LETTERS: LOCAL SHELTER NEEDS HELP TO BE NO-KILL

To the editor:

Thank you for the moving article in Sunday's Southeast Missourian about shelter workers who must euthanize animals at the Richmond, Va., Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter. The same heartbreaking situation exists in our community, where thousands of loving, helpless dogs and cats have to be put to death because nobody wants them.

It doesn't have to continue. The measure of our own moral excellence is whether we treat other beings with compassion and respect. The sad necessity of killing healthy companion animals reflects poorly on all of us.

It is encouraging that director Robin Starr is striving to make the Richmond SPCA a no-kill shelter. Shelters in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Bozeman, Mont., have either reached or are near the no-kill goal. And they have realized this goal not by closing their doors to any animal, but by increased community awareness and support.

Cape Girardeau could join the list of those communities determined to stop killing adoptable companion animals. Each citizen can help by having his or her pets spayed or neutered, by adopting from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri shelter, by refusing to support puppy mills, by donating generously so our humane society can shelter more animals, and by encouraging City Council members and county commissioners to continue financial support of our local shelter.

We can make a difference. We can be better people and a better community. It just takes vision and commitment. STEPHEN W. STIGERS

Cape Girardeau