Letters to the editor for Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014

Angry with animal services decision

I am writing to express my anger over shutting down city operations of Carson City Animal Services and giving it to the Nevada Humane Society. My partner and I have volunteered once a week at the shelter since Nov., 2011. The staff was always professional and caring to us and the animals.

The employees at the shelter were proverbially thrown under the bus by decisions made at City Hall. The employees who did their jobs in a professional and caring manner were deemed expendable for questionable reasons. Some employees have been given jobs in other departments, none having to do with caring for animals, something they cared most about. Some employees who were recent hires and/or part time have lost their jobs completely.

There has been much hoopla about how it will now become a “no-kill shelter.” The NHS itself defines a “no-kill shelter” as follows: “A no-kill shelter saves more than 90 percent of the animals that arrive; only euthanizing animals that have no quality of life or that are considered dangerous,” (from NHS press release).

However, CCAS has already been running its operation under those same exact guidelines of a “no-kill shelter.” So if the CCAS was already operating as a no-kill shelter, one has to ask the question why someone in City Hall deemed it necessary to make a deal handing it over to the NHS.

Something clearly doesn’t add up. If there ever was a situation that calls for an attorney general investigation, this is it.

Alan Banfield

Carson City

Thankful to those fighting King fire

The effects of the King fire will go on for years. Forest growth will be reborn and animals will return. For us humans, the sudden loss of home and everything held dear is unimaginable and may take many years.

I would like to give my thanks to all those fighting this monster of a fire. Those on the line, those in the air and those in support. Without their combined efforts and coordination things, it would be much worse. There are structures lost, but think of all the homes saved by their extraordinary effort.

I also give thanks to all of the families of these brave men and women as they too give a piece of themselves with every roll-out and every fire. They check the newspaper, watch the news and visit the websites everyday for information on the fires their loved ones are on.

This is a common bond we share. You see, our youngest son Chris is on this fire. He is a Ruby Mountain Hotshot and his crew has engaged this fire since it became the monster that it is. My oldest son Joe has been with the Silver State Hotshots for more than 13 years and is now working one of the engines.

Their mother and I, well, we read, we watch, we worry, and at times we fear for their wellbeing. We always love them, we always support them and are always thinking of them.

Gary A Powell

Carson City