ONE ON ONE | Pete Johnson Humane society chief stands up for animals and hunters

What are some of your goals regarding the humane society?
We're trying to make it an entity that is responsible to its members, its donors and the community.
How many members in the group?
We have around 300.
The society plans to build an animal shelter in coming years on property along state Route 45, south of Salem. Tell us about those plans.
We'll probably build it in phases. We want a nice, beautiful entrance and topiary gardens along Route 45, something that would be unusual.
What structure would be built first?
We'll probably start with a storage-type structure that will be our initial kennel, with the idea to have a building that will be more elaborate and fancier, that we would build a capital fund for. Maybe we can raise enough money to do it in a year or two.
How much will your building budget be?
We're probably going to start in the neighborhood of $250,000 for the first phase. The landscaping and site work we'll try to do with volunteers.
The main structure, which would have a gift shop and conference room in addition to the kennel, we don't know what that will cost.
By the time everything's finished, how much do you estimate the society will have spent?
Maybe a million bucks.
How soon do you hope to break ground on the first phase of the shelter?
This spring or early summer.
Your group deals continually with the issue of too many dog and cats as a result of people's failure to spay or neuter their pets. Are people aware of the problem and the need to be part of the solution?
The owners don't give it a lot of thought. They don't realize the consequences. You've got an over-population of domestic animals. That's a problem. If we can get the community to realize the advantages of spaying and neutering, we'll go a long way.
What will it take to achieve that?
It's going to be education. It takes time.
An appropriate question to ask the humane society president is, "how many pets do you have?"
We have dogs and cats and horses. I raise Tennessee walking horses.
I understand you're a hunter.
I like to hunt. Mostly bird hunting. I do some deer hunting, some turkey hunting. I like to hunt pheasants and ducks in particular.
What is it you like about hunting?
When I was a boy, my grandfather used to take me out with him. He always was a hunter. That was the start of it.
There's a common perception that animal lovers are anti-hunting.
I don't see any conflict between ethical hunting, love of animals and the humane society. I'm probably atypical when you come to the average president of a humane society.
You don't agree with those who subscribe to the animal-rights philosophy?
There are people who are emotionally tied to animals that think killing any animal for any reason is bad. Wackos. Total wackos. It's gone way too far. No one has a monopoly on a love of animals. I know hunters who love their animals and who are just as good a guardian for that animal as vegetarians who love their animals.
Spare time pursuits besides hunting?
My passion is horses. We like to trail ride. I also like to do some scuba diving, wind surfing, kayaking and backpacking and skiing.
You're more active than a lot of people in their 50s. How do you stay in shape?
I clean four stalls a day. I'm always repairing fence. A day's work is never done on a farm.
Favorite movie?
I just saw "Gods and Generals." I loved it. It was spectacular.
Favorite food?
I like everything. It would be easier to say what I don't like.
Who has most influenced you?
My mother and father, Jean and Peter Johnson. My mother always instilled right from wrong and proper morals. My dad was always the guy who also instilled morals but cracked the whip. He'd give you a hand up, but he'd also give you a kick in the butt.