EDITOR:
I was deeply saddened by what in my opinion was an unwarranted, unsubstantiated, and inaccurate attack on Cherie Owen (current president of DAWG) by Rod Moore in the May 15 Record-Courier. This attack was based on Ms. Owen's comments at the May 5 parks department meeting on the then proposed"and now approved"motocross park.
Mr. Moore accused Ms. Owen of being immature, grossly irresponsible, unfairly critical and judgmental of county employees, and willing to vilify anyone opposed to her ideology. I leave it to the others attending the meeting and to the community at large who know of the good and honorable work of DAWG, and of Cherie Owen in particular, to make their own judgment as to the validity of this characterization. Through personal experience, I know that it is absolutely wrong.
Regarding specific statements that Mr. Moore attributed to Ms. Owen, they quite simply were not made. I was sitting beside Ms. Owen when she spoke. She did not say that the county shelter no longer "kills animals for fun," nor did she "essentially" say, as Mr. Moore wrote, that county employees "killed animals for mere enjoyment."
She did say that when she first started volunteering at the shelter, the staff had weekly meetings to decide which dogs were to be killed. The staff did not hold these meetings because it was "fun" but because a lack of funds made it a necessity. It is a verifiable fact that through the efforts of DAWG, adoptable animals are no longer regularly put down at the shelter.
Some of you may have felt that using the word "killed" was inappropriate. But what other word carries the impact to symbolize the failure of our society that requires us to kill beautiful, healthy creatures for no other reason than a lack of funds. Now, when the staff must rarely perform this sad task, it is truly an act of mercy. The animals are "humanely euthanized" because they have reached their end time due to age, injury, illness, or most sad, a vicious nature generally imposed on them by human mistreatment. I sincerely believe that the shelter staff is extremely grateful that they no longer have to kill animals on a regular basis, but can now kindly and humanely help those who have reached their end time.
Unfortunately, there is no quality recording of the May 5 meeting for verification of my words. However, there is a recording of the May 7 commissioners meeting where Ms. Owen also spoke. That recording is available to the public and supports Ms. Owen's mature and respectful behavior.
In closing, I'd like to share with you the words of Gandhi: "You can judge a society by the way it treats its animals." DAWG exists in great part due to the passion and hard work of Cherie Owen. I am privileged to be a part of this group and content with the honorable methods employed to bring about our goal of a better life for the animals of Douglas County.
Tina Dillion
Gardnerville
