I was dismayed to see your June 28 letter to the editor describing Gail Mackey's attempt to legislate against wolf hybrids in Spokane. I believe Ms. Mackey testified at a Millwood hearing as recently as June l4 that she found no significant difference in percentages of "problem dogs", among breeds of dogs turned into SpokAnimal Care.
In every type of purebred and "hybrid" dogs there are good ones and bad ones. In Orangevale, Calif., a German shepherd/wolf hybrid named "Zorro" pulled his owner out of a whirlpool at the bae of an 85-foot ravine where the man had fallen. The dog then huddled on top of his unconscious master during the cold night that followed. In the morning, rescuers were forced to leave the dog behind, yet when other searchers later found the dog, "Zorro" was still guarding his master's backpack.
Individual dogs are as different in personality as people and should be judged on their own merits. If the "breed-specific" people had their way, I suppose the wolf hybrid "Zorro" would have been promptly destroyed, rather than being awarded the title "Dog hero of the year" for saving his master's life!
IRENE B. ANRODE
Spokane
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW - PAGE A11 - MONDAY, JULY 2, 1990