I'm giving serious consideration to deleting my blog. I've got some well-meaning "advocates" quoting my blog and using information posted there out of context. They're creating problems for me, for my rescue and the shelter where I rescue.
Being an advocate doesn't mean "Go bizerk - or use technology and the internet to wreck havoc on people's jobs.
They've been planning a rally in front of the shelter. Instead of a "Rally", why don't these people go to an eff'ing city counsel meeting? Take a tour of the shelter? Talk to the management? Why not rally IN SUPPORT of an adoption program? Be in SUPPORT of a spay/neuter program? Why rally against euthanasia? (Who LIKES euthanasia? Duh!!) Unless they have a better alternative to deal with the number of unadoptable wild-feral cats that come in to this busy city pound - quit yer bitchin'. Just sayin'.
I don't pretend to like everything about this city pound. But these women who call themselves "advocates" will not get any support from me. You aren't advocating. You are causing trouble. Smart advocates educate themselves before going off the deep end. I've seen the emails and the petition. Many of the "facts" are incorrect and the rants are unintelligible bullshit. You're leading each other into a feeding frenzy.
Seems like a harsh blog post even for me, but I'm tired of these wannabe advocates using my blog as fuel for their fire.
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17 comments:
FINALLY! You said it all Beth!
I really wish these women would educate themselves and go to the shelter to have ANY questions answered. They are doing NO GOOD.
Maybe once they read this comment they can go to the shelter every Monday and Thursday afternoon (before the vet day) and "RESCUE" anywhere from 10-25/30 cats so they aren't FORCED to euthanize! But for some reason, I highly doubt they would take these cats!
arg, I had this group on my Facebook and just read some of the nonsense they wrote, left the group. People who aren't informed and rant for the sake of ranting annoy me. Please don't remove your blog, it's so important to keep everyone informed of the work that you do.
I'm so sorry. I hope you dont delete this, as much I don't like to read about the negative sides that you do share, I do know they are out there and sometimes it is good to be reminded that it is still there and there is more work to be done.
I agree, I hope they get off their soap boxes and DO something.. rescue cats, start a S/N program, something other then tick off the people who are TRYING to do something. We don't live in a perfect world, so imperfect things happen, but as much as I abhor the fact that these cats are euthaized, it is far better then dying on the streets sick and or injured fighting out an existance... well you know.
Thank you for all you can do.
I am a member of that group, I have been to the 'shelter' before the vet is there and rescued many and still been told the vet is coming in.
Some of us ARE advocating to get things changed at the city level and have said we are not signing the petition etc and some of us do realise that it will never be a no kill shelter but they can improve from being one of the worst in Ontario
However, the status quo is not helping either, something does need to be done
Without your blog, some of the rescues would never have got involved, would not know how many cats need saving while the SPCA says they rescue many from there and the problem is not known - dont let a few ruin it for all
You should not have to change what you are doing because of the stupidity of others. You blog shows the rest of the world how a good cat rescue is run. My human has been a writer for 25 years and one thing she has learned is that there are always idiots out there who will either misinterpret what you are saying, or who will try to twist your words to accomplish their own ends. Unless you are doing something fatally flawed (which you aren't), you should not give in or stop communicating on account of these folks.
I don't have the solution, but I definitely can empathize with what you write. There is so much negativity in the animal welfare world, which can sometimes be so destructive and can drive people away, who would otherwise do fabulous things for the animals (like your wonderful blog!).
I hope your persist, because your writing is truly inspirational.
PS I wrote a post on a similar frustration in the days leading up to the THS election: http://lilmacbreakingoftheshell.blogspot.com/2011/05/very-simple-thought.html
These ignorant women who want to sit behind a computer and cause problems should be focusing their energy on the root cause - people in the Hamilton area just cannot afford the cost to spay/neuter their pets. Instead of fueling anger over the problem of pet/feral over population they need to deal with the root cause. Having a protest is just comedy at its best. A bunch of women who just don't get it. These woman are true comedians. They just don't get it that all municipal shelters euthanize cats. That's reality.
Hamilton could have a municipal adoption centre, as they once did, but that still will not solve the root cause of pet or feral overpopulation. I say get off your butts and work with the local vets in Hamilton to provide low cost spay/neuter clinics!! That will take a lot more effort to organize than as you say feeding the frenzie of people that do not know how this shelter does provide quality care for the animals.
Needless to say, I hope you don't remove your blog but I can understand why you'd consider it. It's very disheartening to find that your blog is being used by people who may mean well but are concentrating on all the wrong things...
I think I had a look at their FB page. Your previous post about the heartstick was mentioned and even reposted, even though you removed it (and had said in the comments that you were going to get more information...). I won't deny, the blog about the heartstick shocked me too *but* I would *never* have reposted it (after you'd removed it) to try and make a point and use it as a 'see, see!! This is what's happening' kind of thing. Not only is it disrespectful to you (which is funny, because the woman who posted "she removed it!! I got the screenshot though' is also the same one who credits you with inspiring her to rescue...And yet, she reposts the blog you removed...)
I agree with everything you've said in this blog. I hope those people will take note.
I also agree with one of the previous posters, you do awesome work and your blog highlights situations that people and rescues would never have been aware of otherwise. Please don't let the actions of a few (ill-advised as they are) ruin it for all...
Cindy, Bertie, Sammy, Malley and Batman
Please don't remove your blog! I am in the USA and your posts are among the high points of my day!
We hope you stick around. We would miss you.
It is hard to deal with those that don't understand. NO ONE likes euthanisia in shelters. But until people stand up and are responsible, the numbers just don't work....so rather than protest the situation at the shelter, adopt an animal, organize a fundraiser or something else. It makes me crazy that people pick one thing and get fixated on the negative. They should be trying to be part of the solution not more of the problem. And they should certainly not be using your words and your blog to further their actions!!
Sounds like their idea of doing good ... isnt. I've been reading your blog for quite awhile, and I like it.
Please don't delete this blog , my rescue kitties and I read it regularly and it gives us hope for the ones that do make it out of the shelter, and motivation to do more for the ones that don't!
Beth, I really hope you don't stop writing your blog, I enjoy reading it.
I support the no-kill movement and believe that shelters should not euthanize animals due to lack of space. I live near Vancouver so I'm not completely familiar with the issues, however it seems to me that if one wants a shelter to become a no-kill shelter, there has to be a plan in place for what to do with the animals (adoption/foster/relocation etc). Trying to make a shelter no-kill without having these plans in place is putting the cart before the horse. What does this group propose should be done when the shelter is full? Turn away animals? That's what happens here - most shelters do not take owner surrenders, or if they do, the owner must pay a sizable fee.
I have it on good faith from a former employee at HAC that no other rescues takes as many cats out of there as you do. You spend endless hours picking up and delivering cats all at your own expense. Do these people not realize that attacking you is like shooting themselves in the foot. If they claim they want to help the animals let them go in and rescue and drive for other rescues. If the shelter decides that after all this negative publicity to close their doors to all rescues I hope these women will be able to sleep at night knowing that many of the lives that would have been saved never even got a chance as a result of their actions.
I see both sides. Although it is nice to think that a few individuals could get a spay & neuter clinic up and running I think that is a pipe dream but the SPCA who shares the building could definitely get it up and running as they have in Barrie and Newmarket,if they handled the S/N clinic, then the animal control could handle and adopt out the cats. The SPCA has the money, it just has to put it where ppl want it to go!
I work for a city. I can tell you that policies do not get changed by protests and rallies. Policies get changed by contacting city councillors and the mayor. You also have to go to council meetings and ask questions. That is how to change things in your city.
Agree 100%!!!!!
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