I am responding to the article regarding the euthanizing of cats and dogs at the shelter. As a

pet owner and lover it touched my heart. I was totally touched by the photo of Turkish on

the front page of the paper. I recently lost what I classified as my baby to euthanizism. She

looked exactly like Turkish which made me write back.  Sassy was 12 years old and weighed

only 4 lbs. We took her to a few vets but none wanted to spay her because of her size, so

we figured since she was not an outside cat why bother. We have paid the ultimate price for

our decision. Sassy got sick. We took her to a wonderful vet here in Brandon only to find out

her sickness was due to her not being spayed. The poison had spread through her little body so

bad that after 4 days of trying and praying we made the decision to let her go. I held her in

my arms as the vet administered the drug to stop her heart and it was the most heart wrenching

thing I have had to experience in a long time. To see her little eyes look at me in so much

distress that I cried like a baby. If a person is sick we have to sit back and wait and yes sometimes

they suffer before they give up the will, but with an animal we have to power to make that

decision. Because of the decision we made 12 years ago, it cost us over 800.00 whereas

if we went ahead and had Sassy spayed we may still be enjoying her as a part of our family.

Cats and dogs that are not being adopted are indeed suffering in one form or another. I would love

to be able to give Turkish a good home. It would certainly help fill the void left behind by my cat,

however with my expenses incurred with my situation, adoption fees are out of the question right

now. Thankj you for the time to express my views.

Barbara Bird

51 9th Street North

Brandon, Mb

204-717-0785