It Was Not Maliciousness That Led to Problems at Farm
To the Editor:

I have known Mr. Larry Rooney for 11 years. I have found him to be a proud and committed man. Committed to what, believe it or not, animal welfare. When I first came up to this great place (the U.P.), in 1997, one of the first things I was told out here in Epoufette was that if I had a problem with an animal, a bother around the house, or to find one injured, call "Lion Larry." He would take care of it. Now I had no idea who this was at the time, but between 1997 and 2005 (when I gave my store up), Larry and I got to know each other very well.

He would come down and pick up my scrap from my jerky meats, and when I had none, would be very troubled to find meat elsewhere. We tried giving the cats and other animals fish offal but he said cats wouldn't go for it.

I saw him weekly pull hay, not straw, up to his place for hooved animals. When I got rid of my store, I pretty much lost track of Larry, but saw him from time to time. Lately I had not seen him at all. This leads me to believe that his health or other problems led to the problems at his farm. Not any malicious feelings toward the animals. Keep in mind, this is a man who would live-trap mice to let them go in the woods, rather than kill them. A man whom I admired, and still do.

Paul Weichlein

Epoufette