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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1992                   TAG: 9201080312
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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PROBLEMS AT SPCA NOT PUT TO REST

REGARDING Robert A. Webb's letter Dec. 13 on SPCA problems: That letter was nothing more than hogwash! As a volunteer for the SPCA, I examined week after week problems within.

While volunteering one Sunday, I mistakenly opened the door to euthanasia. A mistake it was! Hundreds of flies flew into my face, a horrid odor besieged me. There were countless plastic bags on the floor, it appeared, leaking blood and other body fluids. To my left, in a metal cage, were three kittens, two of which had swollen eyes. I did not see any food or water.

From what I understood from the person there, the kittens had been there since the day before. Why were these poor kittens left in this dirty room? Couldn't the staff have taken the time to put them "to rest" before leaving Saturday? Why let them sit in this, this place called euthanasia? The person there did "put them to rest." But after they had sat in a cage all night, subjected to stench, flies and possibly, no food or water.

For almost three years now, this organization has been adamant to separate itself from the former organization (prior to early 1989) and its problems. However, let it be known, the SPCA's administrator was employed and terminated under the former "troubled" management.

Thank God for some disgruntled former employees! They gave up everything - their jobs, their only source of income - in hopes that this community would step in and discharge those responsible for the many atrocities that they have brought to our attention.

CARLA J. SHAW

HARDY

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