Here’s the deal.

I am tired of getting berated by different groups every time I write about animals. So allow me to set the facts straight.

I wrote about going to the circus and how much fun I had. I wrote about the different acts I saw ranging from the high wire acts to the clowns. I also happened to write about the elephants.

I wrote about a local teacher who took a unit on the Iditarod and turned it into an engaging activity for her students. She set up a race course next to the school and even had someone build a dog sled on wheels for the students so that they could have a truer to life experience.

I wrote about the new puppy my family got. In that, I mentioned in passing that my dad may possibly want to start breeding dogs. I mentioned in that same column that my family has always been animal people and that we have raised dogs before.

After each of these columns ran, I received at least one e-mail from someone berating me for writing about animals.

I was fussed at for writing about elephants in the circus. I realize they are probably not treated very well, however, my column about how much I enjoyed the circus was not really the place I wanted to expound upon that fact. I received at least 14 e-mails from an activist group I have never even heard of complaining about the Iditarod and how the dogs are mistreated. Some of them may be, but I am sure that others are just happy to be out on the trail running as that is what they are born to do.

I received e-mails complaining about the fact that my dad might possibly some day in the distant future look into breeding dogs. They were concerned that he did not realize how much work it took, that he would drown puppies who were not perfect, that the conditions would be less than ideal, etc.

The vast majority of these e-mails complained about the fact that I did not do my research. That I did not report the facts. That I am, in fact a horrible, horrible person. The thing is, this is a column. It appears weekly on the Opinion page. For those who are unsure about what an opinion is, I direct you to your nearest dictionary where it will assure you that an opinion does not have to be a fact backed up by evidence.

One person accused me of posting my “subjective experience.” Well, yes, that is exactly what I did. And on this page, in this space, I am entitled to do that. On any other page in the paper, stories are reported according to the facts. Reporters do not interject their own opinions into their writings of news articles. However, the opinion page is a forum for us to discuss what we believe, what we have experienced.

I realize most of the people who will read this understand that fact. The e-mails I receive do not typically come from people in Surry County or even from the surrounding area. However, it is my hope that these people will search for “elephant” or “Iditarod” and find this column. Perhaps then they will understand what an opinion is and cease accusing me of being a horrible journalist who does not do research.

For those who realize the difference between fact and opinion, this is not directed to you and I hope you will not take offense. Frankly, you could have stopped reading this long ago. For the rest of you, take a moment to think before you act. Make sure you have your facts straight. I don’t mind constructive criticism and it is nice to know people read what I write, but enough is enough.

Morgan Wall is a staff reporter for The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.