Help Needed For Cruel Response To Loss Of Dog, hope people see this, & quickly Options

[Furkidlets' Mom]

I don't know if anyone can help me with this, but I've been asked by a friend to write a Letter to the Editor in response to another one written by irate parents who took offense to a previous letter, and I can't find a THING on the 'net that might help me compose a proper response, considering the comparisons made between animal companion loss and human child loss - there's nothing really helpful and specific out there about this, it's still such a 'taboo' subject. I'm so upset myself over this exchange, I can't seem to come up with the right way to tackle it. (everything that comes to mind is full of !!!!!!!!!!!s, and I know that won't go over too well in a paper)

The first letter:

I am very upset that on a weekend after hours (noon) there is not a vet in (3 towns) who can be on call for an emergency.
Unfortunately, March 7 a dear friend’s dog was hit by a van in front of my house in "town x" (who by the way did not even stop, just drove away).
The dog did not have a chance but we at least had to try, I phoned seven different vet clinics in the area and no one could help us. We drove to the "x" emergency clinic in "x" they confirmed the outcome and had him humanely put down.
Why did the dog have to suffer for over two hours when he could have been put down immediately?
To all of you, who think that “it’s just a dog or cat” they are our kids and we love them just as much as you love your children.
The hospital has a doctor for humans on call on the weekends, why can’t the vet clinics take turns on the weekends so we don’t have to drive to the city and make the animals suffer. I guess they are not as important.
I have had animals all my life, cats, dogs, horses and can’t imagine life without one. All of my “pets” which have come from rescue organizations or are the “cats that are not wanted”. All have been spayed or neutered and they give us unconditional love, never complain except when I am a little late with dinner, and the best we can do is to make them suffer longer when they are hurt?

Here is the letter that followed this week:

In response to "x's" letter.... - How dare you compare a dog or cat to our children.
How dare you assume that the love for our children even remotely compares to the love of our pets.
How dare you lay the blame on the driver of the van who hit that dog and not on your friend who was negligent by letting that poor creature run on the street.
Ms. "x", we too have owned many animals we love them dearly. Guess what happens when one of them dies? We mourn quickly then go get a new one. Have you ever experienced the loss of a child? Obviously not. We have and again we say, how dare you.

I'm so distraught myself over such an inconsiderate and non-compassionate response to the first woman's plea, that I can barely think straight.....knowing there are people like this right in our neck of the woods, and to make matters worse, I happen to know that the man involved in the 2nd letter was, or possibly still is (!), one of our local firemen! Lord help any poor animals caught in a burning building if HE'S on call! I found this letter to be so sickening on so many levels, I can barely speak.

Anything anyone knows of that I might quote? Anyone who might have some wise suggestions? I only have tomorrow to get this in in time for next week's paper, if possible. In my view, these people (and probably many more, locally) need some re-education, in several departments.

[Furkidlets' Mom]

I managed to pare it down a little bit more (just deleting or substi tuting less important words), so that it's now only about 100 words over the limit. Still have to submit it, though, as neither of their TWO email contact links seem to be in operation! (stupid, 2-bit paper) I'll have to call them on Mon. about it.

I also found out this couple DID lose their son a couple of years ago. He drowned. I think he was already a young adult. So, I'm sorry for them, but not sorry enough to excuse their lashing out like this about someone else's right to feel grief-stricken. I can't even imagine doing that to someone, much less in a public newspaper.

Please excuse my denseness, Dayna, but are you saying that you've also lost a human child as well? (and yet still obviously feel heartbroken over your furry kids)