SPCA `CHARGES' MAINLY A FAMILY AFFAIR

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

DATE: MONDAY, January 13, 1992                   TAG: 9201130218
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOBBI NAGY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
SPCA `CHARGES' MAINLY A FAMILY AFFAIR
WE AT THE Roanoke Valley Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have been hoping that Ted Armsworthy and his family members would eventually grow tired of writing letters to the editor. I know that we are growing tired of reading them.
There is little an organization can do (short of an expensive and time-consuming lawsuit) when someone is determined to take revenge on it. But perhaps I can try to place things in some sort of perspective for the reader.
In October 1991, the protest organizer, Mr. Armsworthy, resigned within one hour of being reprimanded by the board of directors for negligent (and expensive) damage to the RV-SPCA truck motor. In November, Mr. Armsworthy organized a picket line in front of the shelter. This was comprised mostly of family members.
At the December board of directors meeting, he presented a list of "charges" to the directors. This list was compiled by Ted, his wife, his mother, his sister and his niece.
His mother, Barbara Armsworthy Webb, sent a letter to the editor that was printed on Dec. 3; Ted himself sent one that was printed on Jan. 3; and his sister, Carla Shaw, sent one that was printed on Jan. 8. A fourth letter was sent by a man who said that he was "told horror stories about the goings-on behind closed doors."
Ted's sister claimed in her letter to be an SPCA volunteer. As volunteer coordinator, I can categorically state that Ms. Shaw is not now and has never been a volunteer of the RV-SPCA.
Space limits, but I will give one example of the "charges," picked because the dog named is now my dearest pal. Ted claimed that "Laddie, another mascot, on numerous occasions attacked animals in the lobby."
This is untrue. After he had served as one of our mascots for more than a year (including show-and-tell programs in local schools), I took Laddie home with me because he did indeed create problems. He is so friendly and in love with all creatures that on a number of occasions his friendly greeting of incoming cats created havoc. Some cats prefer not to be greeted by a 70-pound collie! Anyone who knows my dear dog understands the difference between an "attack" and a joyous greeting.
Ted's list includes numerous such distortions. I can only hope that the general public sees what it reads as such.

Bobbi Nagy is public-relations director for the RV-SPCA.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB