Animal Rescue Operation

Re “Cat Count Climbs to Nearly 600 as Animal Rescuer Is Arrested,” July 9.

I hesitate to call someone like [Doris] Romeo a “rescuer” in light of the apparently deplorable conditions in which those animals were kept. It’s simply impossible to ensure good hygiene and satisfactory husbandry practices in a home where living space per dog and cat amounted to only 1.3 square feet, regardless of the caretaker’s good intentions.

And I doubt Pets for Life has the financial resources to provide adequate medical care for the 589 cats, many of which sounded like they were in dire need of hospitalization. You would do better to reserve the term “rescuers” for those employees of the Department of Animal Regulation who removed the animals to safer, more appropriate facilities and had the compassion to provide humane euthanasia for those suffering and beyond help.

GAYLE A. ROBISON, DVM,

Woodland Hills

* Re “Dogs, 200 Cats in ‘Horrific’ Home Kennel,” July 8.

I am upset but not surprised that it took animal control over a year to respond to neighbors’ complaints about the treatment of animals. If you ever had to deal with animal control over any issue, you would know what I mean. Just how many of these places exist in Los Angeles and how long will animal control turn a deaf ear to complaints? If funding is a problem, why doesn’t the city hike the rate of dog licenses and other services it provides to hire more people? Maybe the city needs to look at the way animal control is run.

What happened to the dogcatchers of yesteryear? I think it is high time that a citizens watch group takes a look at what is going on at animal control. If my city councilman is willing to step forward, I am willing to volunteer to stop future abuses like the one I read about.

MAXINE FLAM

North Hollywood