Letters to the Editor

Editor,

I was very upset after reading an article in your July 6 issue. While the opening of new stores at La Luciérnaga shopping center made it to the front page, the story of the murder and possible rape and strangulation of a 33-year-old woman found in Parque Juárez on June 30, was discretely buried in between real estate advertisements on page 93. Isn’t your News section usually reserved for the first few pages of the newspaper, and your Opinion, How-To, Self-Help and Community Interest pieces usually found towards the back?

Even the article’s headline, “Tragedy in the Park,” does not seem to be befitting of the seriousness of the article’s content or the crime committed. What happened in the park was not a tragedy, but a crime. Among other definitions, a tragedy is any dramatic, disastrous event, especially one of some moral significance. The newspaper and the authorities have to learn to call what happened here for what it was. I do not wish you to delve into sensationalism, but if I recall, there was a similar crime committed in Parque Juárez about two years ago, that was never picked up by the media, thus giving the community a false sense on security.

Mexico’s law enforcement and justice system do not traditionally share the development of their investigations with the public. I do not mean blow by blow descriptions of the entire process, but the end results of their investigations. Firstly, the admission, recognition or publication of a crime; secondly, whether the facts or evidence gathered led to the resolution of the crime; and lastly, if there was ever a conviction for the crime. The crime victims and their families deserve answers. 

The three-paragraph introduction to your article seemed more like a rationalization on the increase of crime in our community. In the past, when three foreign citizens were attacked and raped, the news made it to your front News section and all the way to the international media. I am not diminishing the nature of those crimes, and I do not wish to wash our dirty laundry in the international spotlight, but it seems that when a Mexican woman is murdered and possibly raped, we look to find justifications for the crime by mentioning the growth of the town, progress, cultures clashing, etc.

Let us hope that the transparency reforms that have occurred in our public institutions reach our law enforcement, District Attorney’s office and the desk of this publication’s editorial department. And let us not forget the Juárez women.

Rosario Kandell, MD

In response,


Thank you for your letter, your points are well taken. I do want to explain, however, that as a weekly paper we can’t cover breaking news.

This occurred on June 30, our next issue was July 6. That murder is a crime is painfully obvious; for this woman, her family and the community, it is a tragedy. Instead of dwelling on the event itself by resorting to scaremongering, we chose to take the time to talk to the police, check the facts and provide as much information as necessary, while not hindering the investigation. Fomenting panic most certainly would. As a weekly community newspaper our top priority (within the weekly limitations) is to keep people informed. We also recognize that the top priority of the police department is to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. If authorities are slow to deliver updates, as they can be everywhere, it is for all kinds of reasons, particularly citizens “pressing” them to solve these crimes at all costs and regardless of accuracy.

I do not agree that the police department in this city does not care for its own citizens. Whether or not the story is on the front page of the Atención does not reflect on the police department and they have been very forthright (note the update in the July 13 issue). 

The five (not three) sexual assaults that occurred last year made international news for the simple reason that the victims were all foreign. Crime is still much lower here than in other places and hysterics and a rush to judgment serve no one.

You may not care about the stores opening at La Luciernaga, but many people do because this will offer employment possibilities to those who have not had the resources to pursue higher education.

It may feel nice to think that economics mean nothing in the face of injustice, but it simply isn’t the case. We also have a responsibility to this city, to all of its people and the businesses that provide the employment opportunities which allow them to live here. 

Nancy Bohné
Acting Editor



Editor,

While Ms Rusling obviously cares deeply for our canine population, as seen in her recent letter concerning the dismal conditions at the Ecología dog pound, her veterinary knowledge leaves much to be desired. Perhaps her “wonderful veterinarian” should enlighten her that distemper in Spanish is “moquillo” and not “parvo” as she erroneously supposes. 

There is almost always room for small dogs at the SPA and it was indeed unfortunate that she was told otherwise. It is also somewhat ironic that in the very issue in which she complained about the “retirement home for street dogs,” we learn that the oldest inhabitant has just been adopted. This is not the first time that a long-time resident has finally found a good home. Dogs that are deemed unadoptable for whatever reason are indeed humanely put down and adoption rates have been impressive so far this year.

Kudos to the staff at the SPA and please continue to support them

Zena Lazarus





Editor,

We were very fortunate to have bought our home here in San Miguel in 1979. There have been many benefits which we have derived from that event. Certainly, the many friends we have enjoyed, to this day. One of the most gratifying experiences we have had was meeting Nadine Goodman in the early ’80s. Instinctively, we recognized what an extraordinary person she was (and still is!!). We saw the talents and foresight possessed by this unusual woman. She was a young New Yorker, (what else?) with several master’s degrees, who was determined to work hard and make a difference in the lives of the San Miguel population, especially women and children. Little did anyone realize just what an enormous impact her work and ideas would have on the many people who ultimately came in contact with CASA and Nadine. She came to San Miguel with nursing training, several master’s degrees, and most importantly, a desire, and an ambition to achieve a goal of improving lives. To say that she has succeeded, is to totally understate the 
incredible changes in the lives of so many people and families.

Now, some 25 years later, CASA has become a world-renowned women and children’s health-care organization. In the interim years, many thousands of women and children have received the benefits of low-cost (or no-cost) medical, dental, pharmaceutical and psychological help as well as top notch maternal care. To note a few achievements of CASA and Nadine: A maternity hospital, a day-care center, the only Midwifery school in Mexico, HIV-aids care, programs to offset violence against women. Not the least of the accomplishments has been the education of the residents of the community and the recognition that CASA CARES about the welfare of the needy. CASA and Nadine have been the recipients of various awards and international recognition. In our opinion, it is difficult to find the appropriate way to properly reward this combination for their exceptional service to the people of San Miguel (and many other communities). I know that Nadine would not want to hear this—but San Miguel owes a debt of gratitude to Nadine 
Goodman.

Rose & Elliot Aronin







Editor,

As a regular volunteer for more than a year at the SPA, I felt compelled to write to you after reading the letter last week regarding this organization. I will address the points raised, in order. First, the comment that the SPA should “change its name to reflect the reality of its mission…” well, the name stands for the Society for the Protection of Animals and is wholly accurate. It does not stand for the protection of only adorable little dogs. Secondly, the author’s claim that the website “is very misleading in claiming to be a shelter that takes in unwanted dogs” is absolutely untrue. She goes on to state that the SPA houses some 60-odd street dogs, the “common garden variety type who are not readily adoptable.” If that doesn’t define unwanted dogs, I don’t know what does!

Thirdly, cages were set aside for small dogs, however a puppy that was accepted from the waiting list developed parvovirus, infected the other puppies, necessitating strict isolation. Since this put the isolation cages temporarily out of use, and the admission policy is to isolate new admissions for 24–48 hours for observation, no new dogs can be accepted until the danger of infection has passed. As soon as possible, the SPA will begin accepting small dogs again. Furthermore, the author also apparently thinks that parvo is the same as distemper; it is not. Parvo is treatable, and any SPA animal that does not respond to the treatment will be humanely euthanized. Additionally, any animal that is too ill to cure, or too aggressive to be adoptable is euthanized. One reason there is a waiting list is that the adorable puppies and young, small dogs who are not adopted become large, less adorable adult dogs which still need shelter, food and love and these dogs are definitely adoptable. Volunteers work with some of 
these dogs on a one to one basis for leash training, learning commands and for socialization with other animals as well as humans. The SPA large dogs, as a group, are sweet, affectionate and eager for a home and it seems truly heartless to me that anyone would consider destroying these dogs simply to make room for what may or may not be considered “more adoptable” small and cute dogs. By the way, there have been a number of adoptions recently of some of these “unadoptable street dogs.” I believe that the SPA is fulfilling its mission very well, especially since it is the ONLY place a dog or cat can be surrendered without it automatically being killed, and that if more people would consider adopting a larger dog, there would more room at the inn for all.

Lynn Weisberg



Editor

In regard to Ms. Rusling’s criticism of SPA procedures, it is important to understand that they are there to protect her, and her animals, as well as those already in our care.

We vaccinate all new animals on arrival and put them in isolation for 24 hours to observe their health and temperament before introducing them into an adoption cage.

Ms. Rusling brought in two dogs at exactly the moment the isolation cages were housing puppies recovering from parvo. She has confused this less dangerous disease with distemper. Parvo is not a death sentence, it is contagious virus, but if you can get a dog through it he is healthy and immune for life. We explained this and asked her, therefore, to bring her dogs in the following week when we could safely take them. We truly wished her to return.

Her belief that we only take in “street dogs” is also inaccurate, of course, as anyone who visits the Jardín on Thursdays or reads Mauri Formigoni’s weekly article already knows. In the last four months we have taken in and adopted out 16 fluffy, ‘cute’ dogs. In the same time period we have also found eager and appreciative homes for 30 “street dogs.” I have previously tried to explain to Ms. Rusling that we love and care for all dogs equally. She is entitled to her preference in favor of certain breeds, but we cannot afford, nor do we wish to share them.

Sincerely,
Christine Foster
Vice Director
SPA







Dear Editor,

Life is the process of choice. When met with problems or frustrations in life, we choose to be divisive, or we choose to be part of the solution. With this in mind, I read the letter Anne Rusling wrote the editor regarding her frustration at not being immediately given space for two small dogs she wanted to place at the Sociedad Protectora de Animales. She was told that circumstances deemed in a matter of days she could bring them back.

The frustration of the moment took over, and she lashed out at the SPA publicly. This is an unfortunate choice. Ms. Rusling does good work with the animals as one of the many caring individuals who provides food and shelter for six to eight animals all the time, while finding homes for those she can. These many individuals around town, who take on several animals, help the situation of surplus dogs enormously. We at the SPA acknowledge and applaud these individuals as part of our extended family of animal caregivers. We work in concert with Amigos de Animales, and more recently with “Save a Mexican Mutt.” What Ms. Rusling did not know, is only two weeks ago we sent three dogs north across the border with SAMM to homes in the States, in part alleviating our older dog population and opening up space on our premises. We are inexpressibly grateful for this unified effort among caring individuals and organizations. Bottom line, we have a choice to make in the face of our extra dog population. 

We can be a part of the problem by being angry and destructive, or we can be a part of the solution. An angry moment can do much damage and is regrettable. I believe even these moments contain the positive potential of seeing one’s own folly. The Sociedad Protectora de Animales thanks those supporters who have come forward with awareness and concern for the good work happening at Los Pinos 7. Come and see us. We welcome both visitors and inquisitors.

Natalie Hardy
Director General
Sociedad Protectora de Animales





Editor,

I want to respond to Anne Rusling’s letter in Atención on Friday, July 13.

While a genuine animal lover and upset over a temporary situation, her depiction of the SPA I know and volunteer for was off the mark, and I would like to correct a misconception that I believe should not have been presented in a public forum.

I have worked for well over a year with what she calls the “street dogs” that are “not readily adoptable.” I was amazed to find these dogs, most of whom are actually young adult dogs, (aged one and one-half to three years old,) to be delightful, friendly, lively, sweet, full of personality, loving and healthy. While it is true that puppies and small dogs are in vogue, these other dogs are also sought after. Not everyone wants the responsibility of raising a puppy or a tiny dog. Many want dogs that are good at protecting children, make good watch dogs and offer great companionship. These dogs have stolen my heart and that of other volunteers. They are well cared for, walked, exercised, socialized, nourished, nurtured and adoptable. And they are adopted. SPA would be far less than it is without offering these wonderful creatures to loving families.

Pauline Chapman