Is sentence for animal cruelty indicative of community values?

To the Editor:

It was with great dismay that I read the article about the animal cruelty sentencing recommendations for Mr. Neff and am wondering how this can happen in Lincoln County.

Is this reflective of the community's values? Is Lincoln County a community that thinks it is acceptable to treat animals in this way?

Based on Mr. Neff's ability to get away with his behavior, not once, but twice, it would appear that is the case. He didn't change his behavior from the first deal he cut, why would he change it now?

Gandhi once said that "One can measure the greatness and the moral progress of a nation by looking at how it treats its animals." Gandhi's words should remind us of how our actions and inactions can determine the kind of community Lincoln County is. Is animal abuse and neglect an acceptable norm?

If you don't believe that to be true, I encourage you to speak up and express your concern to the prosecuting attorney's office, the judge, or even show up at Mr. Neff's sentencing hearing and express it to the judge personally, write a letter, send an email, however.

If the community doesn't express its values on these issues, the legal system and others will do it instead. Are you willing to let that happen?

Take a few minutes to make the call, write the letter, send the email before the Oct. 31 sentencing hearing. Or let Lincoln County become the kind of community that allows animals to be treated in this way. If you don't speak up for them, who else is there?

Cindy Colvin

Troy