This letter is to clarify information in Oct. 6's Whitefish Pilot letter by Gee Weaver.

As a longtime board member of the local Humane Society, which operates the Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center on U.S. Highway 93, even I, who am familiar with the subject, was having a difficult time discerning what was being said. I had to re-read the letter several times.

I think the general public would be very confused in her references to shelters and the Humane Society, and whatever else.

The point I'd like to make is there are two animal "shelters," for lack of a better description, serving our community. The Flathead County Animal Control facility, I believe, is primarily the focus of her letter.

The Humane Society is forever trying to differentiate itself from the county animal control facility, as that is a government agency with which we have no affiliation or control over. They do house and adopt out pets. They must, by their mandate, practice euthanasia. They do not provide routine medical treatments for their wards, and they, unfortunately, do not require that their adopted animals be spayed and neutered prior to adoption.

This is not intended to be judgmental, as county animal control has a different mission and mandate from ours, it is just a statement of the facts. Although I, too, wish the county would require spaying and neutering prior to adoption. I believe the writer's complaints were primarily focused on the practices at the county animal control facility.

The Humane Society, which operates the Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center, is a non-profit, no-kill animal adoption center. We do on occasion receive animals from the county whose "time is up" — we are compassionate and have big hearts for animals. We do not practice euthanasia. Our animals receive routine and non-routine medical care, and all are spayed and neutered prior to adoption.

The point of my letter is to clarify the distinction between the two local animal adoption facilities, and to make certain no one thinks it is the Humane Society who is adopting out animals whose health has been neglected, that are not spayed/neutered, or that we "pressure" people.

Also, by the way, the Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center is a nice place to visit, to adopt a pet, or to donate your time and financial support. The animals are always happy to have visitors.

Linda Babiak, Board Member

The Humane Society of Northwest Montana