Humane Society

Dear Director Bangor Humane Society
June 3, 2009
My name is Lorin LeCleire and I am very displeased with your agency. My family and I HAD a very long relationship with the Bangor Humane Society, which as of today is terminated forever. This goes back, long before your time to that of Ernie Crowell when he operated the Human Society from his home on Howard Street (as a child used to help tend critters), to Gerry Anderson once a director at the current facility.
Last year my good neighbors lost their lab of many years. They adopted a wonderful dog from your agency. Last month they became ill, with one still hospitalized with a heart condition. They could not care for the dog anymore. This was a wonderful, neighborhood dog, it could be let loose to play with kids, our horses, cows, our dogs and hounds, and just wonderful was Baxter.
After a long and difficult time, they elected to give the dog to a new home. However they read the adoption paperwork which asked for the dog to be returned. We called your agency and explained the situation. The girl on the phone said she would be more than happy to re intake Baxter. The neighbors, both elderly and on fixed incomes wanted to make sure all was in order to save you money. They took Baxter to the vet and spent over $250 last week on a credit card to make sure he had a check up and all of his shots and such.
My neighbor then asked if we would return the dog to the Human Society, insured of the no kill policy. HAD WE EVER KNOWN YOU WOULD KILL THE DOG WITHIN DAYS, IT NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN RETURNED. SO MUCH FOR A LOVING HOME.
The owner prepared paperwork, wrote a wonderful card to you folks, even going so far as to state any new owner could call them for information about the dog. She had the original paperwork from your agency, in its original folder. Oh let’s see you put the dog with elderly couple, BUT NOW KILLED IT BECAUSE IT WAS AGGRESSIVE – PLAIN AND SIMPLE LIE AND BULL SHIT.
This dog played for over a year with kids, other dogs and chickens and livestock without ever a problem. NONE whatsoever.
We brought the dog in the next day as agreed for by the owner. We provided all the paperwork, shot record, tags, your tags, collar, and history, a wonderful card written by the owner and sat with your intake worker with the dog. Image, other dogs and people were all around and BAXTER WAS GREAT. We asked directly about the kill policy. WE HAVE A NO KILL POLICY UNLESS THE ANIMAL IS UNADOPTABLE BECAUSE OF AGRESSION. WE stated we would check and if the dog was not taken, it was not to be killed we would take it ourselves and would be checking back. Income visitors were playing with Baxter when we left.
IMAGE OUR SHOCK AND THAT OF OUR ELDERLY FRIENDS WHEN THEY CALLED JUST A FEW DAYS LATER TO CHECK ON BAXTER, OFFERING INFORMATION TO ANY NEW OWNERS AND HOW HE WAS DOING. THEY WERE TOLD DIRECTLY – WE KILLED THE DOG IT WAS AGGRESSIVE. The tears are still flowing around the neighborhood.
You rank right up there with PETA who has a 97% kill rate.
You have destroyed not BAXTER, and the owners of the dog, but our children and that of the neighbor children. How in God’s name can you justify this? As I stated, we have not only done fundraisers and drives for your agency, he have encouraged our friends and neighbors. And yes we hunt, fish and own hounds – some of those cruel people you spread lies about – but we have always considered your agency a notch above others.
No more, we will go out of our way to insure that everyone knows the service and lies you tell clients, not to mention the outrageous charges. We will never encourage ANYONE to donate food, funds or any kind of support EVER to your agency. To the point of creating a web site and blog about your agency to let the public know just how you treat animals. I am so hoping we can get some new directors and replace you as quick as possible. Next we plan regular inspections, you will never know who, and we will report on the conditions of animals housed with your agency. What is worst, many of our family members work at local department stores and large pet stores. You can rest assured you have shot yourself in your own foot – word of mouth travels quick around town.
I have no idea who made the decision to KILL BAXTER, but they were just wrong. Did it cost too much for food. Did BAXTER wine and get under someone’s nerves; we will never know the truth. Seeing how in three calls we got at least three different stories. But we will push to have a review process and second consideration before KILLING is allowed.
You will poke that form in our face about your rights and us giving up ours. So be it, but OUTRIGHT lying to customers and patrons and benefactors is so low it compares with GITMO and borders on fraud. I will be honest, lawsuits cost money and it is not beyond us to file suit and cost you thousands for the fraud, pain and suffering you committed to us and the owner of BAXTER.
THIS IS ONE SLEEPING DOG THAT WILL NOT LIE, Bet on that. In the memory of BAXTER.