We ran what I thought was a gripping account of life inside our local animal shelter over the past two days. It’s a different approach for us, a story that lacks a precise time element but is just a compelling read because of the subject matter. It also makes for incredible art. Much of Friday was spent in a debate and discussion among senior editors about the main art for the first part of the story.
The photo that many editors liked I have a link to at the top. It ran inside. It is a complex and disturbing photo, beautiful and haunting. It is of a young woman sitting with a dog as it dies. There is a needle in the dog that the shelter staff uses to tell them when the animal has died (it stops twitching). I thought it was filled with grace and dignity. Other editors said yes, but that in the end that people would never get past the needle. So we moved it.
It was a spirited discussion, with a larger context of a newspaper’s role and ability to shock the public and the responsibilities that go with that power.
Your host is Ken Otterbourg, the managing editor at the Winston-Salem Journal. It's a forum to discuss the media, from 
I hope we are shocked. The ones that do not care for animals
Leave the pain and heartbreak to others. Dogs, cats and all
pets are not toys or playthings to discard when we tire of them.
They love, feel,breath and are alive as we are. I have only
respect for the shelter workers.
I realize that most individuals do not think as I do, but I have always considered my dogs to be part of my family, and they are treated as such, in every way! Pets ,are not throw away objects ! We should consider them to be a life time committment when taken into our lives! We don’t get rid of or give away our children when they are sick or an inconvenience in our lives, and pets deserve the same treatment! As a past rescue worker of many years I have seen too many sad,animal situations, some due to the stupidity of people, not having there animals neutered,letting their cats, and dogs roam free to be run over by cars, and killed! Dogs, and cats have feelings just as we do, and animal education is so important ! There will always be a need for animal shelters because not all people will ever be the pet owners we would like to see them become! There is more information people can seek about good pet owner ship! There are now adoption centers that offer low cost spay and neutering, so there is no reason to let those unwanted pups be born to be taken to the shelter to be put to sleep! The shelter is usually full, and these little guys want ever get adopted,they will be put down! If you want pets be responsible as a pet owner, and cut down the amount of unwanted, dogs, and cats that end up in shelters! If you do want to adopt a pet please go to the shelter, and give that unwanted dog, or cat a second chance in a new home, you will find some wonderful animals there, that will make just as good a pet as the pure bred dog or cat you were thinking of buying from a breeder! Those dogs, and cats will get homes, but the shelter animals need homes badly! Give them a second chance at life!
I agree with everything said above but wonder why this story won out over the many stories of suffering and neglected children and elderly people. Can you explain this, Ken? Is it a matter of balance? Frankly, I skipped right over it in the printed paper.
We ran it because it was a very good read about the compassion and tough decisions that go into a tough job. It was a very human piece.
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