I am writing in response to the editorial cartoon in the January 25th edition, with regard to the proposed sale of land by the Animal Refuge League in Westbrook. I find the cartoon distressing because it is apparently based on some major misconceptions about the mission and financial situation of the Animal Refuge League.
I have been involved with the Animal Refuge League for several years, as a volunteer, board member, and former board president. (I am not currently on the board, but am a volunteer.) I believe strongly in the excellent work the Animal Refuge League has done and continues to do in the face of tremendous challenges. The Animal Refuge League’s mission is to serve Portland and several other towns, caring for lost, surrendered and abandoned pets.
More than 3,000 animals a year come through the doors of this crowded, outdated shelter. The shelter was designed and built mostly for dogs, and to be mainly a holding facility. The Animal Refuge League’s mission has changed and grown, like that of many other shelters, so that it is now a true humane society. The organization serves many more cats than dogs, and also shelters other kinds of pets.
The Animal Refuge League does community education and outreach, training, and temperament testing in order to match dogs with the right owners, and very badly needs a shelter that can accommodate its whole mission. The Animal Refuge League staff works miracles every day, despite the challenges of an outdated facility. Their devotion to the animals is extraordinary.
The sale of the land was carefully considered by the Board of Directors over a period of many months. The development in question would not eliminate the current “nature trail” part of the Animal Refuge League’s land, which was given by Governor Baxter to the Animal Refuge League to use as it sees fit. Originally, the property was farmland, so it has already had more than one use. Obviously, the mission of the Animal Refuge League is not to support a wildlife refuge or, necessarily, a huge free dog park, when the sale of part of the land could do so much to help build a new shelter.
I urge your readers to visit the Animal Refuge League, or their website at www.arlgp.org, or speak to a board member or the executive director, to learn more about the Animal Refuge League and all that it does. I am confident that the communities served by the Animal Refuge League will continue to support its vital mission.
Alice Persons
Westbrook
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