To the Editor:
I’d like to address an article written by Marie Leotta that was published in your paper.
First, I’d like to point out that everything she said about rescued dogs and what the rescues do or don't do is totally out of line. As a rescue from the South, I can promise you that every dog we take in is taken to a licensed veterinarian. We have them heartworm tested and if they are positive, we spend hundreds of dollars to treat them. Secondly, we give each and every one of our dogs and puppies the proper vaccines, including Bordetella, parvo and distemper, adenovirus and adenovirus type-2 and para-influenza vaccines. They get rabies vaccines when age appropriate and, most importantly, they are spayed and neutered if and when they are of appropriate age.
For her to group the reputable rescues in with hoarders and breeders is totally absurd to say the least. Our goal is to stop the unwanted pet population and to place our rescued pets into responsible hands, not breeders and hoarders. Most of our pets come from horrible living conditions and have suffered a great deal. Why in the world would we take such painstaking steps to ensure that all our pets are made whole and healthy and not to mention the expense it takes, just to send them somewhere like to a hoarder or a breeder?
Most of these animals would have died in high-kill shelters, been killed in traffic or suffered a long, painful death from injuries or illness.
Please let Ms. Leotta know that her article was uncalled for and to stop her insane accusations. I’ve been sending dogs and puppies to the Northeast, Vermont specifically, legally with health certificates and always healthy and heartworm negative, spayed or neutered and completely vetted, for several years now and have even met the wonderful women that run the rescues. There’s no doubt in my mind that they make sure that all pets go to good, responsible owners and are made an integral part of family life.
Jeanette Peterson, director
Furever Friends of the South K-9 Rescue
