As a Wilton resident, lifelong pet owner and former employee of the Franklin County Animal Shelter, I must respond to a recent article (July 7) regarding Wilton selectmen’s objection to the shelter’s adoption policies. I believe that this objection is misguided.

If your pet is not rabies vaccinated, you are breaking the law. Vaccinations for distemper and upper respiratory virus are very important even for indoor cats. Distemper and upper respiratory virus are highly contagious and can be brought into a home on a person’s hands or clothes or even through an open window.

In response to questions about spaying and neutering and comments about breeding hunting beagles, I think it is important to realize that if people spayed and neutered their pets, we wouldn’t need shelters. Pet overpopulation is so severe that it is irresponsible for anyone to just breed their pet as they please. While working at the shelter, we took in countless beagles. Many of the beagles I cared for at the shelter could easily be trained as hunting dogs. Adopting one of the shelter’s beagles as a pet and hunting companion, as opposed to one of Selectman Black’s puppies, would be saving a life.

Further, spaying and neutering is important as reproductive organs often cause health problems for older animals.

As a Wilton resident, I support the shelter’s adoption policies. I want my taxes to continue to support the shelter. I would like to see the statement disagreeing with the adoption policy removed.

Sarah Brown, Wilton

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