A Surrey community newspaper is drawing fire for a recent column that sympathizes with Emma Paulsen, the B.C. dog walker recently convicted in the deaths of six dogs in her care.
In the column ‘Sympathy for the dog killer Paulsen,’ Now Newspaper staff writer Adrian MacNair argues dogs are “inconsequential” and “easily replaced,” while Paulsen’s life is more important because she is human.
“I felt sympathy because Paulsen is going to lose her freedom over the deaths of six animals who, at the end of the day, are essentially inconsequential to this world,” MacNair wrote in his column published Thursday.
“Dogs are easily replaced. If you don’t think that’s true, head down to your local animal shelter. You can grab one for about $350.”
The column drew hundreds of heated comments on the newspaper’s website, as well as a torrent of negative remarks and a smattering of positive ones on Now's Facebook page.
In January, Paulsen was sentenced to six months in jail for her part in the deaths of the six dogs in her care, and her subsequent attempt to cover it up. She also faces two years of probation after serving her sentence, a 10-year ban from owning animals and a lifetime ban from caring for animals belonging to other people.
MacNair argues that Paulsen is being “crucified” for killing animals that are arbitrarily deemed more important in North American culture than livestock.
“In other parts of the world, killing dogs isn’t taboo,” MacNair says. “Some countries openly feast on dogs the same way we eat chickens.”
He adds that Paulsen “may be suffering from mental illness” and is now being deprived of the treatment she needs.
The issue of mental illness was not raised in her court hearing.
The violent public backlash against MacNair’s column prompted Now editor Beau Simpson to issue an apology.
“The column contained language and references to dogs that were insensitive and should not have been published,” Simpson wrote in the apology posted online. “While I support our columnists’ rights to hold – and publish – opinions that may be unpopular, as an editor, I accept responsibility for allowing such viewpoints to be expressed in a callous, insensitive and disrespectful manner.”
Simpson reiterated the point to CTV Vancouver.
“I stand behind our columnists’ right to express a viewpoint, no matter how unpopular it may be,” he said.
Simpson also said he wants to personally apologize for any offense that may have been caused to the families whose dogs died in Paulsen’s care.
The web version of MacNair’s column has more than 400 comments.
“This is absolutely ridiculous,” top poster Steven Padley wrote. “Putting value on human life over the lives of animals is a problem in itself, but acting like a 6 month jail sentence is the end of the world while the death of six beloved family pets is something that should just be shrugged off it absolutely ridiculous.”
A few rose up to defend MacNair’s right to free speech.
“Dude, it took stones to write what you did,” said Craig Fader. “Reading some of the spew that’s being launched your way isn’t disturbing as much as it is expected. Hypocrites.”
MacNair, meanwhile, remained adamant about his stance through several posts in the comments section of his article. He argued that the six dogs would not have been aware of what happened to them as they died in Paulsen’s hot truck. He then added that pet owners have “jumped the shark” with their response to the six dead dogs. “Where does it end? Do I have to mourn your goldfish and hamsters too?”
MacNair refused repeated calls for him to apologize.
With files from CTV Vancouver
