I’m writing to support the animal shelter discussed in your recent cover story (“Library to Be Animal Shelter,” Nov. 13 – 26).  It should be noted that the current Animal Care and Control building in the Bronx is a part-time drop-off site that is only open a few days a week.

There are a number of ways it could prove beneficial to the community, including if the city’s Animal Care and Control continues its program of high schoolers working with animals. Having worked with cats and dogs, professionally as an author for magazines, I know my relationship with dogs and cats has improved my life in a number of avenues, especially appreciating the relationship man has with all forms of life.

Furthermore, an animal shelter can actually illuminate awareness on some of the problems that many of us in the animal field have noticed in the Bronx. Noting there are problems with educating folks on the importance of spay/neuter in order to prevent animal overpopulation, it’s very possible that even folks who object to an animal shelter might have a solution that can help solve the problem.    

There are many abandoned animals roaming the streets of the Bronx. This is caused by people either dumping them in the streets or just leaving them in their homes after they move to new homes. With a shelter here, it will be convenient for people to bring them in with the hopes these animals might find a new home.

Having a shelter in the Bronx will also invite potential adopters from this borough and nearby Westchester.  Westchester residents bring more money into our community.

The location of the animal shelter is also desirable, especially for dog walking. New York City’s Animal Care and Control is on a less traveled street, so dogs there have less of an opportunity to socialize with the community.

And finally, there is the hope that a shelter in the Bronx could provide both jobs and volunteer opportunities for people with administrative, health field, and custodial skills. 

There are many activities in the Bronx, and I for one welcome all of them, including ones that can involve the human-animal bond.

Anne Leighton

Norwood