I have witnessed gross neglect at Animal Control, but hearing that there was no water in 100-degree heat for those pitiful animals made me physically ill.

I can recall seeing puppies lying in their own waste, animals that have been euthanized and thrown into a makeshift trash can, and overcrowded kennels with only one food bowl (resulting in terrible fights, with the losing dogs going hungry day after day). I have sent numerous letters to higher-ups to no avail.

What did surprise me was Dr. Bonnie Bragdon's response. She makes absolutely no attempt to explain why fans were not turned on, nor why water bowls sat empty in 100-degree heat.

What she does suggest is donations to buy more fans. May I suggest turning on the fans already there, filling the water bowls and cleaning up the piles of feces before asking the general public to donate more money?

As for the new shelter, unless water bowls fill themselves and piles of feces magically disappear, I fear not much will change. It will take a committed and caring director (and employees) to ensure these animals are treated humanely. Unbeknownst to Dr. Bragdon, commitment doesn't come in the form of cash donations.

Jodie Graham, Augusta