Support your local animal shelter

To the editor:

I am Jack, the big white dog, who lives at the Animal Shelter on 124, near the airport in the valley. It seems to me that you all need to know what goes on here, and I was elected to tell the story.

We animals that live here are taken care of as well as Miss Melanie can, given what little money she has. We think it's time you all know how slim and how cold/hot it can get!

We get fed (1) every day; our sleeping quarters are cleaned daily and our blankies washed (2) and dried. Sometimes we get sick or arrive on this doorstep ill/injured/neglected/a mess. Miss Melanie sees that we get medicine, a trip to to the vet (3) and loving care. Some people play with us when they come, and we like that a lot, especially ear rubs and belly rubs.

Those of us who are canine generally sleep in the back room where it's bigger and we can move around more. We go outside some too.

Those felines who come get the same attention as we do, but I really think they get played with more. I can't totally confirm that, and miss Melanie doesn't play favorites. She's smart like that. The cats get paper in their boxes (I guess they read in the evening; we dogs don't bother with such stuff.) They have potty boxes (4), food and water dishes – their own apartments, you might say.

Now, I've been putting numbers in here for a reason: to let you know where there are specific costs involved. No, I don't go to the supermarket, but thank heavens for all those generous people who do and bring stuff out here that matches those numbers!

1. Cat food, dog food, kitten and puppy foods, treats for cats and dogs for when meds have to be given.

2. Washing and drying our bedding takes a lot of laundry detergent.

3. Vets aren't cheap! There are shots when we first get here and then other visits if someone gets sick.

4. Kitty litter for those lazy cats who don't leave their apartments to potty.

All these things are expensive, and Miss Melanie isn't rich, nor does she have a regular income from anywhere for us.

Then, there are bills for lights, water, sewer, taxes and all that.

We are not a line item for the commissioners; they don't visit, either. I wold greet them really nicely if they did.

One other thing: if you visit, you would notice the condition of this place. It's not real red hot! The places where we dogs run needs new fencing and fewer mud holes.

The gates and such need work. Miss Melanie's area with the kitties desperately needs remodeled so she would have adequate space for a washer/dryer, bathroom, storage for food and supplies, an office for her and a room for cats. It all needs to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It's sort of the opposite right now: just those cement blocks and no insulation.

I'll tell you, friends, Miss Melanie does an amazing job with what she has, but we animals have been discussing it, and we think she needs these updates and things pretty soon. See, lots more animal friends have been in and out of here because people can't keep them. It makes a huge load for Miss Melanie. She doesn't growl like we do, but some days she should.

Some of us animals have wondered if Eagle Scouts or another organization would adopt the whole shelter here for a project. Especially Scouts as their Eagle project. We love Eagles, love to see them fly. They are so graceful; maybe they would take us flying on their wings.

I digress slightly; truthfully, we need help here. Maybe you could be the one or know someone who will help us get things in a better state.

Thanking you so much,
Jack, the Big White Dog

(Editor's note: "Jack the Big White Dog" is an alias. The author's identity is known to the newspaper. Archie, the Small Brown Cat, actually wrote this.)