Question sudden urgency
Dear Editor:
I do not question the conditions of the Morgan County Animal Control Facilities, I know they are bad. I do question however the sudden urgency for a group of citizens to have the kennels permanently closed.
These kennels have been in place for years — perhaps more than a decade since they were created. I do not recall seeing protests, letters, or much more than perhaps some idle conversation from a few folks about the conditions of those kennels.
It was not until early this year after the Humane Society of Morgan County announced they could no longer accept dogs that this idea of the kennels not being fit for use got a real life. Anyone who reads The Morgan Messenger knows there have been a large number of controversies surrounding the Humane Society. They have been virtually pushing volunteers and contributors away through their terrible customer service attitude and lack of gratitude for the volunteers they had.
When they finally got to the point that they could no longer sustain providing for dogs and cats, this idea of having the county use the dog kennels at the HSMC came to light. What savior this would be to the HSMC — to have the government pay half of all their expenses, and hire their part-time staff.
Who can blame Commissioners Brad Close and Stacy Dugan for not going for this “generous” offer? I would not do business with this organization either. In fact, I was a board member for just over six months last year until I realized I was being lied to and misled on a number of fronts. I finally quit in December when I found out, from an ad in The Morgan Messenger, that a dog had been euthanized recently — even though I specifically asked that question to the board and was told it had been so long since that had happened they could not recall when it was.
The county does need a better solution to what it has now for the dogs of the county. But shutting down kennels without a plan or working with the HSMC is not the answer.
Please note that the opinions expressed in this letter are mine, and do not reflect the opinion of my employer.
David McDonald
Berkeley Springs
