Disproportionate

As an animal lover, I was dismayed about the recent deaths of a dog and cat found with their muzzles taped shut. I applaud the efforts and money collected to apprehend the perpetrator(s), and the candlelight vigil was touching.

However, I wonder why there was not a similar public outcry about the reported 741 deaths of children in care between January 1999 and September 2013.

Thanks to the tenacity of journalists from the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald, these figures could finally be published. These children/teenagers were also helpless under the care of adults. Although some died of natural causes, others died from neglect, accidents, suicides, etc.

The new minister of Human Services, Manmeet Bhullar, promises a roundtable on child welfare reform, live-streamed online.

The seemingly inadequate protection of our children deserves at least as strong an outpouring of outrage as for the unfortunate dog and cat.

Suzanne de Mos, Calgary