The oft repeated condemnation of the public by animal shelters who kill pets has been dealt yet another blow in Paulding Co, GA. The media announced a couple of days ago that the shelter’s 120 pets needed immediate adoption as the shelter had to close for construction. The “irresponsible public” answered the call:
“We have 8 dogs and 18 cats and kittens left in the shelter,” [kennel supervisor Tracy] Thompson said. “This is so touching. Atlanta really does love animals.”
Do I detect a bit of astonishment in that statement? I’m not surprised in the slightest. Time and again, when shelters who kill pets quit blaming the public for the killing and instead reach out for community assistance, we see the public step up. Whether it’s a single abused dog or dozens of pets rescued from deplorable living conditions, the community opens their wallets, their homes and their hearts.
Oh and did I mention that Paulding Co is in the South? The hopeless South, where we are too dumb to prevent our pets from unplanned breeding, too backwards to appreciate that pets need a loving home, and too lazy to do anything to stop our shelters from killing our communities’ pets. Or so we’ve been told by no kill naysayers.
It’s time to abandon old-think and realize that we are a humane society. We don’t want shelters killing our communities’ pets and we are willing to lend a hand to accomplish that goal. Even in the South.
You said it in the previous post: The South rocks! It’s good old Southern hospitality at its absolute best. Wooo-hooo for those animals and and an even bigger wooo-hoooo to all the adopters! Now… Just a few more homes needed…
There are compassionate people all over the US, and all over the world (look at what is happening in Australia and New Zealand). The shelters just need to stop blaming the public for killing. If they worked hard to stop the killing, the public would step up to help. No Kill shelters see this all the time.
There are No Kill communities in KY and VA, saving in excess of 90% of all animals. With the announcement coming of new No Kill communities in MN and WI, we now have success all over the U.S.: CA, IN, KS, NY, UT, etc. etc. Urban and rural, North and South, led by both public facilities and private humane societies. And as Bett notes above, No Kill communities in Australia and New Zealand, and, increasingly, in Canada. Of course, that won’t stop the Naysayers and peddlers of negativity, those who claim “it is impossible” even though it has already been achieved, but they too will disown those views once we achieve a No Kill nation. In fact, they’ll pretend they supported it all along…
I live in Georgia and am glad that so many responded to the need in Paulding County. However, the South lags far behind in many areas of animal rescue. You referenced another article in the AJC about the high kill rates in shelters here. So true! Attitudes toward animals ARE different here in many ways, especially in rural areas. Perhaps that’s why so many animals in the South are transported out of here to other more pet-friendly areas where they actually can obtain homes.
On my way to work each day I see dead animals in the road. Pitiful. In my travels around the country by car, this is a sight far less prevalent in other areas. Stating we are a humane society is a bit optimistic. It’s encouraging that so many responded to the call at Paulding County, but what about the call to rescue all the others being euthanized daily at other shelters?
“Stating we are a humane society is a bit optimistic.”
Thank you. “a bit optimistic” is one of the nicest things I’ve been called on this blog.
I’m not denying we have more shelter pets in the South than some other parts of the country. What I’m saying is that, when kill shelters reach out in the media to say “we need help” instead of “it’s all your fault we have to kill pets because you irresponsible people don’t spay-neuter your pets” – people respond positively.
I try not to insult too many people. I did not read the associated article about high euthanasia rates (too painful), but how many of those shelters blamed the general population- and said so? I agree that asking for help is an excellent idea, but this was an even more “emergency” situation than usual. Also, Paulding County is not as rural as it once was, which in this case is probably positive.
Anyway, it’s great that people have stepped up and helped resolve this problem. Now if we can just continue this trend.
Speaking from direct experience, shelters with high kill rates tend to be hostile to the public and to rescue. A lot of people are unaware that some of these places even exist–they are kept hidden away. Those that ask for help and genuinely want to receive it and who have the interests of the animals in mind, get it.
Latest:
http://www.examiner.com/x-35783-Atlanta-Animal-Welfare-Examiner~y2010m5d17-Georgians-step-up-to-save-animals-at-Paulding-county-shelter