Call Spokane Humane Society by its name

I much enjoyed your article in today’s (Jan. 3) paper. As a former member of the board of directors and board president of the Spokane Humane Society I am always pleased by publicity on the pet adoptions and the kinds of wonderful animals available at SHS, SCRAPS and Spokanimal.

I do have one “bone to pick” with you, however. You refer to SHS as the Humane Society of Spokane. That is not the correct name. I have seen the incorrect term used several times recently in the paper so I am taking this opportunity to correct the record.

The Spokane Humane Society and SPCA was incorporated by that name in the state of Washington in 1897. It has always been called the Spokane Humane Society. It has no affiliation with the Humane Society of the U.S., which is an entirely different organization which does not carry out shelter programs.

In fact, humane society is kind of a generic term. Spokanimal refers to itself as the Humane Society of the Northwest or NW Humane Society (I forget which). Anyway, I would hope in future your paper uses the correct, Spokane Humane Society name for that organization.

Lois Richards

Spokane