Addicks Families Divided 12/04/3132
INN - Interstellar News Network
PORT HOWARD—Gemma Weatherstone misses her “Algie.” It’s hard enough to be
separated from home when you’re a 7-year-old refugee from a war-ravaged planet.
But when your pet gets taken away too, it can all just be too much.
Never mind that “Algie” (short for Algernon) is a 90 kg jensom lizard, an herbivorous
reptile native to the southern continent of Addicks. The separation anxiety can be
awful.
Several hundred of the Addicks refugees are experiencing that same anxiety, as the
pets and domestic animals they brought onto the escaping DropShips have been in
quarantine since their arrival over a month ago.
Many of the animals have been found with Kellington’s disease. Kellington’s is a
degenerative nerve disease that doesn’t affect humans, but does affect other animals.
Native Addicks animals are immune to Kellington’s, but Towne officials fear that they
could be carriers, infecting local wildlife who have no such immunity. In 3120,
Addicks game officials estimated that perhaps 60% of animal life on Addicks were
carriers for Kellington’s.
Sources indicate that nearly 300 animals have been destroyed so far, and more are
being tested every day. Bruxa Heffersen is a ranger working with the Port Howard
wildlife authority to test and euthanize infected animals. “I hate to do it,” said
Heffersen. “We all hate it, but it’s not a risk we can afford on Towne.”
Gemma’s mother and father, Alyssa and Ronald Weatherstone, are sad, but patient.
They owned a petting zoo near Neo Carthagia. In addition to two jensom lizards, they
brought goats, rabbits, and three dogs—all quarantined. “It’d be an awful shame to
lose our beasties,” Ronald said. “They kept all the kids entertained on the trip out, and
they’re just like family. Gemma would be torn up to lose Algie. We understand, but I
sure don’t want to have to explain it to her if they put him down.”
Alyssa added, “It would be just one more thing we lost.”
INN - Interstellar News Network
PORT HOWARD—Gemma Weatherstone misses her “Algie.” It’s hard enough to be
separated from home when you’re a 7-year-old refugee from a war-ravaged planet.
But when your pet gets taken away too, it can all just be too much.
Never mind that “Algie” (short for Algernon) is a 90 kg jensom lizard, an herbivorous
reptile native to the southern continent of Addicks. The separation anxiety can be
awful.
Several hundred of the Addicks refugees are experiencing that same anxiety, as the
pets and domestic animals they brought onto the escaping DropShips have been in
quarantine since their arrival over a month ago.
Many of the animals have been found with Kellington’s disease. Kellington’s is a
degenerative nerve disease that doesn’t affect humans, but does affect other animals.
Native Addicks animals are immune to Kellington’s, but Towne officials fear that they
could be carriers, infecting local wildlife who have no such immunity. In 3120,
Addicks game officials estimated that perhaps 60% of animal life on Addicks were
carriers for Kellington’s.
Sources indicate that nearly 300 animals have been destroyed so far, and more are
being tested every day. Bruxa Heffersen is a ranger working with the Port Howard
wildlife authority to test and euthanize infected animals. “I hate to do it,” said
Heffersen. “We all hate it, but it’s not a risk we can afford on Towne.”
Gemma’s mother and father, Alyssa and Ronald Weatherstone, are sad, but patient.
They owned a petting zoo near Neo Carthagia. In addition to two jensom lizards, they
brought goats, rabbits, and three dogs—all quarantined. “It’d be an awful shame to
lose our beasties,” Ronald said. “They kept all the kids entertained on the trip out, and
they’re just like family. Gemma would be torn up to lose Algie. We understand, but I
sure don’t want to have to explain it to her if they put him down.”
Alyssa added, “It would be just one more thing we lost.”
| December 4, 3132 |