Editor, Gazette-Journal:

We would like to respond to Wanda Fary’s Oct. 27th letter regarding pet spay/neuter and euthanasia. We agree with her, that for the pet owner, spay/neuter is the place to start for helping with pet over-population. We are very fortunate to have an excellent, low-cost spay/neuter clinic in White Marsh operated by the Animal Resource Foundation (ARF) (www.arfva.org), as well as other fine veterinarians.

We disagree, however, with Ms. Fary’s position on euthanasia for long-term kennel residents. Death is forever … there is a better way. In this community we have a volunteer group whose mission is to give every dog a chance. This group works with Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex dogs at the Humane Society and at the county animal control shelters. Many of these dogs have medical and behavioral issues; some have anxiety related to kennel confinement or minimal human interaction. The volunteers spend hours calming, walking, socializing, and...