Is The Humane Treatment Of

Animals Still Part Of The Mission?

To the Editor:

There were two questions raised by the recent hearings held to consider reinstatement of Carolee Mason. The first was: Should a big-hearted animal control officer who was widely respected by her animal welfare colleagues and by the town’s residents be unceremoniously dumped after three years when paperwork errors and other minor discretions came to the attention of her superiors? Or should the town hold on to the talent and commitment she brought to the job while assisting in addressing her deficiencies? That question was answered last week by the two selectpersons who reinstated her with the requirement that she receive some additional training. Well done, Mr Mangiafico and Mr Rosenthal, you are to be commended for your evenhanded assessment of the situation. You make Newtown proud.

However there was a second question raised by the hearings and often mentioned as grounds for Carolee’s dismissal. That was: Would Newtown Animal Control be a humane agency that sees its mandate as more than protecting citizens from rabid dogs and assessing fines for dogs without licenses? Carolee and her predecessor, Gerri Breyan, by their actions had said Yes, that they would respond to calls about injured and stray cats and would dedicate a small space in the pound to their recovery and adoption. And they would answer calls about injured wildlife not with a shotgun but with an open mind as to whether the animal could be helped by a licensed rehabilitator. They had established relationships with wildlife crisis centers to take injured raccoons, geese, deer, etc. And for that show of humanity, often on her own time and dime, Carolee was criticized by her superiors.

I will repeat what I said in an earlier letter: animal control around the state has changed to reflect the realities of the 21st Century. You can’t do animal control anymore and not deal with cats (humanely). Carolee’s reinstatement now provides us with the opportunity to have a discussion about the future of Newtown’s animal control agency. Let’s involve all of the community’s animal welfare groups and any concerned citizens in this discussion. And let’s pass an ordinance to allow our pound to include cats in its care.

Karlyn Sturmer

22 Old Green Road, Sandy Hook                                   June 24, 2009