Those of us who have worked for years in animal advocacy repeatedly have said never do this article. The fear was twofold: (1) the response would be to undo years of educating the public to the fact that surrendering a pet to an animal shelter is the most humane course of action, for it guarantees protection, food/water/care, the possibility of adoption, and lastly, a humane death if necessary; (2) conversely, the response would result in a return of an earlier attitude that if an owner turned loose or abandoned elsewhere their animal then “at least it would have a chance at survival,” for nothing could be further from the truth because such action ensures an inhumane death by starvation, predators, traffic or cruelty.
Bravo for “The Executioners.” The article accurately reflects the facts of animal shelters, i.e., pet overpopulation that is the result singularly of irresponsible pet owners not neutering and spaying. I strongly disagree with Doc Jones’ comment that legislation is not necessary, but rather educating the public; there has been 20 years or more of neuter/spay education in this area and if it had worked, Doc Jones’ services wouldn’t be needed weekly at SCAS. It is now time to enact state legislation that has proven to work in other states.
Bravo to Claire Galofaro for a carefully thought-out and extremely well written article on a difficult topic. Ms. Galofaro vividly captured not just the heartbreak of shelter work, not just the reward of giving care to shelter animals, but also the strength of character of the staff, trustees, and vet. Daily, weekly, yearly these people perform physically and emotionally hard jobs with brave hearts.
It is, after all, perhaps time for this article.
Mary E. Geiger
Bristol, Tenn.
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