Nate's Honor Animal Rescue an upstanding organization

In response to a letter printed on Feb. 21 regarding Nate's Honor Animal Rescue, I'd like to say that the writer's disparaging remarks are simply a reflection of her naïveté. Anyone who thinks that an animal rescue organization is "in it for the money" clearly doesn't understand the costs associated with saving the lives of homeless pets.

Spaying and neutering, vaccinating, medically testing, microchipping, feeding, staffing, etc. are basic expenses that we incur upon intake of an animal like the one she "rescued." And that is when they are healthy.

More often than not, there are special medical needs that require additional expense -- skin conditions, upper respiratory infections, serious injuries, etc. Our $200 adoption fee rarely covers the cost of what we must spend to get a pet ready for adoption.

It is ironic that an article in this week's Observer focuses on just how much our organization cares for our animals and to what lengths we will go to take care of them. Perhaps if the person who wrote the letter read the article, she would better understand how misguided it was for her to question our integrity. There should be no doubt that we are "in it for the animals."

Readers may also find it interesting that the person who wrote the letter did in fact adopt the dog from us, only to drop it off at Animal Services a few days later. The dog is back in our care and available for adoption at this time.

Karen B. Slomba, Associate Director, Honor Animal Rescue

Bradenton

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Nate's Honor Animal Rescue an upstanding organization ."