In reference to the kitten rescue article in the Sept. 22 edition of The Natchez Democrat, I want to congratulate the persons responsible and express my admiration for their perseverance in obtaining help for the animal.

I am, however, at a loss to explain why they had to solicit help from the PETA branch in Memphis to effect the rescue.

The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society has the name of at least one tree service company willing and able to help in such cases.

TDF Tree Service, owned and managed by Henry Worthey, has assisted in at least two cat rescues. One of these rescues was my cat Bhoumi, whom he extracted from a tree. There may be other cases I don’t know about.

When we moved to Natchez in 1959, my husband, 15-month-old son and I were in the company of two small dirty puppies, which we had rescued at two different rest areas between Jackson and Natchez.

Much to my chagrin, I found no humane society in Natchez, and we were at the mercy of less than sympathetic veterinarians (long since gone from here) and motel managers.

Since then, there have been innumerable instances when I have blessed the existence of the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society, who no matter how burdened they were with abandoned animals, have taken in the strays both feline and canine who keep finding me.

There has been a lot of publicity lately on the subject of the differences of opinion regarding the future of the NACHS. The Natchez Democrat has been most generous in the amount of space they have given to the subject of animal welfare.

I am glad so many people care.

We have to remember the bad old days without a humane society.

Please, let us not forget that at the heart of it, we all want to alleviate the suffering of defenseless animals, and we must sort out our disparate opinions.

Heida Hicks

Natchez resident