By Whitey Harwood
For the Salisbury Post

Billy Swan wrote and recorded the song “I Can Help” in 1974. It went to No. 1 on both the Billboard Top 40 and the Billboard Top Country Songs.

It was the first song I thought of when I read this story “Humane Society volunteer opportunities shared” in the Salisbury Post on Feb. 15, 2024.

It was good to read we have new people moving into Rowan County that want to get involved and are “looking for ways to help in the community.”

The Humane Society should be a good place to start, but have you seen all the “cardboard people” that are living in Salisbury? How about all the trash in the ditches? Have you noticed that yet?

Since you are new here, has anyone told you that balloon releasing is highly honored, especially where you went to the HSRC meeting?

If you throw a beer can out of your pickup truck, the police will write you a ticket for littering.

But, if you release a balloon or 100 balloons, the Salisbury Post will give you a front page story with pictures.

So if you really want to help and really want to get involved in the prevention of cruelty to animals and the relief of suffering among animals, read up on the damage that balloons do to birds, fish, turtles and whales and share that with the HSRC.

It is way past time to put the ban on balloon releasing in Rowan County and the rest of the world.

For the second newcomer that just moved here with her fiancé, welcome to RoCo. It is probably the most backwards county in North Carolina.

I was tickled pink that you love animals. We have something in common. I do too, but not all of them.

I don’t love copperhead snakes, black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders and junkyard dogs. They will bite you!

I don’t love, but I do respect buzzards and possums. Can you imagine the world we live in without those animals cleaning up for us?

What about the little earthworm? You do know without them and a little rain and about six inches of dirt wouldn’t any of us be here to help anything or anybody.

The animal I love best is “The Fried Catfish.” Second place goes to “The Fat Back” with “The Livermush” coming in a close third.

I think just about everyone loves the “Chicken Animal.” “The Liver” is my favorite part, especially when they are right out of the hot grease.

Now, I’ve got some bad news for the new folks. Don’t go to the RoCo Public Library looking to check out a movie on DVD that is R-rated. You can’t do it. They are scared you might see something or hear something that you ain’t never saw or heard before. But, you can check out “Hombre” with Paul Newman and “Lonesome Dove” with Robert Duvall and Danny Glover.

Please watch both of these fine movies before your next circle meeting so you can share how the Indians were treated and talk about the animals that they loved.

I’ll go ahead with my help now and volunteer a little preview of both of them.

“Hombre” is first with Paul Newman as John Russell.

Audra Favor: “I can’t imagine eating a dog and not thinking anything of it.”

John Russell: “You ever been hungry, lady? Not just ready for supper. Hungry enough so that your belly swells?”

A.F.: “I wouldn’t care how hungry I got, I know I wouldn’t eat one of those camp dogs.”

J.R.: “ You’d eat it. You’d fight for the bones, too.”

“Lonesome Dove” with Robert Duvall as Gus and Danny Glover as Deets.

Deets: “They’re starving Captain. They done cut up one horse already.”

Gus: “My God, you mean they stole our horses for meat?”

Deets: “They real poor.”

I hope I was of some help. If I was, no need to thank me. You’re welcome.

Keep on smilin.’

Whitey Harwood lives in China Grove.