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The Rural Voice, 1999-06, Page 17eight feet tall," he remembered. The animals and fowl have the use of the buildings, and Jack lives in a nearby village, working on his farm all day. At about four o'clock in the afternoon, the farmyard becomes quite noisy. With peacocks screaming and guinea hens squawking, the excitement included cooing, barking, coughing, braying, neighing, mooing and bawling of 62 cattle, all wondering when the feed pails would be emptied in their yard. Snorting, stamping and Clapping of wings signalled the animals' impatience. Quacking busily over the grain were Peking Ducks, Indian Runner Ducks, Mallard Ducks, Muscovy Ducks and assorted hens and roosters. The animals seem compatible except the donkey and the zebra. Jack explained donkeys are known for their ability to work, for their noisy bray and for their obstreperous personality. The zebra males can't be together as they tight all the time. One male is in the pen with two female zebras and the other runs at large. Specialty animals fetch a high price, not all as high as the zebra. If the market is flooded with a specialty animal, then the price goes down, as has happened with emus, from about $3,000 down to about $150 for a laying emu and to about $10 for a chick. Animals like zebras are a curiosity to most people, but the interest in unusual animals correlates with the skyrocketing cost and number of pets. At present, people in the U.S. have about 60 million cats, almost as many dogs, 12 million birds and four million riding horses. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on their manufactured food and upkeep. On the farm, these unusual animals apparently live a pain-free, stress -free existence far from a cramped zoo. It's not quite like the wild but the animals can roam the pastures and buildings, having access to the water -run and salt blocks. They aren't behind bars looking out or having people pester them hourly and daily. People who aren't buyers and who are interested in protecting animals are always coming to look at Jack's ************************************* * GIGANTIC CLEARANCE AND CONSIGNMENT * * AUCTION SALE * * Saturday, June 19th - 10 a.m. SHARP! * * Approximately 60 tractors, 2 Skid Steer Ldrs., J.D. & M.F. Tractor Ldr., Backhoes over 250 * pieces of new and used farm equipment including 2 local farmers lines of equipment plus * * 45 lawn & garden tractors. tillers, weedeaters, chainsaws, etc. * * Auctioneers: Glenn Sinclair, Bruce Ward and Eric Dix * * "Come & check our yard - * * buy at your price before the Auction" * * WAYNE WARD FARM EQUIPMENT * * Hwy. #6, Wiarton, Ontario * (519) 534-1638 or 534-2980 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Jim Stewart, Manager McArthur Tire Service Inc., Owen Sound, Ontario Re: Extraordinary super -good customer service Dear Sir, 04 May 1999 I am writing this memo to draw your attention to some super -good customer service I recently received at your business. The airport, at which I work, was in the market for a replacement set of tires for our older model airport tractor. I contacted your Mr. Roger LeSavage and received immediate attention and an invitation to bring the tractor in for service. Float schedule problems necessitated my arrival at your Owen Sound shop after-hours. Mr. LeSavage cheerfully volunteered to meet me there in the evening, gave me his home phone number, and even took some extra time to suggest and price some options for our problem. The next day, we picked -up the tractor, service work done, and Roger again was most friendly and helpful in assisting with loading and departure. Good courteous service is normally expected, however at McArthur Tire we received knock -your -socks -off super good service!! So good that I just had to write you, and thank you and Roger. This was the best business experience I've had in many years You guys set the record! Sincerely, Bob Wells GET IT AT McArthur Tire OWEN SOUND 376-3520 1-800-265-3101 HANOVER 364-2661 1-800-299-0436 'UNE 1999 13