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Special report on animal
shelter conditions draws comments Shelter important story to cover Thank you for having a focus piece on animal welfare in Kalamazoo County. I found it difficult to read, but important to have covered. Also a thank you to the workers and volunteers who do their work out of genuine concern. Perhaps in future you will consider an in-depth look at puppy mills and backyard breeders who very much add to the problems of overpopulation and unmanageable animals. And if there are people whose sensibilities are offended by the reality of pet euthanasia, they should send their contribution for a new shelter and make sure their pets and those around them are fixed and cared for. Ellie Klemm, Kalamazoo Animal images were too sensational While I agree that raising awareness on overcrowded animal shelters is an excellent way to help reduce the number of animals that are senselessly put to death each year, the Kalamazoo Gazette could have highlighted this problem more humanely. In particular, the images displayed in this article are exceptionally degrading to the animals, as well as the depiction of particular animal carcasses, which provides nothing more than shock value. If the purpose of the article is to call attention to the growing problem of animal negligence and ultimately reduce the number of animals that are euthanized each year, then the focus should be kept on proactive solutions, not sensationalism. Sara Fennema, Plainwell Organizations work to provide help Our sincere thanks to the Kalamazoo Gazette for spotlighting the plight of our community's unwanted animals and the serious need for a new, expanded animal shelter in Kalamazoo County. We applaud and support the efforts of the four groups collaborating to create a state-of-the-art facility that would improve the health and welfare of these precious animals. Because of our exceptional experience this past year, we offer special thanks to Kalamazoo Animal Services for providing necessary and often difficult services with dedication and compassion. We went to Kalamazoo Animal Services' shelter shortly after the passing of our beloved Rottweiler mix, Tony, to meet Rottweilers that had been photographed and displayed online by Save our Strays, a service for which we are also grateful. There we met Rita, a sweet Rottweiler who stole and lifted our heavy hearts. When we tried to adopt Rita, Kalamazoo Animal Rescue had already processed paperwork to acquire her. We then worked with KAR to adopt her and were impressed with the collaboration between these two organizations. We have found tremendous joy in Rita. Please join us in providing financial support for a new shelter. It is desperately needed so that more animals can be sheltered in a healthier environment. Someone's new best friend -- perhaps even yours -- may be saved as a result. Bill Hughes and Deb Chope Hughes, Kalamazoo Don't leave animals in cages all weekend This is in response to the animal story published Feb. 11 in the Kalamazoo Gazette. I thought the pictures were quite graphic as well as the story. I had to put the paper down several times before I finished reading it. I can't believe someone actually put a 6-month-old pitbull puppy and baby kittens in the pens behind the animal control facility. I hope the people who did that read the same Feb. 11 newspaper that I read and know those animals froze to death. It's really very sad. My son, my daughter and I go to the outside cages quite often with food and water. Many times, we've gone there on a Friday night and animals are in the cages with no food, no water and no straw and we've gone back the following Sunday and the same animals will still be in there. People need to be aware that the animals you drop off on weekends are probably going to be stuck outside, so don't do weekend drop-offs when it's freezing. I went there on one occasion and found a sick brown puppy, wet and alone, just waiting to die. I brought her home and we still have and love her 11 years later. Lou Ann Willis, Kalamazoo ©2007 Kalamazoo |