To the editor:

I have no problem whatsoever with the City Commission’s ban on tethering animals. Tethering is a cruel practice posing a danger to the tethered animal, other animals and people. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Humane Association of the United States and numerous animal experts. Visit www.hsus.org/ to see for yourself. In my opinion, it’s also according to common sense.

I am all for individual rights. But since when has it been a “right” to treat animals cruelly? Irresponsible, hurtful and destructive behavior calls for legislation. Bans on smoking, fireworks and tethering animals, far from reflecting poorly on our city commissioners are a direct indictment of — I hope — a minority of Lawrence citizens who are either ignorant or just don’t care.

For the record, I love fireworks and always spent heavily on them each Independence Day. I don’t blame the ban on our commission. The people at fault are those who failed to clean up after themselves and take precautions against damage. Obviously, that’s the “don’t care” group. Criticize them if you miss your lost “rights.”

But there never was any right to be cruel to animals. Good on the commission for recognizing it. I hope one day to be able to credit the commission for actually enforcing these measures.

Gary Henry,

Lawrence