Don’t judge a woman who tried to help more than most

Don’t judge a woman who tried to help more than most

EDITOR:

During my years as a working journalist, I frequently talked to students who were interested in working in the same field. I never ended those sessions without telling them the two most important things I learned on the job: First, that I could have all the facts about a situation in hand and never be anywhere near the truth; and second, that There but for the Grace of God Go I.

Both those teachings hit close to home this weekend, when the news erupted with the story of the “animal abuser” in Kinsman who was arrested after a raid on her property. Cathy Witzman was expected to be charged with more than 100 counts of animal abuse after dogs, cats, horses and even chickens were found on her property. Few of us who knew of Cathy’s situation were surprised: for several years, she’s been the target of those who don’t object to the idea of dogs starving, so long as it doesn’t happen in their neighborhood.

No one has more admiration and respect for the Trumbull County Animal Welfare League than I do; I count myself among their supporters, and a couple of the animals on my farm got here courtesy of AWL. But I feel that this time, they missed the boat. This time, they’re shutting down someone who could have been a powerful ally in the important work they do.

I met Cathy a few years ago when an obviously abandoned young dog parked on my back porch and quietly waited for me to feed him. He was too young, and too destructive, to keep inside, so I called the AWL. They were filled to capacity, they said, and that’s when I called Cathy. She came to my house, took my newfound pup and a small donation (which she had not asked for), and in a few days called me to tell me that he had found a home with a young family a few miles away.

Of course I knew she was becoming overwhelmed with the task all of us placed on her. Who wouldn’t? Any caregiver knows the feeling of exhaustion, the hopelessness against mounting odds. Yet Cathy refused to give up. Even in the freezing weather we’ve had for months now, she kept trying. Yes, she put the carcasses of those who died into bags instead of trying to dig into rock-hard ground to bury them. Yes, her truck was buried under snow — whose isn’t, up here, this year?

Cathy Witzman is not an animal abuser. That label has to be reserved for those clever souls who drive their loving and loyal companion onto our country roads, open the door and push him or her out, and complacently drive away. That label has to apply to those homeowners who look out their back door to see the pleading eyes of a cold and hungry stray — and close the door. That label has to apply to those who agree in principal with saving the lives of the least among us — but not in my back yard.

About a year ago I realized I had reached my capacity for housing homeless animals. I turned instead to rescue transport: saving dogs and cats from execution dates in shelters in one part of the country and transporting them, bucket-brigade style, across the country to no-kill shelters, foster homes or adoptive homes in the U.S. and Canada.

People commend me for those few hours a week, and those few gallons of gas, that I spend. But the truth is, I do it because I feel better about myself when I do. Such a little bit, but something. Cathy did a lot more, and wanted to keep on doing even more.

If we want to attack this problem, why not do something about the continued breeding of dogs while shelter animals die?

Please try to find the truth in this matter. Buy what you want. Close your doors on the stray if you must. But please don’t judge a woman who tried to do what she could, and got nothing but grief for it. And worse yet: will someone tell me what is to become of those poor animals who daily continue to be left on our roadsides?

EMILY WEBSTER LOVE

Kinsman