Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Gloucester County denying the requested $136,770 to help maintain the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society greatly saddens me. The $97,000 proposed is not enough. Here are a few reasons to reconsider increasing the budget for this great organization:

Think of the elderly person going into assisted living and needing to find a home for her dog. She is heartbroken and the dog doesn’t understand losing its owner. Think of the stray dog that is emaciated and full of ticks running at the side of the road for months and is finally rescued and brought to the shelter. Think of the military family that must move and can’t take their family pets.

Think about the person that is down on their luck and not being able to use the shelter’s pet pantry to keep their loving animals alive. Think about all the unwanted hunting dogs that find new homes through GMHS or by transporting them to like-minded shelters. Think about all the sick and injured stray dogs and...