Any real fan of the The West Wing has to remember Big Block of Cheese Day. This was a reference to a day of public engagement inspired by President Andrew Jackson in 1837, when Jackson hosted an open house at the White House. The legend goes that Jackson had 1,400-pound block of cheese brought in to the White House foyer for those hungry and voiceless to come have a day and platform with their president.
It was a time to listen and laugh at the most-outrageous, fringe special-interest groups American democracy could bring to bear. Apparently, its been so entertaining that the Obama administration has revived the day of public engagement littered with the same teasing, mocking, cheesy jokes of the show except they call it BYOC (bring your own cheese).
One West Wing story recalled the travails of Pluie and the wolves only roadway, an 1,800-mile, wolves-only highway to assist their migration and breeding patterns. When asked how much this project would cost, this special-interest advocate responded: Thats the beauty part the cost to the taxpayer is only $900 million.
Im not proposing a cats-only highway, although we might need one.
Just last week, my girlfriend drove from Waterfront Park to the airport, taking I-65 and going faster than she probably should have. When she got there, she found a kitten had hitched a ride underneath the car. Once she got the kitten out alive, she called me, panicking more than the daredevil feline. I rushed there and took him to the vet and, despite all odds, he was fine (outside of a toe fracture and some singed hair).
After taking him home and spending only a little time around him, it was apparent that this miracle cat was the happiest, friendliest creature (not to mention grateful) you could ever expect to meet. It was also obvious that I am (most likely) the sucker who wont be able to give him up.
So you see? Louisville needs a cats-only highway. Or maybe even a new bridge.
OK, fine. If not a highway, then what? These animals can change our lives. Humans have domesticated animals for over 15,000 yeas thats 9,000 years before man gathered all the animals onto the Ark! (Which you can now visit in Williamstown, Kentucky $40 for a day pass.)
Seriously, back to the cheese: We need to be reminded of the needs of the Louisville-area cats, dogs and other animals that end up at the shelter.
Louisville Metro Animal Services just got a new director a 17-year veteran of law enforcement, who retired earlier this year as a command officer with the police department. His predecessor, who resigned a month ago amid some controversy, left after just two years. But under her direction and Fischers administration, animal services a public agency that had been mired in conflict has made tremendous progress.
According to animal services statistics, the average live-release rate of animals taken in increased to 80 percent from 68 percent since 2013. Animal services has also brought consistent increases in adoptions over each of the past three years a trend it is on pace to continue again this year. In a Courier-Journal article about the former directors hiring in 2014, Fischer said his department has improved the live release rate of animals from 38 percent to 74 percent since he took office.
So the new director has big paw prints to fill (another cheesy-joke … Sorry).
Such a transition can be a perilous time for any agency, company or organization. In this case, the victims of any struggles will be the most helpless and innocent among us. As such, it is important that animal services and its new director be the recipient of additional scrutiny and resources.
A huge step was taken earlier this year when the Metro Council approved to fully fund construction of a new animal shelter. The previous shelter was, by multiple reports, in a state of complete disrepair, including issues of flooding and overcrowding. What else do we need? More important, what else do the animals need? What would it take to improve the 80-percent live-release rate, and make it 90 percent?
Were already talking about building a soccer stadium If we are going to have a big block of cheese day, we should at least include the needs of those who cant speak for themselves. Saving their lives may change your life.
This article appears in August 10, 2016.