Readers comment on story about pet adoption
I am amazed at how many feelings I had toward the July 22 article regarding pet adoptions. I was saddened and dismayed.
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I was also appalled.
Columbia County CARE and Control -- where was the care when that terrified dog was being dragged to its death? The utter lack of respect and love given to that animal in its last minutes was atrocious!
The dismay comes from the millions of dollars that have now gone for a facility that hasn't saved any dogs! I feel for the people who donated money only to see nothing done with it, while Molly's Militia, Heartsong, Happy Tails and many other unsung heroes are working on shoe-string budgets, yet saving dogs left and right! What a very sad world we live in.
Robin Lane Johnson
Evans
Re the article in June 22 story in The Columbia News Times and the pictures of the animals being lead to their demise (put to sleep) by the injection that very much elaborated on that particular issue:
In my opinion it was absolutely overdone. We who would like to take all of those abandoned animals do not need to see those very heartwrenching photos. Moreso, children do not need to hear or see that and parents will naturally talk about it. To see the deceased dog on the table after death broke my heart and was totally unnecessary, as the public gets the message as articles have been written repeatedly but never so many photos.
One photo is seen where the employee is playing with the dog, the next she is dragging him or her to the euthanization room. ...
I'm thinking many families are disturbed by these photos and the horrific articles.
Teresa D. Wallace
Evans
Thank you for the compassionate, insightful look into the heart-wrenching situation animal shelter workers face every day ("Pet adoptions can't keep pace at shelter," July 22, 2008).
As a volunteer for my local shelter, I wish that everyone who is thinking about letting their animal have "just one litter" or is considering buying an animal from a breeder or pet store could spend a day in the shoes of a caring shelter worker like Columbia County Animal Care and Control Manager Linda Fulmer.
Maybe after looking into the eyes of the dozens upon dozens of loving, healthy dogs and cats who have to be euthanized simply for lack of homes, they'd change their minds about bringing more animals into a world that is already desperately short of good homes.
Each of us can save animals' lives and ease the strain on shelter workers by having our cats and dogs spayed or neutered. Spaying just one female dog can prevent 67,000 dogs from being born in six years, and spaying one female cat can prevent 420,000 cats from being born in seven years.
For the nearest low-cost spay/neuter clinics, call 1-800-248-SPAY. To learn more, visit www.HelpingAnimals.com.
Lindsay Pollard-Post
Staff Writer, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Norfolk, Va.
I am very upset about the piece you had about the dogs being put to sleep. I know you have to do it, but you should not have printed the pictures. It was very upsetting to think some child could have seen it and it could have been their dog.
... I hope you never print it again, if you do I will never buy another News-Times paper, and if it comes in my paper I will tell them to take it out.
Martha Myers
Dearing