It occurred to me this afternoon that we're at the end of May and the shelter is still on a two day per week euthanasia calendar. Usually by this time, they're bringing in the vet 3 days per week. I suppose they'll eventually get there, but every week that goes by where the vet only comes 2 days per week feels like some kind of warped victory. Maybe residents of the city are getting the message.
I've actually received some "hate comments" over my recent blog post about a petition circulating through the rescue world regarding the shelter where I rescue. The amusing part is that these ladies pushed the wrong damn button, so their "anonymous" email wasn't really anonymous and I was given their names and email address. The comments were far from lady-like. Shame on you, ladies. Honestly.
These folks love animals the way I do - no doubt about it. But they don't have the correct information and are going through an awful lot of work. I think it's best I stay out of it completely. As a registered Canadian Charity, I'm not allowed to be publically involved in politics like this, and I can't put my name on something that is so general: "Stop the killing at *** Animal Control". or "Stop the brutality". NOBODY wants to see the animals euthanized. Good grief...they're posting pictures of cats that came into the shelter injured and trying to suggest that staff at the shelter allowed them to suffer. Ridiculous.
Start a petition on allowing adoptions at this shelter!....Now that's something I could support depending on how it's written and who wrote it. If you haven't visited the shelter, been to a city counsel meeting, or spoken with the kind shelter manager, don't bother me with it.
There. I said my peace. Any hate mail, please be sure you push the correct damn button - I don't want to know who you are. But I do wish you all the best in making the changes you wish to see. I hope they all come to fruition.
Remember: We all just want to save some cats. Rock on, ladies - but be nice.
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19 comments:
Beth, blogger needs a "Like' button like facebook... I would press it!
Selkie: Thanks so much! It felt good to write that post. :)
-B
You go, Beth!! Unless they work in rescue or the shelter they really don't know what is going on so they shouldn't say stuff about things they don't know!! Hope that made sense.
Amen! I've got some not so nice comments when I said I volunteer at the SPCA. People, if you care about the animals, work with the shelter workers/volunteers, not against!
Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world where shelters were never overcrowded and animals were never so ill or onjured that euthanasia was the kindest option? Unfortunately, we don't live in that utopia. Adoptions allowed.....that's another story altogether, but the sad and cold reality is that space is a problem. What would happen if the shelter had no room? My guess is many more people would just dump the unwanted animals on the streets, which is a much more cruel situation to my mind. As much as I detest that ANY animal who is not too ill or injured to be saved and live a normal life has to be euthanized, I am thankful that there is a place for previously unwanted animals to go and be given at least some chance of rescue rather than tossed into the streets to fend for themselves.
Some people just want to argue, they will always find something offensive to say to you! People feel like they're not "making a difference" unless they're shooting fire out their mouths! You should tell them, they can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
you can't adopt from the shelter you rescue from? how are the animals supposed to get out?
Obviously their hearts are in the right place....I can understand the desire because you're correct, no one wants to see cats euthanized. But you do have to be on the inside and have actual first-hand knowledge of what's going, IMO.
I don't have insider info, of course, so can't really comment...But there's a problem with no-kill shelters in that they can become so overcrowded that the often hundreds of cats waiting for homes end up living in tiny cages, without much human or feline interaction and little, if any, quality of life.
There's just not an easy, "happy" solution for all concerned, sadly. And won't be, until the uneducated, uncaring people who let their animals roam, unaltered, learn to take better care. And given human nature, I'm not holding my breath on that one, either.
Just my $0.02!
I think we all need to recognize as well that this and other animal controls are providing a service that is neccessary because of the behaviour of people. We need the public to change how they think, to understand and accept the 20+ year commitment that cat ownership is, to spay and neuter, to understand that owning/loving a pet is a huge responsibilty that will require time, effort and sometimes compromises (like not moving into that perfect except for no animal allowed apartment). And before the public changes the way they think, shelters like this will 'need' to exist because there are more companion animals then there are homes for them.
Keep up the good work!!
for those who left rude comments here: We often wonder if those who complain the most have ever worked or volunteered at these places. It isn't as black and white as they think it is. In a perfect world, there would be no healthy adoptable animals being euthanized. But we aren't there yet....unfortunately, but there is it. Until then, try to make changes but don't judge those that have to make the hard decisions - would you want to do it??
I can understand that some people take protesting a bit far but I do recall a few cats you have rescued from said Animal Control that did have a broken leg that was not going to be fixed by the AC and the cat was going to sit in a cage for 3 days until it was euthanised. I also remember an eye that needed to be removed from another cat or two and unless you had stepped in that would not have happened so I have to partially agree with the ladies that some of the cats at this AC are left in pain and are not treated nor immediately euthanised. If the AC wants the ppl on their side then smarten up and open to the public like the rest of the tax paid animal controls and provide low cost spay and neuter instead of paying a vet to euthanise.
I volunteer for a "kill" shelter (who does adoptions and fortunately has an almost "no-kill" shelter adoption rates) and it irritates me to no end when people tout how much "better" no-kill shelters are. It is to the point that I hate the term "no-kill". Often "no-kill" means closed admission so they get to pick and choose the animals that come to them, and with out open admission shelters there would be no place for the animals that aren't picked for closed admission shelters.
I hate the idea of euthanasia as well, but I know full well that until we get it through the thick heads of those people who won't neuter that there really is no other option. We can not allow these animals to die on the streets sick and/or hungry and/or at the hand of a car or another animal. It is never the best solution, but it is often the best of available options.
I've been on the receiving end of similar ignorant comments, and as much as I don't want them to, they hurt. They want to choose life, but I don't see them out there on the streets saving animals, I don't see them out there spending their last dime getting the ones in shelters taken care of, and you almost never see them doing the wonderful and painful work you do.
I hope every single one of those people spends a day trying to stem the tide of the overpopulation of animals with their proverbial bucket and maybe they can learn.
Several cities in Canada and US have achieved a virtually no-kill status (Calgary, for one). If it is possible, then it must be attempted! There are many shelters/volunteers who have tried, succeeded and published guidelines, so I do not think that I personally have to suggest alternatives: there is a lot of literature already available on the topic. I signed the petition to make the administrators know that people care, and a better solution has to be investigated. I do not see that the AC in question is trying hard to find alternative solutions (opening to the public?). Maybe there is conflict of interest? Then, the city of Hamilton should intervene and deal with this situation, in the best interest of the animals. But if we don't let the city know that people aren't happy about the current policy, do you think they will take the time/money to reduce the euthanasia rate in that shelter? They seem happy with the status quo...
First of all, everybody's beloved Calgary Animal Control does NOT take in stray cats. They put through 500 cats last year....the shelter where I rescue put through FIVE THOUSAND.
C'mon.
And Calgary is a horrible example since if the cat is unowned and unadoptable, it is killed. They like to say in Calgary they do not have stray cats because all cats must be indoors only.
LOL Beth I can only imagine how you felt noticing that these women didn't click the anonymous button. There is a website called formspring which allows you to ask its users questions either through your profile or anonymously. A friend of mine has a profile set up and was sent a rude question regarding an ex boyfriend. We all had to laugh as the other girl did not do this anonymously and my friend was able to call her out on being rude.
I hope this doesn't sound like Marie Antoinette, but what is the reason that this AC is not open to the public for adoptions? I understand that cats can get out via reputable rescues. I applaud you and the others who are pulling these kitties, and love your success stories.
redstarcafe: I don't have all the information on this, but AC shares a building with the SPCA. A long time ago, there was an agreement that the SPCA would take cats from AC if they didn't compete with adoptions. Pfft.
They are working on opening it up for adoptions again. It takes time and money.
There has been a FB event created for this "movement" and heaven forbid you share your opinion or thoughts. The women "running" the show are very quick to label you as uneducated and jump straight to conclusions. Good luck to them, but I honestly feel they are mislabelling the cause. Let's educate the community and brainstorm ways to use our knowledge to start a change from the outside. AC can only do so much.
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