ER - Specious arguments

Specious arguments
8/30/2006

The Eureka Reporter has been the subject of some criticism in the community regarding its coverage of the tragic Trinity County dog scandal.

Once again, it seems like this newspaper has unjustly come under attack for alleged ideologically biased reporting, when all we have done is report on facts in an increasingly tragic case that involved the outright shooting, bludgeoning and starvation deaths of dozens of dogs.

When we began reporting on this scandal, we did not know that the dogs’ owner — Roberta Bugenig — had ever lived in Humboldt County. We did not know about the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office’s involvement nor the involvement of the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office.

That a confidential paper trail led back to District Attorney Paul Gallegos is not this newspaper’s responsibility.

That some community residents are critical of Gallegos for his apparent non-action is not this newspaper’s responsibility.

That the Animal Legal Defense Fund contacted The Eureka Reporter is not this newspaper’s responsibility.

That the ALDF finds Gallegos’ explanations less than plausible is not this newspaper’s responsibility.

And it is not this newspaper’s responsibility if individuals are charged with misdemeanor and/or felony counts related to this case. The responsibility for that lies solely with those individuals.

Our responsibility is to report on this horrific scandal. We have shown that the wanton execution and/or neglect of any animal is serious business and should be reported and prosecuted.

Instead of thinly veiled specious claims against this newspaper, perhaps our critics can donate to Miranda’s Rescue and spend time helping Shannon Miranda care for the rescued dogs and making sure that such acts never occur again on the North Coast.

Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.