There could to be the possibility that Ms. Nissen had access to my "dismissal letter." I don't mind if KHS releases all original correspondence to her or anyone else.

Ms. Nissen, here is the exact text of the letter that was handed to me in the parking lot by the president of the board and the executive director.

"Dear Cecilia,

"Thank you for volunteering at Kootenai Humane Society for the last few years. We appreciate your time you have taken to walk our dogs.

"At this time your volunteer services for Kootenai Humane Society are no longer necessary."

(After I had read the three sentences in the letter signed by the president I asked him that I would like a letter stating the real reasons for my dismissal. His answer was: "No, this is enough. Thank you, Ceci." And with that he and his Executive Director walked away from me. Is that insensitive or humiliating?)

I reviewed my quote marks. While technically they were misplaced, this does not change the fact that the intended message and the meaning of the above letter remains the same, namely "get lost."

According to the interview published by the Coeur d'Alene Press on Oct. 13, 2011, the executive director of KHS stated that KHS has about 50 "solid" volunteers who give 20-30 hours a week and 200 more "miscellaneous" volunteers who donate a few hours a month. Among other statements this remark alone for us "solid" dog walkers "is a rather dubious or deliberate attempt to distort reality."

And, Ms. Nissen, what happened to me on Aug. 27 and thereafter by the KHS employee and the KHS board, specifically by the president, is that not "reprehensible?"

By the way, I found Ms. Nissen's letter dated Oct. 14 in the Coeur d'Alene Press "KHS: Worth breaking silence." That letter elicited the following comment on the Coeur d'Alene Press website by Shadow (someone I do not know):

"Gee Meribeth,

"You have been out to the Humane Society a couple of times, so you know all the answers. Why not try volunteering to walk dogs are (or) something and see what it is really like. Those that are complaining are the ones that love dogs and are trying to do what is best for them. The volunteers are great and so are some of the employees. The problem is with the management."

While Ms. Nissen is nitpicking on semantic details, she does not address the substance of my column. Also, Ms. Nissen should carefully investigate the facts before she calls me a liar.

Ms. Nissen may show her loyalty to whomever she likes. I keep my loyalty to the voiceless dogs that were deprived of my presence to give them a predictable walk twice a week.

I see no need to continue any further public discourse with Ms. Nissen.

CECILIA NOLTHENIUS

Hayden