Did You Know...

09-21-06 I want to thank everyone who came out to support the Police, Fire, and EMS during the Silent Parade on 9/11. The support means so much to all of us and the fact that we are not the only ones who will never forget that fateful day in our history. I would encourage everybody to be mindful of the sacrifices so many people have made to keep our country free and safe. The first topic I want to address is that of service dogs. A recent question was raised that I did not have a complete answer to but I was fortunate enough to get a complete answer from a local resident. Some important points about service dogs to remember are: they are allowed in all businesses and public places, the handler is liable for the animal's behavior, not all service dogs are the same and are used for a variety of disabilities or services, the type of leash or vest will vary from program to program, not all programs certify or provide certificates, businesses are not allowed to ask for credentials or to ask about handler disabilities. Service dogs are quite common in the larger cities but can and will be seen in the rural cities like Vernonia. If you see a service dog do not try to pet or talk to it. Service dogs are "always" working. A service dog may be watching or sensing their handlers for seizures or other signs. Any distraction will inhibit their abilities. Make sure your children understand what a service animal is and why they should not distract them. For more information you can visit the link on the VPD website under "Service Dog Information". The last item I want to address is the topic of lottery letter scams. A Vernonia resident recently received two lottery scam letters. The letters were from the "British" and "Swiss Random Lotto's" and included a check written to the citizen. The letter advised the check was to help the citizen with paying "clearance fees" in order to later receive $75,000. The winners need only to deposit the check into their bank account then send the clearance fees to the lottery office. The office would then send the $75,000. The checks looked real enough but US Bank advised they were not real and were not valid account numbers. In the end, the citizen would be out the clearance fee, out the deposited check, and the scammers would have all of the bank account information! Remember there is rarely "easy money" and never through mail lotteries that require money be sent in by the winner. Be smart and use common sense. For more information follow the "Lottery Scam" link on the VPD website.