On Nov.15 a Townsend dog had been missing for 16 days. Great Smoky Mountain Rangers located "Buck" at the bottom of a 70-foot deep sinkhole. Ranger Rick Brown descended into the hole, fabricated a harness, and helped lift the dog to safety.

The good news is that the dog is recovering from starvation and injuries and has been reunited with his owner. A story like that kind of gives you the warm fuzzies and the rangers are to be commended for their action. The bad news is that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are giving a certificate of appreciation to Ranger Brown and his co-workers.

PETA is the group that pushes for animal rights equal or better than rights afforded humans. PETA is the group that attempts to halt valid medical research involving animals. PETA is the group that ignored Palestinian bombings in Israel until a donkey was used to carry the explosives. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk is famous for equating a rat with a boy. In other words, PETA is a group of crackpots who desire to impose their distorted values on the rest of the world.

My guess is that Brown and the Rangers involved in the dog rescue are regular people who eat meat, wear leather shoes, and realize that man was given dominion over animals by our Creator. I suggest that the rangers refuse to accept the award from PETA.

We must wonder what other dubious distinction might have been given to normal people from extremists in other situations.

The Adolph Hitler Humanitarian Award could have been given to Moses for leading the Hebrew children out of Egypt.

The Bill Clinton Award for Moral Values should be presented to couples who have been married for 50 years and have remained faithful to their spouse.

The Sarah Brady-Ted Kennedy Safety Award would be a nice presentation to anyone who uses a firearm to stop a violent crime.

Those fighting the drug war might be the recipients of an award from Cheech and Chong.

The Planned Parenthood Life Award should hang in the lobby of any hospital that works to save the life of seriously ill babies.

The United Nations Prize for National Identity should have been given to each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The Jeffery Dahmer Certificate of Merit might grace the lobbies of Westinghouse, Hotpoint, and Amana.

The Greenpeace Award for Energy Independence could be presented to companies drilling for oil on American soil.

The point is that the Smoky Mountain Park Rangers were doing their job. More importantly they were doing the right thing. Recognition from groups that are miles from the mainstream are a slap in the face to those who act responsibly in the current situation. The PETA certificate might be useful in lighting a fire to cook a steak. Any other purpose would only lend credence to their off-the-wall viewpoints.

Ed Baldwin is a columnist for the Claiborne Progress