Think before you judge Playful Paws

Our beautiful, gentle, black shepherd, Anzac, died on Sept. 10 while staying at Playful Paws. We are very sad over the loss of our wonderful dog, and dismayed at how this tragedy has played out in the public sphere.

Over the past eight years, Anzac spent in excess of 500 days and/or nights at the facility. Our interactions with the staff were excellent. They demonstrated genuine caring for the animals, there were no negative incidents, and Anzac was always enthusiastic whenever we dropped him off.

We came to appreciate the love and care that our dog received from the staff at Playful Paws, and we chose to entrust his care to them. We cannot fathom the shock and grief they have endured since discovering that 14 dogs had died under their care.

Yet, the public perception — due in large part to social media chatter — seems to be that the staff and owners are completely culpable for the tragedy due to their incompetence, malice and/or general bad character. Please exercise caution in what you believe. Unsubstantiated statements on social media are being taken as fact, harmful conclusions are being reached, and people are suffering.

Investigations are going on, and we would be wise to withhold judgment until we know the details of what happened that night. We find it ironic and sad that the very people who are motivated to work in a field that promotes the humane treatment of animals should be so quickly stripped of their own humanity in the absence of facts. Jim Cheesman and Karen Lawson, Saskatoon