Dear Editor,

I was saddened when I read a letter that was published on January 11, 2010 in the Guyana Chronicle  Kenneth C Singh of Toronto, Canada, captioned, ‘Surprised to hear from the animal lover.’

The disparaging and condescending tones in which he writes of Ms Syeada Manbodh and her defence of helpless and voiceless animals, especially dogs, and especially pit-bulls in Guyana would lead me to believe that he has something personal against this noble crusader for these animals. In my defence of Ms Manbodh and also much to my delight, she has not even bothered to be bothered by this correspondence and is continuing on her selfless mission of compassion that is so lacking in the world today.

How does Mr Singh know that Ms Manbodh does not have compassion for humans who have been killed or mauled by, as he puts it, “vicious pit bulls”? As a fellow animal lover, the love we feel for our four-footed friends is just a part of a greater and larger love that we feel for all of God’s creatures, including our fellow man. Anyway, Ms Manbodh must have had an effect on Mr Singh as he was wondering where she was, and he was surprised when he saw a letter by her in the Stabroek News recently. I wonder why he was surprised. Was he hoping by some act of fate that Ms Manbodh would disappear and become as voiceless as the hapless creatures she represents?

It is interesting to note that Mr Singh is in Canada and may not understand that any dog attack in Guyana is almost always attributed to pit bulls although the dogs may be of other breeds.

This is exactly the ignorance that Ms Manbodh has to struggle against, and I say she is a better woman than I. She has my full and unswerving support.

As the owner of five pit bulls I wish to inform Mr Singh that much of what people become, as well as animals, depends on the way they are socialized. I am glad that I was socialized with love and grace that I can give the same to my fellow man and my animal friends. I feel sad for those who only know hate, cynicism and criticism, because that’s all they have to offer.

Right now, my heart is breaking for the people in Haiti; Mr Singh should please see if he can be of some assistance to them, instead of trying to sidetrack the great work of Ms Manbodh.

Yours faithfully,
Heidi Brock