Kennel Closing

* Frank Parsons’ recent death deserves more than a two-line obituary and an article detailing the final closing of Shoestring Kennels.

Parsons devoted his life to animals. Shoestring Kennels was never a profitable enterprise. It was a no-frills facility that allowed rescue groups to board their animals at a nominal rate and save lives. During the 50 years that Shoestring existed, it provided a home for the majority of Southern California rescuers.

There were countless people who used Frank’s caring to their own advantage. Each holiday season, 17 to 38 animals were boarded by the public and then abandoned. The volunteers for the rescue groups placed these animals in caring homes; no other kennel owner had this regard for the animals dumped by irresponsible owners.

Frank told each of the rescuers in 1991 that he was ill, that we would need to make arrangements elsewhere for our animals. Even then, he was more concerned for our dogs’ well-being than his own. Only a few people who refused to leave six years ago found their animals in jeopardy when Frank died recently.

Frank Parsons made Shoestring Kennels a celebration of life. That’s how he deserves to be remembered.

DIANE MONAHAN

Executive director,

Friends for Pets Foundation

Sun Valley