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Comments from readers:

On 02/24/2009 Feline Faye said: Another past employee: Gas Chamber The gas chamber. I was told a couple of years ago that there are times they do use it. Like with feral and pitt type. Not sure if that is true or has changed. During a Coon Rapids open house my daughter along with several visitors saw and heard behind doors. A what seemed to be happy and fine pitbull walked past us, kids reaching out to pet it but the girl who was taking it was yelling and pulling so hard on it. We know every pitbull that comes in had a death sentence. How would they go one by one and kill? Was wondering if indeed they did. As long as the machine is in the building is easy to use it! How would any of us know different? Notice how MANY of their fund raisers disappeared? Then the rescue stories happen and money pours in. For what?

On 02/23/2009 Faye said: Past employee says I completely agree with you. Janelle Dixon really needs to get a clue. I worked for her 3 years ago. She is a monster. When she took over the Woodbury H.S. the Euthanasia rate more than tripled. In the 5 years I worked for her I never saw her be compassionate towards a shelter animal. Now that she is running Golden Valley, she has fired volunteers for being too nosey- have you ever heard such a thing? She also has created more upper management positions and eliminated much needed positions of those who actually care for the animals. She is being over payed and given too much power. If you knew the euthanasia rate at any of her shelters you would die in disgust.

On 02/18/2009 Ron Steiger said: We ask that the Golden Valley H Society be investigated This is too much, for too long. This is not even close to their mission statement on their web site and CLAIMs made on their non profit finantial documents. This type of betrayal of donators and our feline brothers & sisters screams for an accountability & criminal investigation. Who should do it? I would call on an out of state auditor (their nonprofit documents look out of order too) and an animal rights, savant trial lawyer. Agreeded? Or... let them get away with this lowest of the low cruelty AGAIN. ~RON

On 02/15/2009 Stephanie said: broken-hearted On WCCO this morning, Janelle Dixon told Esme Murphy that "all 130 cats had to be euthanized". In addition to "socialization" problems, FIV, ringworm, upper respiratory infections, and Herpes virus were blamed. Janelle Dixon even had the audacity to imply that the health of their staff and the public may have been compromised should these cats and kittens have been allowed to live. Feline F - thanks for your kudos, but even as a life-long animal-lover I have to defer credit to Nathan Winograd. It was a privilege to attend his seminar in 2007. When I get discouraged by the enormity of the homeless pet problems, the fact that someone has calculated a realistic solution allows me to retain hope. Nathan Winograd cautions about the conflict when animal control is handled by animal advocates. As it turns out, these cats would have had a better chance in the custody of any other program or none at all. Hoarding is a complex issue, yet one of the hoarder’s greatest fears has to be that relinquishing custody will result in death. Ironically, if the animals had been turned out into the elements to fend for themselves, Cheryl & Stanley Saladis could still have been accused of animal cruelty or neglect. In that case, though, at least all 130 wouldn’t have died.

On 02/14/2009 Feline F said: AHS does it again. Not surprised The AHS has always been a thorn in the side of all no-kill rescue organizations. Most of us have had the "pleasure" of dealing with them in one way or another. So this doesn't really surprise me. They have always been about the fame not the animals. Many years ago I worked at the Animal Ark and had the honor of dealing with the feral cats. I did help several get homes on local farms, where they would have a warm barn, endless cat food and fresh water every day and of course mice to chase. I have been fostering cats for a few years now and my favorites are the "shy" "unsocialized" ones. I have two "will never be fit for adoption" cats sitting on my lap purring right now. Of course they all won't become this friendly but personally I have brought many many back to trusting us awful humans again. Stephanie said it perfectly. What would we do without our farm cats? Just because the cat doesn't want to live in a humans house or sit on a humans lap doesn't mean it should die. I have met several humans I would not want to live with. I know several no-kill rescue organization that would love to see the AHS go away. Mike Fry, good for you, a man with guts to say what he thinks and feels in his heart. Know we are behind you 100% on this, just let us know what you need.

On 02/14/2009 Stephanie said: Unadoptable = Feral? Unless "terminally ill and suffering", the only other explanation for being unadoptable is their socialization status. At the very least, couldn't these cats be vetted, and then released into feral colonies? Just because they don't meet the human standard of "friendliness", should they be required to serve a death sentence? No! They have a right to live! Ironically, on the front page of the AnimalHumaneSociety.Org website is a link to: "Animal Humane Society to host wildlife rehabilitation training" Isn't it hypocritical to respect wildlife more than the animals that humans are responsible for domesticating?

On 02/13/2009 Laura said: media reporting I was alarmed the other night when I was watching the news, and they were saying they would probably have to euthanize most, if not all of these cats. I'm happy to see on your site that there might be another alternative. I've just contacted the news station that I watched to tell them that there are groups willing to take these cats. I think that is news that they should report. They made it seem like the cats were all unadoptable, which we know may not be the case. Thanks!

On 02/13/2009 Mike Fry said: Not Yet, Jean Jean, Thanks for your offer of support! Animal Ark cannot ask for donations of money or supplies or volunteers or foster families until we have agreement that we can take cats. AHS has still not returned our calls or emails. We have gotten phone and email inquiries from other rescue groups willing to help with cats, even those with severe medical problems. So, it is clear AHS does not "have to make the hard decision". All they have to do is open their minds to the fact that there are people outside their walls that can help. The bottom line is this: I will guarantee that the overwhelming majority of these cats can be saved. The community wants that to happen. There is no reason whatsoever to kill them, unless they are terminally ill and suffering.

On 02/13/2009 Jean said: YES!! I am so happy to hear this. It's exactly what was in the back of my mind. If there's anything I can do. Ways to make special donations, special requests for supplies, etc., let us know!