroll the contras at a time when Congress banned such aid.
During the often emotional debate yesterday, Republicans accused Democrats of selling out U.S. interests in the region. Opponents such as Rep. Trent Lott, R-Miss., repeated the statement, "I do not want to be recorded as handing Central America over to the Soviets."
But House Democratic leader Thomas Foley of Washington called that accusation a poor and limp excuse in support of a failed program. He said the Soviets knew Congress was united in pledging not to permit Nicaragua to have offensive weapons that threaten any nation.
members to say what they think should happen in the future."
The speaker said passage of the resolution meant Reagan should abandon his request for the $105 million — a request that could die by a majority vote in either chamber and didn't invite a veto because no legislation would go to the Oval Office.
Wright and Senate Majority Leader Robert Byrd said that even if the measure passed Congress, they did not have the votes to kill Reagan's anticipated veto of the resolution.
Republicans were clearly putting themselves in the position to blame aid opponents for a possible victory by the Soviet-armed Sandinista army over the Contras.
Rep. Robert Mrazek, D.N.Y. countered by saying he refused to have his name recorded "in favor of handing Nicaragua over to the Contras."
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., called the policy one of deception, lies, and cover-up and said opponents of the Sandistas "don't have the guts to ask for a declaration of war." It is
KU experts say U.S.reputation could sour
By ROGER COREY
Staff writer
The United States' reputation as a peace-loving power and representative of international law in Central America could be destroyed if President Reagan continues to support the contras, according to three KU Latin American specialists.
Yesterday, the U.S. House suspended 230-196 the final $40 million of a $100 million package of aid to the contras that Congress approved last year. The resolution also demanded a public accounting of millions of dollars already sent to the contras.
"The $40 million can't be stopped politically," said Charles Stansifer, director of Latin American studies.
House leaders admitted that the resolution had little chance of passage in the Senate. They also acknowledged that it had little chance of being enacted over Reagan's veto.
Stansifer said that the real issue was not the $40-million outlay but the funds diverted to the contrasts from the Iran arms sale.
'Before Congress votes...'
million." Stansifer said.
Jack Bremer, director and campus pastor of Ecumenical Christian Ministries, said the most humane action for Congress and the administration would be to end all contra support.
"I saw the effects of the contra action," said Bremer, who just returned from a trip to Honduras, Nicaragua and the war zone area. "It was mostly terrorism against unarmed civilians."
Bremer said the administration had blocked peace proposals by the Contadora group and by Costa Rican president Oscar Arias Sanchez because it did not want to see a Central American government free of U.S. influence.
"Since 1850, when we sent the Marines to Central America, we have controlled Nicaragua." Bremer said. "It's evident the administration wants to overthrow the Nicaraguan government."
Bremer said the administration's policy actually was helping the communists by bringing death to inne-
i power in the last century, the United States was relatively gentle.
"And we are still pursuing the same policy," he said.
But U.S. policy in Central America in the past six or seven years has been a failure, Stansifer said.
Barbara Waggoner, adjunct lecturer in Latin American studies, said the current Central American policy was not effective in terms of U.S. goals.
Waggoner said she had been watching developments in Central America since her first trip there in 1966. She said the effect of the war against the Sandinistas was vast. Farmers' land was being taken over for airstrips, and the fighting had increased economic pressures on Nicaragua. The war also had affected El Salvador and Costa Rica.
Waggoner said the United States had never been considered a beneficent nation by Central Americans. And the last thing the region needed right now was a war, especially in the name of democracy
TIMELY TOPICS
both sides to ons and congoner said.
Shelter aims to control pet population
This chow-labrador mix is one of many dogs that face euthanasia every week at the Lawrence Humane Society.
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"I want to turn this dog in," a woman said as she entered the humane society.
humane society
"For what reason?" the humane society worker asked as she reached for a form.
"He doesn't play anymore. I want a dog that plays," the owner muttered.
"I want to look at the puppies," the owner said, shrugging.
The volunteer looked down.
"He's a healthy old dog, but at his age there's absolutely no chance for adoption. You realize we'll have to put him down."
So, the volunteer took the leash and began to walk toward the kennel.
Roma Tesch, manager of the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St., said recently that similar scenes often occurred in Lawrence.
Even so, most of the dogs and cats that pass through humane societies are victims of the pet population boom.
"It is a definite problem," Tesch said. "Ideally, if everybody would spay or neuter their pet, it would help."
Animals looking for homes always outnumber the homes looking to adopt a pet. Rarely is enough money available to care for all the animals.
Nationwide about 5 million of the unwanted animals roam free. They live an average of about $2^{1/2}$ years before dying of disease, starvation or under the wheels of an automobile. Only one abandoned animal in 10 finds a home.
U. S. citizens discard more than 200,000 animals weekly, and about three-fourths of them have to be destroyed.
Excuses for discarding pets are abundant. Many people, despite the affection they feel for their pets, have no compunction about getting rid of the animals when they become old, bothersome or inconvenient.
"We're moving," or "our new landlord doesn't allow pets" are the most common reasons people give at the Lawrence Humane Society when they bring in pets, Tesch said.
However, many people simply abandon their pets. Most of the bodies of dogs and cats seen along highways are not pets that wandered out of back yards. They are pets whose owners
dumped them out of a moving vehicle.
Nevertheless, it is much better to take an animal to a humane society than dispose of it in some other way.
The role of the Lawrence Humane Society in the care of animals is evident. A plaque on a wall says:
And the society is doing what it can to control the pet population. A cat or kitten costs $40, which includes neutering or spaying, shots and I.D. tags. A dog or puppy costs $60. This also includes neutering or spaying, shots and I.D. tags.
"To sight cruelty to animals"
"To find homes for homeless animals"
These prices generally are lower than a veterinarian would charge. To neuter a dog would cost from $45 to $60, and to neuter a cat, $35, said Marguerite Ermeling, veterinarian at the Lawrence Veterinary Hospital, 1104 W. 23rd St. To spay a dog would cost from $45 to $100, to spay a cat, $45. The price for neutering or spaying a dog depends on the animal's weight.
"To provide shelter for strays and lost animals."
presents
"We're not selling the animal.
What they're paying for is veterinary expenses. It's not profit for us," she said. "It takes money to have a healthy pet."
Tesch said that people often were surprised that they had to pay for a dog or cat.
But a shelter can become intolerably overcrowded in days or weeks unless many of the animals are put to sleep.
At the Lawrence Humane Society animals are not given a deadline for adoption, Tesch said. An animal might be put to sleep an hour after it arrives, or it could stay at the shelter for three or four months.
In 1983 the Lawrence Humane Society took in 1,210 strays, and 824 dogs were brought in by their owners, for a total of 2,034 dogs. Of those dogs, 1,222 were put to sleep.
"The longer they stay, the harder it is to put them down," she said.
sleep. The shelter also took in 608 stray cats, and 581 cats were turned in by their owners, for a total of 1,189 cats. Of this total, 788 cats were put to sleep.
In 1986, the number of stray dogs and dogs turned in by owners decreased. However, the number of stray cats and cats brought in by their owners stayed about the same as the year before.
The shelter took in 1,138 stray dogs, and 728 dogs from owners, for a total of 1,866 dogs. Of that total, 1,086 dogs were put to sleep. The shelter also took in 609 stray cats and 587 cats brought in by owners, for a total of 1,196. Of this total, 803 cats were put to sleep.
Tesch said that she wasn't sure why fewer dogs came through the society in 1988, but that she hoped the spay-neuter program was responsible for the decrease.
But regardless of the decrease, figures show that the majority of the animals are put to sleep. A veterinarian comes in twice a week to inject sodium phenobarbital into the unwanted animal<sup>1</sup>.
Ermingel suggested some characteristics to look for when choosing a good pet, which might prevent the pet from becoming an unwanted animal.
"tiehere you go to a humane society, you should decide what kind of pet you want, and what you want it for." Ermelong said. "You need to go in with an idea."
When choosing a pet, look for alertness, clear eyes, and normal breathing, she said. If the animal is quiet, or in the back of the cage, do not dismiss it as being unfriendly. It might just be scared.
The situation involving animals today is not without hopeful signs. The number of strays is said to be declining across the country; euthanasia rates are going down; spay-neuter operations are up. Fewer pets appear to be surrendered by their owners.
Ermeling said. "Educate the people of what it takes to own a pet, and the responsibility it involves. This would help the population problem the most."
But, whatever humane society a person enters, one element is common to all: the look in the eyes of the animals. Dogs fling themselves at the doors of their cages. Cats and kittens poke their paws through the bars. Other dogs and cats lie with their faces to the wall.
"Their fate is up to us," Tesch said.
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