Hi ~
I'm new here; I visited because a friend of mine comes here. With great interest, I've been reading the thread about the "stolen" pictures. I don't know if they were "stolen" - I'm not knowledgeable about such things - but I do see a lot of vindictiveness in *some* replies. Some, blessedly, have expressed reasonable opinions; someone explained *why* kittens on "death row" are pictured - because the shelter won't release the animals to a rescue until their time is up. Someone else explained about trying to get decent photos of the kittens. Now, this I do know: Barb does not get her kittens "off the street," as someone suggested. And there *are* people - plenty of them - who volunteer to do transports for her; I've done three myself, so I know whereof I speak. It's one of the most satisfying things I've ever done, and I look forward to helping again.

There was a very good reason why she was pleading for volunteers -and if you'd carefully read the entire email she sent out, you'd know that she usually deals with rescues from TN, WV, and VA - and has *no* contacts in the midwest, where these kittens are. Isn't that a logical reason for the plea?

I don't know the woman personally; I've never met her. But I do believe she's acting in the best interests of the kittens. If she had some nefarious purpose for wanting them - well, there are certainly easier ways to acquire them than to spend the time it takes to plan out a route & then beg for volunteers to help transport.

Should she have asked permission to use your photos? Frankly, I don't know. If her response was less than you desired, perhaps you should think of how she was put onto the defensive. And even if you think her use of your photos was wrong, and even if you dislike her response - can you not consider the great good she is doing & be a bit kind & compassionate? Do you know what strain she might be under? OK, it happened - but it's certainly not worth all the incriminations. Maybe she made a mistake; if so, it was an honest one. If none of you have ever made a mistake, then go ahead and cast your stones; otherwise, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."