Politics should not play a role

Dear Editor:

It is regrettable that grandstanding on the Humane Society lease is detracting from significant progress made by the Commission on issues relating to animal control.

In attempts to secure their consent to the Humane Society proposal, the Commissioners have been subjected to alternately, offers of cash and claims of criminal charges during the hearings. Commissioner Brenda Hutchinson has been aware of the unacceptable conditions at the animal control shelter for almost six years, but failed to earlier propose any proactive improvement. She now champions a proposal that would benefit the no-kill Humane Society, whereby the Commission agrees to pay part of its overhead and incidentally employ two of its volunteers.

The Commission is correct in refusing to be bulldozed into an ill-advised marriage with the Humane Society. Animal control issues in this county are not subject to easy answers. They should not be papered over with a lease that will add zealotry and subjective standards of compliance to the existing problems.

Politics and partnership should not play a role in decisions relating to the humanitarian treatment of discarded pets. The Commission has yet to address basic administrative issues of animal control staffing, policies and procedures, and should be given an opportunity to do so without the distraction of demonstrations promised by petulant Humane Society supporters.

Dawn White
Berkeley Springs