We would just like to say how pleased and gratified we are to read that WAIF is apparently giving Smiley a chance at life and hopefully soon, a real home.

This is all we ever wanted for him — appropriate training and placement with a family of his own.

Our understanding is that Best Friends declined to take Smiley at its facility because the organization felt he did not need another kennel based environment, but rather training and rehoming. We also heard that Best Friends offered to keep working with WAIF to find an appropriate solution for Smiley. Perhaps the Whidbey News-Times could contact the organization directly for a statement, since no one from Best Friends is quoted in the story.

Our congratulations to WAIF for taking what appears to be a progressive, state-of-the-art look at Smiley’s situation. We hope this marks a new era for the organization, and for all animals put in WAIF’s trust, and we continue to offer our assistance to pit bulls and presumed pit mixes in need. For now, we are working with rescues off-island that put special emphasis on helping these much maligned dogs find training and responsible homes by assessing each dog and each potential adopter on an individual basis.

We also hope the city of Oak Harbor will rescind its Breed Specific Legislation which victimizes good dogs like Smiley instead of focusing on irresponsible owners. Humane organizations nationally, as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association, are opposed to BSL and we plan to focus efforts on getting BSL off Whidbey Island. We hope WAIF will join us in promoting wiser, more effective legislation that will ease the burden on island shelters and help generate needed shelter revenues.

Smiley is and always has been a good dog. He blesses everyone he meets with his optimism and enduring faith in people. Thank you members of WAIF’s board of directors for taking this courageous, hopeful move. And thank you Smiley for just being you.

Bob Baker and Barbara Moran

Freeland