Mailbag: H.B. shelter is a humane facility

The Orange County Humane Society would like to address some of the concerns raised by Lynn Beasley in the Independent (“Concerns about H.B.’s animal shelter,” May 12).

The OCHS remains a pro-humane shelter, only euthanizing animals if they are terminally ill, aggressive or medically untreatable. Animals are not put down due to length of stay or space issues. We are committed to finding homes for stray and abandoned animals.

Our new contract with Newport Beach will not affect our dedication to animals in trouble; in fact, the added resources allow us to expand our services while maintaining the high level of service residents and animals have come to expect from our shelter.

By working with Newport Beach, we will save more lives in all of our contract cities. All animals at OCHS are treated equally; there is not a preference per city. We have served the Westminster and Costa Mesa for years and continue to do so.

The OCHS is a nonprofit, operating under pro-humane standards. Dr. Samir Botros’ role at OCHS is that of a not-for-profit officer. Botros is also the owner of AAA Animal Hospital, a private, low-cost animal clinic. AAA Animal Hospital donates all medical treatment and supplies to our animals at a great amount each year.

We invite all Huntington Beach residents to come out and see our shelter. We hope we can clear up these misconceptions and get back to work finding safe and loving homes for Orange County’s animals.

Debbie Gandara

Huntington Beach

Editor’s note: Gandara is a spokeswoman for the Orange County Humane Society.

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School closure not the solution

Regarding “Group suggests closing school,” May 12:

I am a parent of a Moiola and future Moiola student. I feel that the idea to close a school is totally absurd. There are so many children who are going to have to be placed in another school, which will in turn raise costs. They will have to bring in more teachers, put up temporary buildings to make room for the children, more lunch tables, more play equipment and so forth.

I, for one, do not want my children in an overcrowded learning environment or a temporary structure in a disaster.

Why don’t we cut the salaries of the higher-up district employees and save a school? The district employees are making rash, stupid decisions based on nothing. Do they have students in the schools that are going to be closed? If so, I do not think that they would be making these rash decisions.

Why don’t we cut costs by cutting out some supplies like they do in the Ocean View School District? I’m sure if they were willing to keep a school open, the parents would be willing to buy their children paper, writing supplies and balls to play with at recess.

I hope they take into consideration everyone’s ideas and, for the sake of the children and our future, keep the schools open.

Kirsten Noceti

Fountain Valley

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Historic buildings are Rainbow’s gold

Regarding “Demolition, salvation for church?” May 19:

If Rainbow Disposal owns the property, then it has every right to do with that building as it sees fit. And that’s the position the media should take. If preservationists want to preserve the church, then they should seek to buy it, and if Rainbow wishes to sell, then fine. But the media should be defending freedom here as elsewhere instead of taking sides, which is what they usually do if it means taking freedom away from business or expansion of government power — and that’s too bad, because it shows how gutless our media has become.

Vincent A. Joy

Franklin, Tenn.