A Lack Of Interest

To the Editor:

As a former resident and founding member of Canine Advocates, my husband and I read with great dismay of the firing of Carolee Mason, the animal control officer. Many years ago, a handful of local residents heard that most of the dogs at our pound were euthanized. There was no adoption program, the dogs never left the pen for a walk, and the town officials paid no attention. We formed Canine Advocates not only to help rehabilitate and place dogs, but to bring attention to town government and Newtown residents.

A lot has changed down at the pound for the better, but I think what has happened again is lack of interest on the officials’ part, has it taken three years for them to realize she wasn’t doing her reports? Have they ever offered her any type of training or further education? Taking care of animals is a 24-hour-a-day job. There is no locking up on Friday, forget about work until Monday, weekends and holidays too. Sometimes people in the animal care business are not desk attentive but if more oversight had been given from officials this may not have happened. It is easy to forget about the pound sitting down there at the dump, until something came down on someone, and Carolee is paying the price.  

Rosie Crofutt

233 Bridlespur Farm, Keswick, Va.                              April 12, 2009