Mace Optional

Ladies, gentlemen, Madam Mayor:

One of the reasons for the low volume and low quality of adoptions at BARC is it's location. It's about as accessible as Kabul ... only less picturesque. Therefore, news of a new animal adoption center late in 2009 was well received ... until its address was announced. Then again, how could the agonic last will of Bill White be any better than what preceded it concerning BARC, really. It's like he was dooming the next Mayor to his own failure to make BARC thrive.

Gragg Park (2999 Wayside) is a dump; zero improvement over the present location. For the sake of shelter animals, I hope that $11 million can produce a top-notch facility, but at that address it will not increase visitor traffic much less the number of high-end adoptions. No; they will find their new pets in other adoption centers where bullet-proof vests and mace are optional.

Madam Mayor, you did not choose this location nor are you obliged to carry on with a terrible idea. There are better lots of land on which to build an animal shelter Houstonians can be proud of ... and visit often.

Respectfully,

Dolores Proubasta