Making room for rescued dogs

I have discovered that Patt Morrison and I share a calling, a dedication and perhaps a benevolent curse -- we cannot see a stray dog running in the streets without attempting to help (“She’s Answered Her Canine Calling,” May 29). This is a thankless task in the traditional sense. It’s expensive, dangerous and often annoying when one discovers a beautiful and loving canine who has been abused or disposed of like an empty cereal box. Your friends and family make fun of you, question your sanity, ask how you can do this for “some dog.”

We do it because we have to. We do it because too many people carelessly breed dogs or give no thought to abandoning a dog that has become “inconvenient” or “difficult” because they haven’t taken the time to train the animal to understand what’s expected of it.

I wish Patt and the rest of us rescuers weren’t needed in this role. I wish that people would spay and neuter all pets. I wish that people had to get a license to own a dog, as they do to drive a car, because then they might respect and appreciate their companion animal for the loving, sentient being it really is.

DS Green

Venice

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I was never a religious person, but now I have finally found a house of worship I can join.

Actually, I have always belonged to the First Church of Canine, but I never knew it had such a beautiful name.

My actual blood relatives number in the few, but I do belong to the same worldwide family with you, Patt. I know that we are sisters, even though I have nev er met you in person. The words you wrote are so beautiful, because who in our large family has not walked this walk?

Marlene Goodman

Newhall

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Ivery much enjoyed Emily Green’s “Romper Room for Dogs” (May 29). I have been rescuing dogs for more than 40 years and have a hint: pine cones. Several years ago my friend and I were visiting Big Bear and collected hundreds of pine cones. We put them in planter boxes and around our plants. Voila! No dogs or cats. They work great. Those little stickers on them don’t feel too good to furry friends.

Ann Morgan

Gardena