The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 3

THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS, Wednesday, December 25, 1991 A3 Dogs fare better than cats in '91 4 By Penny Lett Staff Reporter When it comes to recapping the year, shelter manager Jan Webster says that for the Chilliwack SPCA, 1991 has been a mix of both good and bad. Dogs did well. Between 65 and 70 per cent about 350 animals found homes. Felines weren't so lucky. "It's always a bad year for cats.

In 1990 for instance, we got 1,000 cats and kittens. Three hundred got homes. We get double the number of cats as dogs," Webster said. There are, however, Christmas miracles even at the SPCA. On Dec.

12, a four-month-old, blind. Shepherd-cross pup was adopted. He needed a seeing-eye person, and Webster says, one came along. At Christmas each year, she says, there is always at least one special story. While such 'miracles' are wonderful, Webster warns against giving pets as gifts at any time unless the giver is very sure that's what the receiver really wants.

"We have a pets-wanted list people can use. We also will allow a pet to be pre-paid and the new owner can pick it up when they are ready. We recommend people pick up new animals a few days before, or a few days after Christmas. That way the animal doesn't get lost in the excitement of Christmas Day," she said. The Chilliwack SPCA will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

They will be open regular hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday) between Dec. 27 and 31. There are an average of 20 dogs in the shelter at any given time.

At Christmas there are usually seven or eight cats. During kitten season, from March to October, as many as 30 kittens a day can be received at the Chilliwack SPCA. These figures lead Webster to suggest a practical gift for proverbial "person who has everything" including a pet. She recommends the gift of a spay or neuter operation. Several area veterinary hospitals report that these types of gifts have been arranged through them with great success.

-4 'SUPPORT Mttmvnmr-n r'tir Hhnlo by Paul Claake Jan Webster (left) fills out the paperwork for a stray cat brought to the SPCA by Mark Goerzen. The cat will now, hopefully, be adopted. Church From Al Prostitution-related charges will be heard in court in May ference, proposing that he appear before the council with his lawyer. Thiessen is worried the conference is unduly influenced by Eben-Ezer because council chairman Rudy Nickel occupies a conference position, and conference moderator Jake Tilitky is the former pastor of Eben-Ezer, Norris said. Council then offered to meet Thiessen with their own legal counsel.

When Thiessen agreed, the council backed down, Norris said. Chris Arney, who is conference minister with the Conference of Mennonites in B.C., said he doesn't support the notion that- lawyers should be at the mediation table. "Having a lawyer throws a wrench into it because it will become much more of a legal proceding." Arney says both sides would be Norris says the council is treating Thiessen's request with "indiference." "Obviously the only thing open to us now is some course of legal action, because they don't seen to be taking this seriously," Norris said Saturday. Thiessen rejected a one-on-one mediation proposal from the con less likely to negotiate because of the possibility of legal action later. Norris claims the council wants to keep Thiessen's complaints under wraps, much the same way they handled the congregation's access to information about the Rempcl case.

"The council's attitude is consistent with the whole manner they were handling the Walter Rempel case," Norris said. "Again, they want to do this privately, discreetly, and behind closed doors," Norris said. The congregation will be asked Jan. 9 if they want the council to proceed to mediation. But Norris the congregation will be asked to vote on a matter that they haven't informed about.

Two Chilliwack men charged in connection with juvenile prostitution will have to wait until next year for their next court appearance. Cecil Arthur Roy, 42, and James Garnett Schofield, 28, are scheduled to appear in Chilliwack Provincial Court May 5 for a preliminary hearing. The pair were charged last month with one count each of obtaining for consideration the sexual services of a person under the age of 18. Roy's offences allegedly occurred in the Surrey area between the middle of June to the end of July. Schofield's offences allegedly occurred in the Chilliwack area between July 1 and Aug.

31. Robert William Kinisch, 28, will proceed to trial April 29 on one count of procuring a person to have illicit sexual intercourse and one count of living off the avails of a prostitute under the age of 18. The offences are alleged to have taken place in Princeton, Chilliwack and Surrey between June and September. There is a court-ordered ban i publication. Regional budget up by 2.7 services ranging from fire protection to street lights.

He said the 2.7-per-cent increase is an average and some areas will actually see a tax reduction, such as the Lake of the Woods fire district and water users in Bridal Falls and Cultus Lake. The provisional budget was passed at the Dec. 17 board meeting in order to give spending authority until the final budget is approved March 31. The $14 million provisional budget for the Regional District of Fraser Cheam includes a 2.7-percent tax increase. Director of Finance Ted Holmes explained that the regional district budget contains 65 categories for lysisif -mrm A JEFF FORTIN MULo I Mi FOR CHRISTMAS CRAFT BRIAN MINTER JOHN WIEBE MARTIN VAN DEN D0RPEL SUPPLIES FOR A WHOLE YEAR! RIBBONS LIGHTS DECORATIONS ARTIFICIAL TREES GARLANDS CHRISTMAS WREATHS ARRANGEMENTS q) o) STEVE REID GEORGE BARCLAY LYN BREITKREUZ CAROL BICCUM AFTER CHRISTMAS i i l-v JUST A REMINDER: Make New Year's even more special with a Corsage, Wristlet or Bouquet of Fresh Spring Flowers.

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