Animal shelters deserve praise
I am writing regarding an issue that is of great concern to me. It has come to my attention there is some negative press surrounding the (Albuquerque animal) shelter and the wonderful people who work there. I want to tell you a story about the shelter.
In 2010 I was faced with the heartbreaking decision to put my beloved beagle Sam to sleep. I knew it was coming and I knew if I did not get another dog to help me with the transition I would never have another.
I contacted the West Side shelter and told them my story. I told them I was looking for another beagle to come live with me. The staff at the shelter scoured the city of Albuquerque and found three beagles they thought would do well with me. I met them and finally decided on one at the West Side shelter. He was not released for adoption yet, but the staff let me come visit him as much as I wanted and even gave me updates on him. He has turned into the most wonderful little dog and I would not hesitate to get another pet from the shelter.
Now, the second story. Baxter. Baxter is an 11-yearold basset hound/beagle mix. He is the most loving dog and wants nothing more than to be petted and taken for walks. He lives to please me and is thriving at my home. This is something he would not have been given the chance to do if not for the tireless efforts of the staff at the West Side shelter.
Having gotten to know some of the staff there, when Baxter was not able to be placed in a home due to his age and none of the rescues had room for him, the staff contacted me to see if I would be willing to take him on. After meeting him, I immediately knew he would be a wonderful addition to my household.
There was no question this dog deserved to live out the rest of his life in a home that would give him as much love as he would give me. If not for the efforts of the staff, Baxter would have been a long-term resident at the shelter or even euthanized. The efforts of the staff literally saved his life.
As a balloonist and a sitting member of the board of the local balloon club I understand how the media loves to take a small incident, often isolated, and blow it out of proportion. ... I feel the recent media attention the shelter has been getting is unwarranted.
The shelter is, yes, an animal shelter and by nature not a happy place. However, the staff at the shelter seems to take the care of the animals on not as a job, but as a mission. Each time I have visited I have seen staff and volunteers making the effort to make sure every animal there gets affection and attention. They are overworked and work in what can often be a heartbreaking and thankless job, but they smile at the homeless pets and try to make them feel loved.
This is the story we should be seeing on the news each night — how the workers give of themselves selflessly to make our abandoned animals’ lives a little better.