I read Bob Gorman's column in the Sunday Weekly section of the Watertown Daily Times on June 8. As he pointed out, I have sat on the board of directors of the SPCA for over 30 years. Each year I have been nominated and elected as any other member. I have never participated in any discussion of wages nor did my husband, who has become disabled and not a part of the SPCA for four or five years.

Presently the SPCA sits on 10 acres of land that has a large amount of road frontage on Route 3. There is more than enough space to build new, expand and even add a dog park. It would only cause additional expense to buy or lease land in or near Thompson Park, not to mention the higher cost incurred to build to city code.

The current board of directors is all professional people: a doctor, a retired physics teacher and local business owners. When board memberships changed, two members resigned and a third was not voted in by the membership. The new board is very active and meets often. They have great plans for our future and are in the process of updating the bylaws and setting up a capital campaign.

As for Zootoo, Richard Thompson has done a great deal to help improve animal shelter awareness across the entire country. He has helped us find new membership and given us $10,000 toward a building fund. Now he is putting together a program that will provide shelters that participate a monthly check. He formed this corporation after retiring because of his love of animals and his awareness of the problems shelters have raising money. Also, I have to say that the balloon-, poster- and flag-waving people the day of Mr. Thompson's visit are the ones who have helped keep the shelter going with cash donations, computers, volunteer hours and various supplies. It is unfortunate that there seems to be a perception that those who don't have "deep pockets" are somehow unable to contribute to the well-being of the SPCA.

I have always and continue to put the shelter's interest above my own, often taking time from my family to do a fundraiser or to attend some shelter activity. I can promise you this, if you bring those deep pockets to the shelter with pledges, I will resign from the board that day.

Linda Miles

Watertown

The writer is director of the SPCA, Watertown.