Yep. We Should Probably Stop With The Talking and Driving.

Okay.   I admit it.  I am absolutely shameless when it comes to talking—and even texting—while driving.  I suppose that after more than a decade behind the wheel, motoring, for me, has become a commonplace activity with which I maintain a fallaciously casual relationship.  Unfortunately, many other individuals (whether they own up to it or not) have fallen prey to the same concept, and, regularly engage in a vast array of distractions, ranging from eating, to makeup application, to wireless phone usage, while zipping down the roadways.  The result?  A big bunch of dangerous missiles in the shapes of automobiles, powered by inattentive operators, bouncing off of each other in relatively innocuous fender benders, or (in darker moments) exacting tragedy through fatal accidents. 

Despite my own egregious failings in the area of wireless phone usage while driving, I am aware of its implications and have to agree with Cara Contreras when she asserts in her April 3, 2012 blog submission that Texas lawmakers should completely prohibit wireless phone usage while operating a vehicle.  Ms. Contreras deftly backs up her argument by proposing that since Texas has already outlawed phone usage in settings such as school zones, the State should also ban it in the event of highway driving when people are traveling at much higher rates of speed, making more horrific accidents a distinct possibility.  The specter of a hefty fine (a la the Texas seat belt law) would most likely do wonders with regards to controlling the number of individuals talking/texting while driving.  I know that the idea of needlessly kissing goodbye $400 motivates me to buckle up every time I hit the road.                             

The Care and Feeding of Puppies

Despite the fact that my ardent childhood wishes for a pony were never realized, I was consoled by the fact that my parents always provided my brother and me with furry companionship in the forms of dogs, cats, and the occasional duck.  My petite, black Labrador, Dorothy, (whom my Mother found abandoned and barley clinging to life in front of a grocery store) was a fixture of my life into my early twenties.  Currently, I am the proud “Mom” of a beautiful and gentle Dalmatian (named Lucy) who is nothing less than a significant member of the family.

These formative (and present) relationships with pets have been enriching for me, and serve to profoundly impact my views on laws that regulate the quality of animal care required of Texas breeders.  I was horrified to learn from a March 30, 2012 Texas Tribune article that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Commissioners recently implemented the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s guidelines for care of animals raised by licensed breeders.  Animal advocacy groups are disappointed with this new legislation, citing it as entirely too lax because of its failure to address basics, like proper cage size and flooring.  Though not a current member of an animal rights organization, I am amazed that those Texas law makers, as well as the general citizenry, are not utterly supportive of enforcing stringent rules to keep breeders’ handling of their animals in check.  Any individual who has spent even a small amount of time in the company of dogs should be able to see that they are not simply commodities, but, sensitive creatures who are endowed with emotions, form attachments, and feel pain.  Otherwise why would they exhibit jubilation at the return of an owner, or terror during a thunderstorm?  But, if Texas breeders cannot find it in their hearts to raise their animal care standards for the sake of ethicality, perhaps they could do it to support their own interests.  Animals reared in proper conditions will be healthier, happier, and therefore, more appealing to potential owners.  So, it’s ultimately win-win (as well as possible evidence that one is possessing of a soul) to not abuse puppies.