Editor:
After reading your article concerning as suspended Animal Control Officer (Animal Officer’s Teen Affair Ends in Arrest, Rio Grande SUN, July 30, 2009 page A1), I wrote the following to the Española Valley Humane Society:
I am a former president and founding member of Northern New Mexico Animal Protection Society. I just read a letter in the Rio Grande SUN online about a suspended animal control officer and I am appalled that this man is an animal control officer.
It is sad that a 48-year-old man is involved with a 17-year-old, but worse to me is his behavior with a dead bear. For God’s sake, this is an animal control officer. I hope the society is pressing for his dismissal.
My wife, Irene, and I are now living in California, but we keep tab on the Española Valley as it is near and dear to our hearts.
When I was president, we were approached by the city with a proposal to take over animal control. We declined as we were more concerned with the operation of the shelter and at the time did not want to take on more than we could do effectively, but perhaps it is time for the organization to reconsider that position.
John Fletcher
Cedar Ridge, Calif.