PUBLIC FORUM : STORIES ON `SLAUGHTER' OF PETS HIT THE MARK.

Your heart-wrenching front-page story Nov. 16 about the euthanizing of animals at the Los Angeles shelters literally reduced me to tears. The look in the eyes of that beautiful black Labrador in his last minutes on Earth would have melted a heart of stone. That picture is definitely worth the proverbial 1,000 words.

What does it take to convince these irresponsible and uncaring pet owners that altering their pets is in the best interest of the animal? Altered dogs are happier, healthier and less prone to certain types of cancer. Neutered cats don't go caterwauling around the neighborhood spraying everything in sight.

The only way we are going to stop this slaughter is for people to stop letting their pets breed indiscriminately and for no reason other than it would be ``cute'' to have a liter of puppies.

Another way to help this appalling situation is to never buy a puppy from a pet store. Reputable breeders do not sell to pet stores. Rather, stores get their ``inventory'' from these dreadful ``puppy farms.''

If you want a dog, rescue one from a shelter, or from one of the many rescue organizations locally, and be ready and willing to spend time training and caring for it. The love and devotion will be returned to you tenfold.

- Margot Trasatti

Sherman Oaks

The American Humane Association commends the Daily News on its excellent two-part series on pet overpopulation. The problem, opinions and solutions are so complex that it is unusual to find them all laid out so clearly. Your reporter has done a remarkable job of research.

Even more unusual is to see this tragic issue positioned prominently in a major newspaper. While the millions of members of the humane community across the nation have long struggled with these issues among ourselves, we have not been very successful at educating the general public. The Daily News has made a tremendous contribution toward this effort, while covering a truly newsworthy issue.

It's now time for us to consider our responsibility to our companion animals. Every pet owner needs to make a lifetime commitment to their pets, provide them with the care and training they need and to make sure no unwanted animals are bred. Our pets should be a benefit to ourselves and our neighbors, not a problem.

Solving pet overpopulation problems will make our streets safer, put our tax dollars to better use and make our city more compassionate to all beings. But that can't happen unless people are made aware of the truth. Thanks for telling it.

- Gini Barrett

Director, Western Regional Office

American Humane Association

Making public this shameful practice and the reasons behind it has surely done more to raise public awareness than anything else that has been done in a long time.

Something needs to be done. However, I have to agree that a $500 licensing fee with more exceptions than the rule is not the way to go. There has to be a better way and we need to be willing to spend some money to find it.

- Elvira Monroe

Lake View Terrace

The picture you placed on the front page of your newspaper was a real slap in the face to anyone who has ever had to euthanize their animal for old age or medical reasons.

I know that you wanted to shock people, but that picture is an outrage. To begin with, the people you want to shock into reality are the same people who turn their dogs loose in my neighborhood and tell me ``so what?'' when I take them back.

If the people you wanted to shock cared at all about their animals they would do what most of us who do care do: They would have them spayed or neutered and they wouldn't let them run loose to get hit by a car or picked up by the pound. It's an outrage that the animals are paying for the stupidity of their owners.

You have made your point, but believe me, you shocked the wrong people and hurt a lot of good people with that picture.

- Jean Halvorson

North Hills

I am appalled and disgusted with the tabloid-style approach you took. I have two children who would have been extremely upset by the photograph you published on the front page. You have dropped to the current level of television journalism.

We have two cats and one dog, all spayed or neutered for the express purpose of preventing unwanted kittens and puppies. Do you really think your article reaches the people who do not alter their pets? All it does is upset and outrage those who already act in a responsible manner with regard to their pets.

- Deborah V.A. Johnson

Canoga Park

I am sure you will be criticized for the picture used, and I admit, after the initial shock, I read the rest of my paper through tears.

But I do think it is way past the time to find some solution to this agony. No animals should have to endure living in a cage for a week, only to be muzzled and killed. Humans must stop the number of animals coming into the world and must take responsibility when they adopt. It is a lifetime obligation.

I can only hope that the picture catches the attention of others and changes the minds of those who allow random roaming and breeding.

- B. Lee

Pasadena

Re the owners of the two Australian shepherds:

Why did they deposit their pets at the shelter, knowing what was most likely going to happen to them?

When someone acquires a pet, that person ultimately becomes responsible for its fate. A caring home and knowledge of the particular animal should be the prerequisite before owning any such pet.

- Paul Northrop

Woodland Hills

I have had to put several animals to sleep due to complications of old age and illness, and they were euthanized by injection and peacefully passed on while I held them.

I believe that the quality of life is far more important than the quantity, and if a good, loving home cannot be found, then it is far more humane to euthanize them than to have them suffer from hunger, mistreatment or loneliness.

I know it can't be easy, but God bless the people in the shelters who end the suffering of these animals.

- Beth H. Gothrick

Tarzana

There is no way to cut down on our animal population other than spaying and neutering. The ultimate act of love is putting our pets to sleep at the end of their life spans so they will not have to suffer.

The ultimate act of love for the future pet generation would be to have our pets spayed or neutered so there will not be unwanted animals.

- Ray Kirschbaum

Westlake Village

Thank you for the articles on the tragic problems of pet overpopulation and euthanasia. It's sad that so many people are too ignorant or thoughtless to have their pets spayed or neutered and will heartlessly dump a frightened animal off at the shelter when it no longer suits their needs.

I've noticed the Daily News often reports on animal-oriented stories, and has the courage and wisdom to put them on the front page, something your rival across town rarely, if ever, does. Keep up the good work.

- Mike Laskavy

North Hollywood

There are many, too many, sad cases of animal collectors in the media these days.

The rescuers, whether individual or local organizations, cannot cope any more with the increasing number of abandoned pets. We must insist our governments and courts do their job and regulate breeding, license owners and institute mandatory spaying and neutering.

- Elaine Livesey-Fassel

Los Angeles

As an animal activist and the legal representative of a nonprofit L.A.-based animal rescue organization, I was thrilled that someone with a voice larger than ours has finally depicted, with the graphic details necessary, the horror and tragedy that is the L.A. animal shelter.

Although we provide city-funded spay and neuter vouchers, educational programs and ongoing rescue, the number of animals killed remains staggering. Increased licensing fees won't solve the problem. We need mandatory spay and neuter laws to make people take responsibility for their animals. Without some type of enforceable statute, the breeding will continue, and so will the killing.

- Sheryl Greene

Vice president of legal affairs

Sherman Oaks

Too many people think this is a throwaway society. If you don't want it, you can always get rid of it. Nobody thinks of the consequences. Thank you for showing the consequences of their actions.

- Maxine Flam

North Hollywood

Part of the problem is landlords forcing people to put their dogs, often literally their best friends who would risk their own lives to save their human family members, into shelters to face being killed.

I co-own two apartment houses, own one rental house, and rent rooms in my own house. In the 25 years I have rented to people with pets, I can say the humans have caused so much more damage and noise than anything the pets have done. In fact, dogs have put my mind at ease because I know that there is a lot less chance of a burglar or rapist climbing in a window and leaving me open to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit.

- Carolyn Hutchinson

Glendale

I am deeply saddened from what I have learned from the news articles in the Daily News, including the color picture of a Labrador being put to sleep and the attitude displayed by the couple turning in their 4-month-old dogs because they were chewing up things.

Our dogs are not items that can be returned when they are not perfect. Much like children, they are darling when infants but they grow up, and along with growing up problems arise. Spay them, train them and make them part of the family unit.

Lynette Malone

Van Nuys

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PHOTO David Wing, 4, gets his puppy at the West Valley Animal Shelter.

David Sprague/Daily News