Unfettered Letters

Adopted children are truly special

In my family, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Mom, Dad and Sis were all dark haired. I, on the other hand, had freckles and flaming red hair. Back in 1960, people thought nothing about approaching young children and asking them questions. The question to me was always, “Where did you get that beautiful red hair?” My answer would be, “I don’t know, ’cause I’m adopted.” People were so surprised by this, they would respond by giving me money to put in my pocket.

When I was 12, my father came to my room one night. Maybe he sensed my preteen anxieties and fears. Whatever the reason, that night he sat beside me in bed and said: “You are special because you were chosen. I love you as if you were my own blood.”

Adopted children are truly special, and so are the people who open up their hearts and lives to adopt a child. Thanks to them, and a special thanks to my mom and dad.

Mary Jo Wheeler
Kansas City

‘Adopt a family’ misleading

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, I’d like to request that well-meaning organizations refrain from using terms like “adopt a family” for Christmas service projects. As I tried to explain to my second-grade son, the club or church group doesn’t really mean that they are going to adopt a troubled teen or a needy family, but rather that they are merely going to try to help make their holidays better.

It’s hard enough for some adopted children to understand their histories without confusing them in this way. It also really diminishes the significance of adoption as forever family-building when the term is used to describe projects that involve a couple of weeks of collecting gifts for people you’ll probably never even see.

May I instead suggest these project names: sponsor-a-family for the holidays, secret Santa, helpful elf, holiday helping hands, gift drives or Christmas angels.

Alyce Leytham
Adoptive mother
Lawson, Mo.

Tail wags for Humane Society

A big thank-you to the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, Karen Sands and all the Society’s staff. We recently adopted a beautiful puppy, and it has been a wonderful experience from such a caring and professional organization.

For a nominal adoption fee, our healthy puppy had already been neutered and microchipped. All the vaccinations were covered, including rabies and deworming, and flea and heartworm prevention were started.

Our puppy also received a leather collar with an ID tag, leash, a bag of premium dog food and a bag full of toys.

When we returned for booster shots (included), our puppy received prompt attention, and we were in and out in no time. Flea and tick and heartworm medications can also be purchased at the Society at a reduced price.

We encourage everyone to please consider adopting young and older pets from the HSGKC or your local shelter.

Terry and Julie Eggers
Olathe

Purrfect Pet adoption center

Purrfect Pets is one of the best places to adopt in the city.

We have experienced both adoption and have had some homeless cats adopted by this organization.

The cats that enter and leave Purrfect Pets are observed, treated for any health issues, neutered, spayed, socialized and loved before adoption is allowed.

The reason for this is the welfare of both animals and their future homes. Their adoptions are successful because of all the time and care that is taken in placing a cat or cats in the right environment for all concerned.

A cat is not a cat is not a cat. They all have different needs, personalities, etc. The Purrfect Pet shelter is non profit, operated on donations, largely by the founder and volunteers.

These people are very dedicated and I feel complaints have been unfair and uninformed.

Sally Krizman
Overland Park

Horror of puppy mills

If you tuned in to the recent “Oprah Winfrey Show” regarding puppy mills, surely you were horrified to discover the atrocities happening in many puppy mills around the country.

If you didn’t see the episode, you missed seeing dogs that had metal pipes shoved down their throats to damage their vocal cords so severely they would be unable to bark. You missed seeing rescued dogs that had to learn to walk because they had spent their entire lives in cages with only enough room to stand. You missed seeing more than 40 beautiful, friendly dogs being euthanized in one day at a Fort Worth animal shelter because there was no room for them and no one to adopt them.

If our society can allow these poor innocent animals to be treated this way, it doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to understand why there is so much violence perpetrated against women and children, another vulnerable population. Please visit hsus.org to find out what you can do to help stop animal abuse.

Finally, please visit your local animal shelters to find a dog in desperate need of a soft place to land.

R. A. Dyer
Lee’s Summit

Not all cats do well with kids

On behalf of Purrfect Pets, I have the following comments for Justin Amberson (4/9, Letters, “Family denied cat adoption”).

It is our mission at Purrfect Pets to find the best possible homes for each of our animals. The cat in question had come from a home in which he did not do well with a visiting 1-year old grandchild. Our first obligation is to our cats, and we try hard to place them appropriately.

Mr. Amberson failed to mention that the volunteer he spoke with directed his wife to another cat that had done beautifully with younger children. She refused to consider her.

Mr. Amberson feels that our adoption system is fundamentally flawed, but we have established these parameters to protect both owner and cat. We thrive on long-term partnerships between human and beast. We do not thrive on returns.

Jennifer Zaman
Volunteer, Purrfect Pets
Overland Park

Family denied cat adoption

My wife and I recently decided to bring a second cat into our home. Instead of paying hundreds to a retail store, we chose adoption from a shelter.

With our calm, 18-month-old daughter, we set our sights on an adult male cat. Grown cats have a harder time being adopted.

It turns out, the cat we desired must have told Purrfect Pets beforehand that he prefers “older children.” We were rudely turned away because the volunteer thought our gentle toddler might hurt the cat. She wouldn’t even let us get acquainted.

This is the same place that has a half-ton of fluorescent yellow signs telling how hard it is for the adoption business. Too many cats are taken in, but not enough families are adopting.

Purrfect Pets will never see any of our family’s money. To Purrfect Pets, having a child precluded us from adopting a cat.

Justin Amberson
Overland Park

Adoption tax credits

In August 2007, I sent the following letter to Gov. Matt Blunt, Rep. Sam Graves, state Sen. Charlie Shields and Rep. Jason Brown:

My wife and I adopted two special-needs children over three years ago. This was an enormously expensive venture, but we took some comfort in the fact that Missouri offered adoption tax credits for people like us.

We filled out all the appropriate paperwork. To our disappointment, we were told that due to limited funds, only a portion of our promised refund would be awarded us.

The next tax year, 2006, we applied for the remainder of our special-needs adoption credit. Once again, we were disappointed. We were told that Missouri would be keeping these funds for at least six months, and that we could not even apply for a refund until July 1.

On July 1, we sent in our paperwork again. As of this writing, we have not heard back from the Department of Revenue.

We cannot help but think that if it becomes widely known that Missouri does not make good on adoption credits, the number of adoptions in our state will diminish.

Please help make refunds of special-needs adoption tax credits a priority. Our state's unwanted children need your help.

Raymond E. Smith
Platte City

Pets with serious illness

In response to the “Pets of the Week” article (2/27, FYI) featuring Murdoc, a 7 1/2-year-old Min Pin turned over to Second Chance Pet Adoptions by his owner because of the dog’s diabetic condition: I find it disgusting that an owner would give up his dog because of a health-related matter

Pet ownership is an expensive responsibility. It is difficult to find yourselves in a position of considering spending thousands of dollars to care for an animal with an incurable disease.

At the end of the day, we all have to weigh our options. When Murdoc’s owner found himself in this position, the more responsible choice would have been to have his pet humanely euthanized.

It takes strength and courage to end your pet’s suffering. Dropping him off at a shelter does not. Now, not only is the dog suffering with a disease, he must surely be suffering from a broken heart since being abandoned by his owner.

Euthanasia may seem cruel, and many may feel Murdoc can go on to find another home. I hope this happens. Unfortunately, an older, special-needs animal isn’t going to do well in the adoption world competing with thousands of healthy animals needing homes.

Sheri Wormsley
Kansas City

Many pets need homes

I recently read in The Star’s Liberty Neighborhood News section about Janice Thom, who helps rescue and foster Dobermans.

I want to tell anyone thinking of getting a dog to try the Humane Society, Wayside Waifs or any kennel where dogs have been rescued from abusive homes or found as strays.

A year ago I adopted a rescued, 14-month-old Maltese. He and his brother had been rescued from a breeder (or puppy mill). He was pitiful: underweight, gunk in his ears, dental problems and other issues. It took a long time for me to gain his trust and get him on the right road to recovery. The one word I use for him now is “delightful.”

He had been used to sire puppies. Would you want to buy a puppy with such a father?

I went online to look for a rescued dog, and there are dogs or every breed, age, size and color. You won’t be disappointed if you have the desire and time to put into helping an abused animal have a wonderful happy life.

Linda Bishop
Excelsior Springs

No unwanted babies

Recently, we watched as two loving families pleaded for the adoption of a baby boy named Max. It brought into full understanding that there are no unwanted babies. There were probably hundreds of local couples who would have happily adopted this little boy.

There are, we know, unplanned pregnancies, but that doesn’t mean unwanted babies.

The birth mother gave her son the greatest gift she could have by loving him enough to give him the precious gift of life. That was one thing no one else could give him. Even though she wasn’t able to raise him, both she and Max will always know he was and is loved.

Anne Dougherty
Olathe

Adoption ruling

If the rebuke issued by Judge John O’Malley in the Gary Stocklaufer adoption case is accurate — and I have no reason to believe that it is not — and the weight of the people involved had nothing to do with the previous rulings and it was just a case of them not following the rules, it shows just how easy it is for individuals to manipulate the media, particularly the ratings-hungry TV outlets. And there’s the tendency of the media to report only one side of an issue (12/19, A-1, “Adoption fracas is over”).

The media reports what it thinks the news should be and, very often, this is only part of the story. The coverage of the judge’s statement was significantly less than the original reports that the couple was denied an adoption because of obesity.

David Daniels
Overland Park

Adoptees’ records

I worked for months to locate information regarding the names and locations of my two adopted children’s moms (11/12, A-2, “Group: Adoptees’ records should be available”).

They are grown now — 41 and 39 — but had an even greater need as adults to integrate their heritage with their present, to obtain medical information and be able to meet, have a relationship with (if agreeable) and possibly expand our family to include two moms and other relatives.

I cannot understand why adoptees cannot have the same rights to their birth records as the rest of us. Just because someone had decided it would “cause trouble” is absolutely not a reason to keep the records closed.

I love my children, and I have learned there are many birth moms out there who love the children they relinquished. I have found my children’s birth moms, and somehow I feel like I have accomplished what I was supposed to. Both moms were overjoyed in being “found.”

I have found two wonderful, loving, caring women who are now good friends. I feel blessed, but it would have been so much easier and less expensive if the laws were changed to protect the rights of our children.

Judy Sickler
Raytown

Consider adoption

Today in Kansas, some 6,000 children are in foster care with more than 800 waiting to be placed in a permanent, loving home.

Those are the numbers. But the children are the story.

There’s Thomas, age 11, who loves the outdoors and more than anything wants a dad who will take him fishing. Siblings Tranika and Trevon, 10 and 9, who not only want a family that will keep them together, but will also let them continue to be involved in church. And then there’s Josh, who at 16 is desperate to find a family. He wants a place to always call home and parents who will guide and support him into adulthood.

November is National Adoption Month. A time to celebrate all the joys adoption brings and raise awareness of the deserving children still waiting to find their forever family.

There is a critical need for foster and adoptive parents across the nation and right here in Kansas — especially those who will adopt teens and sibling groups.

For more than 100 years, the Kansas Children’s Service League has been helping build families through adoption. Please visit www.kcsl.org or call 1-877-530-5275 for more information.

Janet Schalansky
President and CEO, Kansas Children’s Service League
Topeka

Black cats are OK

I would just like to say thanks to Robin Rowland of the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City for mentioning the plight of black cats (10/31, FYI, “Lucky and loved”). I have been told by several people who work at shelters that black cats still suffer from lingering superstition when people come to adopt. How sad. Black cats are not bad luck. They are just cats, like every other cat only with black fur.

Please, if you are thinking about adopting a cat, consider getting a black cat. Other cats fare better for adoption that black cats. For their safety, they should be house cats only — they can unfortunately be mistreated if allowed to roam loose.

No animal should be passed over because it has the “wrong” color fur.

Jude Nicholson
Independence

Praise for shelter

We adopted an animal in Belton. We had to jump through a lot of hoops and answer what some might think was intrusive questions. We spoke many times to the foster mother.

I thank them for that care. I would like to think that if something happened to us, our pets would be treated the same.

This is a no-kill shelter. A lot of constraints are put on it. It even takes care of cats with feline AIDS and leukemia. Those are the ones that are usually euthanized immediately at other shelters. We took care of a cat with both, and it is not easy. She lived 5½ healthy and happy years.

We go to great lengths to make sure our cats do not “slip out,” even with strangers coming in and out to do repairs, etc. We are getting up in years and don’t move as fast, so it takes a lot of planning.

Please do not put down such a fine organization because it doesn’t suit your wishes. It has rules, and it abides by them.

Three cheers to the fine work, done under many handicaps, to HELP Humane Society in Belton.

Diane Lohnes
Independence

Animal shelters

Adopt a shelter pet

According to Michelle Dormady, president of Spay and Neuter Kansas City, hundreds of homes are available for a dog with a tragic story (8/19, Local, “Reward offered in hurt-dog case; A tan shepherd mix was found last week without a hind leg, apparently deliberately cut off”).

Facilities such as Wayside Waifs, Animal Haven and Pet Connection are full of animals with stories of abuse, neglect and abandonment. They don’t get their stories and pictures in the newspaper, but these animals are no less deserving of your consideration.

Please, if you have room in your heart and your home for an animal with a sad story, finding one is as easy as contacting your local shelter. Do it for Misty.

Charmaine Ward
Prairie Village

HELP does great work

I am writing concerning Kathleen Atwel’s diatribe (8/15, Letters) against HELP Humane Society in Belton.

Kathleen, how dare you criticize a shelter in which cats and dogs — even special-needs animals that suffer rare diseases and physical abnormalities — receive loving homes until they are adopted?

I have volunteered at HELP weekly since May, when The Star published an article about it.

Animal welfare is my passion, and I can say that HELP indeed provides the best home — both loving and sanitary — for all its animals. The shelter is swept, mopped and wiped down daily with bleach, and volunteers go through 18 loads of laundry per day. Food bowls and litter boxes are cleaned every day, and the animals are all provided fresh food and water — along with TLC — daily

When Cyndi Dill, the shelter director, is approached by a potential adopter, her first priority is the animal’s safety.

I think it is outrageous that you have the nerve to criticize a nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter and a warm home to more than 100 animals that otherwise would be homeless.

For those reading this, visit HELP and meet Cyndi so you can see the wonderful results of her efforts.

Lauren Bizorik
Kansas City

Unfair to shelter

As one familiar with the excellent work of the Belton Humane Society, I am inclined to believe there is more to the story printed in the Letters column on Aug. 15.

The sole purpose of the shelter and those so committed to it is to find good homes for the neglected, abandoned and abused pets in their care. It defies credibility that an animal would not be placed if an applicant could provide a safe and appropriate environment.

Last year I applied for (and received) a sweet cat. She had been declawed yet was loose on the streets. I appreciate that shelter officials are particular about prospective “parents.” It certainly would be the easier route for them (but not for their charges) to just place animals with anyone who completes the application and pays the adoption fee.

I trust “those who have a heart for animals in the Belton area” will “get involved” (quoting from Wednesday’s letter writer) by supporting and encouraging the work of their shelter.

Gayle Hilligoss
Pleasant Hill

I am so annoyed by the letter from Kathleen Atwel (8/15) that I can barely gather my thoughts.

Ms. Atwel was clearly miffed that her mother was (rightly, it sounded like) refused adoption of two cats. So she claims that the condition of the shelter is unsanitary.

I have been to the Belton shelter. I support the Belton shelter. I have seen how hard Cyndi Dill and her volunteers work to create a clean, calm and caring space for the animals who live there while waiting for real homes. Many of these poor creatures land at the shelter because of their owners’ lax attitude that they “might possibly escape.”

The Belton shelter is desperately in need of funds and responsible adopters. I am sure if Ms. Atwell’s mother was honest and adamant about keeping the cats inside, the shelter would have been more than thrilled to have placed them.

I applaud Cyndi Dill’s hard work and integrity.

Susan Genova
Mission

Humane society

I am writing in regards to the sad state in which I have found the Belton Humane Society. My recently widowed mother needed companionship, so I took her there to pick out two cats.

There were cats in every corner and chair. I thought it unsanitary. But, we were there to rescue, so Mom filled out the papers and we were told she would be reviewed.

Mom worked to get her house ready. She’s meticulously clean, very protective over anything she owns, including her pets. Mom was turned down to adopt because she wants to keep the cats inside, but she explained that they might possibly escape. She lives on a dead-end road with no traffic, and they’d be safe until they could get put back inside.

They told her she wasn’t fit to have a cat because she admitted there’s a chance her cats could slip out the door. Mom was devastated. Whoever has a heart for animals in the Belton area can get involved.

Kathleen P. Atwel
Cleveland, Mo.

Greyhound adoption

This responds to a letter (6/16) from National Greyhound Association’s Gary Guccione referring to my friend, Bill Oliver, founder of Kansas City’s Retired Greyhounds as Pets (REGAP).

The American Greyhound Council is a joint effort of the NGA (breeders and kennels) and the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (tracks), both of which profit from greyhound racing.

The AGC places some greyhounds, but most adoptions result from volunteers like Bill and Cher Oliver and groups like REGAP.

AGC grants prohibit those groups from being negative about the racing industry, without which adoptions would be unnecessary.

Guccione calls greyhounds “lovable dogs” but defends Kansas laws exempting racing greyhounds from protections afforded other Kansas dogs.

Bill, who used much of his livelihood for greyhounds, asked for a greyhound in his hospital room. Guccione’s livelihood depends on greyhound racing revenue.

Impressions readers should have: People profiting are in it for greed; Bill’s motivation was love for the breed.

Kevin Neuman
KCREGAP board member
GREY2K USA board vice president
Overland Park

Foster children, parents

The tragic death of Kelsey Smith has impacted the entire community, including me. I have daughters near her age.

If Edwin Hall is guilty of this crime, I see this tragedy as only the most recent in the string of largely preventable tragedies that are his life.

The media have reported that he was a foster child. I don’t know the circumstances of his birth family, but many foster children have been neglected or abused by their birth families and removed for their protection.

Hall was later adopted by a family that disrupted that adoption eight years later when he threatened his adoptive sister with a knife.

I see frightened parents searching for ways to prevent senseless violence. They want to protect their children. Instead of living in fear, they should work to prevent child abuse.

When child abuse cannot be prevented, focus on the people who bring these hurting kids into their homes, and find ways to help and support them so that healing can happen.

Raising abused children is a daunting task, and our community must find ways to help and support the families who open up their homes to do the job for all of us.

Healing hurt kids prevents future random violence, for all of our kids.

Lori Ross, executive director
Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association
Independence

Giuliani’s adoption agenda

This is in response to Steve Kraske’s story “GOP presidential front-runner at back of pack for abortion foes” (6/15, A-1) about Rudy Giuliani and social conservatives.

As mayor, Rudy Giuliani dramatically increased the number of adoptions in New York City. They skyrocketed 133 percent during his eight-year tenure compared with the eight years before he took office.

He streamlined the adoption process, slashing red tape and promoting adoptions through innovative initiatives such as “Adoption Saturdays,” where family courts held special sessions.

This doesn’t erase important differences we have with Rudy on abortion. And it doesn’t remove it as one issue that social conservatives deeply care about. But Rudy’s adoption agenda is an effective, concrete method to promote positive values we all share.

He promoted a culture of personal responsibility as mayor of New York. Under his watch, abortions decreased by 16.8 percent. That outpaced the nationwide decline by 30 percent. It is his stated goal to achieve a similar reduction in the United States if elected president.

The bottom line is that he can win the Republican nomination and the general election. He shares our commitment to winning the war on terror, promoting bold, fiscally conservative policies, and appointing strict constructionist judges.

David Vitter
Republican U.S. senator
Metairie, La.
Ted Olson
Former solicitor general of the United States
Washington

Pet adoption tales

After reading Margot Verheaghe’s account of her “Failed cat adoption” (4/5, Letters), I wanted to recount my experience with the Humane Society.

In October, I e-mailed my application, and, within a short time, someone called and said I would not be eligible. The reason: I had stated I would let the cat out sometimes when we were with it. I told her that I had written this not knowing the rules and that I would change the application to follow their guidelines. I was told they didn’t do things that way and, by the way, there was a sickness at the kennel. She suggested I go someplace else.

We did go someplace else. That following Saturday, we went to PetSmart and adopted a 2-year-old calico. We were given a bag filled with food, toys, blanket and so on, and left with a feeling we had done something really good. The agency: Safe Harbor.

Boots Linden
De Soto, Kan.

Failed cat adoption

I recently tried to adopt a cat from an area Humane Society. I sent in my application, and within 16 minutes I was turned down, with the suggestion I call other places.

I e-mailed back information about our home and love of animals. I then received a phone call from the director with a vague explanation of why she didn’t want me to adopt the cat. Again, she suggested I call other places.

At one point she told me there was “sickness at the kennel.” When I mentioned that my co-worker had just been there and wasn’t told about this, she said she was concerned because I have three outdoor dogs and two outdoor cats now. But I told her, and put on the application, that this cat would live indoors.

This just doesn’t make sense. There are so many unwanted animals that need good homes. Why didn’t they check out anything on my application, such as calling my veterinarian of 26 years? How many other people have been turned down this way?

The sad thing is that cat missed out on a life of being loved and spoiled at my home.

Margot Verheaghe
Wellsville, Kan.

Adoption rights

Once again Missouri lawmakers are denying adult adoptees born in Missouri the basic right of access to their original birth certificates.
In the past few years, bills that would give adoptees these rights have been sponsored, read and presented to committees, where they die.
HB509, which would give adult adoptees the basic right, is sponsored by Rep. Connie “LaJoyce” Johnson. The bill is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.
Lawmakers have given me several different reasons why this bill does not get the attention that it deserves. Their excuses are shallow.
Some religious groups that profit from adoption are totally against any bill that would allow adult adoptees these rights.
The world has changed. Adoption is not the shameful, secretive business that it was in the past. It is a beautiful thing. However, adult adoptees born in Missouri are still denied the right to know who they are and to access important family medical history.
Ina Lewis
Blue Springs

Bass children’s story

The recent front-page article on the Bass children brought home the need for qualified foster/adoptive parents who are willing to give the love and attention that these children needed (1/21, “Survivors endure with care and love”).

They have gone through more than any of us can imagine having to deal with.

I want to tell them that they can be anything they want, and they have themselves to congratulate when they succeed in life. But without the families who helped on this path, I hate to think where they would have been.

Black or white, love, time and attention are what they needed and what they received from their parents.

I wish them the best and hope they succeed in all of their endeavors in life.

Barbara McAdams
Independence

12 cats of Christmas

Although I appreciate the entertainment value of your recent series in FYI featuring the 12 cats (and 12 dogs last year) of Christmas, I have a suggestion for next year: Can you try to photograph animals from area shelters instead of those already lucky enough to have homes?

These animals might be adopted — or euthanized — prior to publication, but it would make everyone more aware of all the adorable cats and dogs awaiting new and lifetime homes.

Laurel Litle Clark
Lee’s Summit

Editor’s note: Features editors say that trained animals are easier to photograph than shelter animals and pets. The “Pet of the Week,” which promotes animal adoption, continues in FYI.

Adopting a dog

Regarding Rae Watson’s letter (10/10), my family had similar experiences with Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter and Wayside Waifs when we were looking to adopt a new dog after our family pet died last summer after 14 great years.

After stating that the medium-to-large-size dog we wanted to adopt would spend a significant amount of time outside — although not in extreme heat, cold or storms — we were treated rudely by staff members.

At Wayside Waifs, they did everything possible to discourage us from adopting.

Our experiences at these two shelters were completely disheartening, and I have lost all respect for them.

Fortunately, the wonderful people at Gladstone Animal Shelter worked with us, and now we have a new canine companion in our family who enjoys running and playing in our backyard.

It’s sad to see the dogs caged up at the shelters when there are so many people willing to adopt. The policies and attitudes at these shelters should encourage adoption instead of turning families away simply because they want an outside dog. Not an exiled, ignored animal, but a family pet who happens to be well-suited to outside living.

Aaron Henton
Kansas City

Dog rescue groups

A writer (10/10, Letters) takes exception to the name “rescue groups,” saying “they won’t turn loose the ones they have, even when an acceptable home is offered.”

A year ago we adopted a dog from a local rescue group. Yes, the questionnaire was lengthy and detailed. Yes, there was a home visit.

The dog we wanted to adopt had been through a harrowing few years, having lived only outdoors. He had health and emotional issues that his foster family patiently worked through.

The rescue group was adamant that its dogs not be left outdoors and that they be given exercise and training.

The foster “mom” helped to assimilate our new guy into a household with a 10-year-old dog, and her suggestions were invaluable. It was a positive and rewarding experience that we will repeat.

The writer believes that a fenced acre is fine for an animal. But what, indeed, is the point of having an animal companion when it’s left outdoors?

Rescue groups endeavor to find the best possible home for the dogs. The standards they set are for the benefit of the rescued dog rather than for the comfort of the prospective owner and other animals in the household.

Candi Ayres Phillips
Merriam

I have one question for Rae Watson regarding her letter about animal rescue groups: If you want dogs so badly, then why do you keep them in the backyard? The point of animal rescue or adoption is to help an animal, not to place them in a situation where they are left alone outside.

If you don’t believe that a dog belongs in your house, or you’re afraid of dealing with a little fur on the couch, then it would probably be best if you’d just not adopt another dog.

Sarah Havens
Overland Park

Dog classifieds

The Star classifieds regularly contain hundreds of listings for dogs and puppies. How sad.

Given the fact that millions of innocent dogs and puppies are exterminated every year in this country, it’s almost unfathomable that our lawmakers choose to ignore this issue and allow greedy individuals to continue to profit from this unethical industry.

If you’re considering buying a puppy, please know that many of those advertised in newspapers and on the Internet, and nearly all puppies sold in pet stores, come from puppy mills.

Missouri and Kansas are among the most puppy mill-infested states in the country. If you don’t know what a puppy mill is, learn the sad truth by going to westierescueofmissouri.com, puppymillrescue.com or prisonersofgreed.org.

Our legislatures don’t care about this. If you do, write and let them know.

Petfinder.com is a wonderful resource for finding homeless pets in your area and approximately one-third are purebred, if that’s important to you.

Sharon Hall
Atchison

Animal adoption

I found your May 13 FYI article on the requirements of animal shelters curious. I have been a daily volunteer at Animal Haven for the past five years. I am currently walking a shepherd mix that is a perfect dog. She was adopted and ended up back at Animal Haven after two months. The people said they didn’t have time for her.

She was depressed, ate only reluctantly and mainly lay around with her head on her paws. After three weeks of work, she has responded nicely and is back to the cheerful, energetic dog she was before this ill-fated adoption.

I adopted from Animal Haven before I became a volunteer. We enter into an ethical contract with the animals in our care. Anything less would be irresponsible.

Ronald Roberts
Lenexa

Adoption hurdles

As adoptive mothers, we found the statement in a May 13 FYI story that adopting a pet was “nearly as daunting as adopting a child” callous and ignorant.

Filling out a three-page pet adoption application cannot compare to the application process for adopting a child.

We’ve adopted pets and children. “Daunting” doesn’t even begin to describe the experience of adopting a child. We hope the writer will choose her words more carefully next time.

Laura Cline
Cyndy Novacek
Olathe