LETTERS: HELP BY BEING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER

To the editor:

And article in the Feb. 14 Southeast Missourian vividly detailed the agony of euthanizing animals at a humane shelter on the East Coast. I'm glad you ran that article, because it sheds light on the heartbreaking work we're forced to do -- forced, because there are simply too many pets and not enough homes. There are too many dogs and cats left to starve on the streets, get hit by cars and die from disease.

We at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri open our doors and our hearts. We give the animals more love in their short time with us than many of them have experienced the first part of their lives. But we often take in 30 pets a day, and we only have so many cages. Something has got to give. The animals pay for irresponsible ownership with their lives.

We pet the animals, play with them and say a prayer as we put them to sleep. Then we weep for them. Yes, we euthanize. Some accuse us of killing. But we're not murderers. We agonize. The animals' furry faces haunt our dreams.

People often ask, "How can you do that? I can't even go to the shelter because it's so sad." Yes, it is sad. We desperately want to save all of the pets that come to us. We'd love to put ourselves out of business. But that won't happen until we break the cycle of pet overpopulation. That means all of us must be responsible pet owners and must spay or neuter our pets. Encourage your neighbors to do the same. Many people can't afford the surgery. How about underwriting the cost? Maybe you could sponsor one a year?

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri is working hard to help with spaying and neutering. You'll be hearing more in the next week about an exciting new program we're kicking off in cooperation with local veterinarians.

We also need more adopters to provide homes to these animals. They have so much love to give. And did you know we often get purebreds?

Please help relieve the heave burden we bear, the burden the animals pay for with their lives. We don't want them to die either. Remember, their future is in our hands.

AMY JACQUIN, Vice President

Humane Society of Southeast Missouri

Cape Girardeau