Dear Editor:

Let's say you are in charge of the animal shelter. It's Friday and the shelter is full. Someone brings in a matted, little female cocker spaniel. She's in pretty bad shape, obviously been neglected for a long time. She is "too much trouble" and they "just don't want her anymore."

What do YOU do? Would you KILL her? COULD you kill her?

What kind of person COULD?

Suppose the person in charge of the animal shelter felt like you and me? That killing innocent animals is wrong ... what then?

Let's see. I WOULD call my neighbors, call all of my animal friends, see if anyone had space. Call the vets, board her ... beg for a little time, take her home with me just until Monday when I could find someone to take this poor little thing. Then I WOULD spend the weekend on the Internet finding a rescue that could take her, posting her picture on Petfinder. Someone might see her as the perfect pet. I would stay up all night finding someone somewhere ... but KILL her?

NO. I COULDN'T. I WOULDN'T.

EVER.

Because to me life is either precious or it's not. And this one, like all the others, IS.

Wouldn't it make sense, then, for the city/county to hire someone like me or you, who FIRST OF ALL, loves animals and would not rest until each one was safely placed? It is hard to believe it would be considered by our leaders to do it any other way, ISN'T IT?

Saving 92 percent of all animals that come into the shelter is ENTIRELY possible. Can't happen in the South? You're WRONG.

Nathan Winograd, founder of the NO KILL SHELTERING MOVEMENT, has done it, in California, in Virginia and in New York. And he did it in all of these different states to prove that regions don't matter. Town size doesn't matter either.

"Do something good for the animals.

Tell the people what you are doing and where you need help.

Then trust in the compassion and the generosity of your community."

Won't work here? Maybe not ... but isn't it worth a try? It's costless up front. It would save money in the long run. And I can prove it.

We need SOMEONE who wants to save each and every little soul, not kill them because it's the job description. SAVING THEM SHOULD BE THE JOB DESCRIPTION!!!

There is a difference in doing a job and doing a job to make a difference. You just can't PAY someone to CARE, but you sure can find someone who DOES.

The animal shelter has serious legal issues and problems with inhumane treatment right now, which county council is planning to address. But if hiring someone who embraces the NO KILL philosophy is not part of the restructuring, nothing will change. The brutal killing will go on. Demand a new director NOW.

There are lots of us around who understand NO KILL. Ask anyone.

Suppose you are in charge of the animal shelter and someone brings in a little cocker spaniel.

Would YOU kill her?

COULD you kill her?

Don't allow the killing to continue. It is wrong and it is not necessary. We have the knowledge and YOU have the power to stop it.

Libby W. Swad

Gaffney, SC