On animal shelter, critics should keep their mouths shut

For the last couple of weeks I've been reading the articles, editorials and comments about Newbury Park Feed's owner, who rescues dogs from Kern County shelters.

I feel that only one side is being presented, and the comments made about the Agoura Animal Shelter and its manager were cruel and inappropriate.

While Joshua deserves accolades for his big heart and attempts to save animals, he cannot be exempt from the rules and regulations that govern all others.

These rules and regulations have been made to protect not only the animals; they serve to protect petstore owners, customers and workers alike. Having worked with numerous wonderful rescue organizations, shelters, including the Agoura Animal Shelter, and animal welfare groups, I have firsthand knowledge of what it takes to undertake this type of project.

It's unfortunate that Josh is trying to do good things and it's coming at a high cost; however, this isn't an easy undertaking.

This type of work requires tremendous effort, has large amounts of paperwork, costs lots of money, and there are numerous regulations to meet, but it can supply much satisfaction as well. That doesn't negate however, that there are laws, which must be adhered to by anyone involved in this type of work.

More importantly, regarding the Agoura Animal Shelter, shame on the Acorn editor and others who have maligned our local shelter or staff. They've been rated one of the top in the country for their returntoowner rate and amazing adoption rate.

Their euthanasia rate is one of the lowest around, and the people who work there are dedicated to the animals. We're truly fortunate to have such a fine shelter in our local area; they're a cut above the rest. Before making disparaging remarks and accusations, how about having some hard-core facts?

What possible purpose would it serve for them to unfairly target Joshua's endeavors? If he's appropriately adopting out pets and meeting regulations, he helps to save unwanted pets and reduce overcrowding in the shelters, the leading reason for euthanasia.

This makes their job easier. To infer that they would "pick on" him because they're worried about lost revenues or it's a power play is ridiculous. The casting of aspersions on the shelter manager, who's committed to animal welfare, is meanspirited and uncalled for.

Brandy Paterak Newbury Park