The Editor,
Re: Adrian MacNair's "Sympathy for the dog killer Paulsen"
I read this article and felt sick. I was so disturbed that I can hardly find the words to write this.


Emma Paulsen is a criminal in every sense of the word. Adrian MacNair has clearly missed that point. 

Adrian MacNair may not love, respect or understand animals, but he is in a very small minority in that regard.
I feel sorry for MacNair's children. He obviously lacks all capacity to teach his children compassion for other living creatures. I hope that neither he nor Paulsen own another animal ever again.


I wonder how people who depend on service dogs (i.e. people with seizures, visual, hearing, physical disabilities; search and rescue; police; airport security; military) would feel about MacNair's statement: "the dogs don’t make a difference in this world one way or another?"
My dog played a significant part in my recovery from cancer 10 years ago. I believe that qualifies for making a difference in this world. 

Having compassion for animals does not preclude one from "worrying about and caring for our fellow human beings," as MacNair said, I believe it enhances one's capacity to do so. He should open his mind and his heart and give it a try.


Roma Shaughnessy
Tatlayoko Lake