Dear Editor:
I would like to thank Ms. Joyce Fetterman for her compassion, patience, and endurance with our city’s very poor management of stray animals, whether they be sick, injured or not. Her story points out the serious problem Union City and the surrounding area has with strays and feral cats. I applaud her time and legwork in helping another creature very much in need. As a fellow resident of Union City since 2002, and with a few exceptions, I have often felt somewhat alone in my efforts to assist stray and even injured animals. It has been my lifelong belief that one should never turn their back on any person in need, nor any animal. We as a society often fail miserably.
Like Ms. Fetterman, I have also gone through such red tape, been the recipient of such mixed information from the Union City police, the Humane Society of Newark, Dr. Kim, formerly of the Animal Clinic on Kennedy Boulevard, and others that I vowed to have the buck stop with me and become as involved as I can possibly be in our serious situation of strays and feral colonies (injured and non). If I have ever experienced the passing of the buck it has been with every stray and/or injured animal I have taken into my care. Quickly becoming very disenchanted, frustrated and confused in attempting to “do the right thing”. People like Ms. Fetterman are a gift to any neighborhood and community.
“Mr. Mangled Paw” is the prime example of the type of pet I like to adopt and give a permanent home to, and if it were not for the fact that I have a newly rescued pregnant stray at home, (just one of over 8 on 13th Street alone I feed and watch out for on a daily basis and we managed to catch) now I would welcome him in a second. We all bear a responsibility for this problem and like Ms. Fetterman I am ready to put my money where my mouth is.
Sincerely,
Mary Katherine Carlson
Union City