Oregon State Government In Business of Separating Families?
This is the saga of Mama Snowball and Baby Bucky.
The state newspaper The Oregonian's headline says "Snowball will go into foster care". In the article written by Jessica Bruder the reader learns that a female deer that was taken in by an Oregon family will be shipped off to some kind of farm, while Baby Bucky, the doe's offspring, has already been returned to the wild.
What, separate the mama and the baby?
Baby Bucky, according to the story, will be practicing safe sex, however, as “state veterinarians gave Bucky a vasectomy and released him into the Bull Run watershed”. Wildlife officials would not estimate how much money was spent handling the two deer. That figure would be disclosed November 13 during an interim meeting of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Whew, for awhile there it seemed nobody was overseeing this activity.
Is it too much to hope that a governmental body will actually be concerned about the waste of taxpayers’ money? The Oregonian story reports:
“Snowball underwent X-rays on Tuesday. They confirmed that the doe, which was born with deformed back legs, is permanently disabled and suffers from arthritis, according to state wildlife veterinarian Peregrine Wolff. Snowball’s disability will require pain management therapy, including anti-inflammatory drugs, Wolff said”. Good thing the state didn’t release Snowball into the wild, as they first said they would, with her needing all that pain management therapy.
What a relief, to know that the State of Oregon has the money for treating deer afflicted with arthritis, when human-type sufferers are being turned away from the state’s medical care for low-income people.
This story began with a tender-hearted family, the Filipettis, who took in and nursed back to health an injured doe, which they named “Snowball”. Mr. Filipetti, who says he has spent thousands of dollars in his six years of nurturing the doe, says he hopes to bring the matter before a judge. Was Filipetti an unfit caretaker? Did he beat Snowball? Did he deny Snowball food? Did he neglect to get medical attention for the doe? Has he mistreated Baby Bucky? Was he even guilty of “psychological” abuse? These are questions that should be answered if a court appearance comes about.
Filipetti is quoted as saying: “She’s a special animal, and nobody cared about her. To not give her back to us, it just sickens me”. And, “They’re going to punish me because they’ve got to make an example”. Anyone who has a pet, especially one they have had for six years, understands this. Pets become almost family. Although Filipetti has been told he may visit Snowball at the farm where she has been sent, pet owners know that is small comfort.
And, would it be indelicate to ask just who is paying for Snowball’s stay at the farm?
It is illegal in Oregon to keep most wildlife in captivity. There is also a federal law against “aiding and abetting” illegal aliens. Still, Oregon is considered a “sanctuary” state and no law enforcement person can ask the citizen status of anyone apprehended for committing a crime. It appears that some laws are taken very seriously and others not so much in Oregon.
While this may seem to be an insignificant story, the implications are very serious. It shows that the state’s power is absolute and is not to be trifled with. It shows that common sense has left the state government. It also shows not only a lack of compassion, but a desire to punish someone who has the audacity to go against its rules.
It is a microcasm of everything else the average citizen confronts when dealing with governments, all the way from local and state to the federal level.
Barbara regularly writes for CapitolHillCoffeeHouse. She also appears in California Chronicle, Border Patrol, and Citizens Caucus. Her primary interest is illegal immigration, but she writes about other subjects as well.
Barbara lives in a large city on the West Coast. Her loyalties are with God, family, country, heritage and borders.
She enjoys music, painting, poetry and song writing.
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