The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) issued a press release last week announcing its top ten “emergency placement partners” for 2011. Topping the list is the Guilford Co pound in NC, operated by United Animal Coalition:
“Guilford County Animal Shelter has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty to come to the aid of animals in need,” said Michelle Cascio, manager of the Emergency Placement Program for The HSUS.
In 2010, Guilford Co had a 42% kill rate. The pound has a policy dictating death for all Rottweilers, Pitbulls and Chows, regardless of health or temperament. Apparently the HSUS standards for going “above and beyond the call of duty” are substantially lower than normal people’s.
Also making the list was the Nashville Humane Association which readers here will recall dodged and weaved and ducked and covered when we repeatedly sought answers about what happened to the 10 dogs they took of the Alabama 44. The attorney for the group ultimately admitted they had adopted one, killed three and sent the other six to a prison program. I don’t know what became of those six. Nashville Humane does not disclose its kill rate.
Others on the HSUS top ten list include the Second Chance Animal Shelter in MA which charges a surrender fee of $25 – $100 per pet and sells animals for prices ranging from $50 (elderly cats) to $275 (puppies). The kill rate at Second Chance is not disclosed on its website. Dumb Friends League in Co has a 28% kill rate and there are other facilities on the list, such as the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, whose kill rates are unknown.
Some of the shelters recognized by HSUS on this list are failing facilities which needlessly kill healthy/treatable pets for whatever reasons they see fit. This is why we need CAPA type laws in place in every state in this county – because we obviously can’t count on the multi-million dollar national groups like HSUS to lead the charge in protecting pets’ right to live. It’s up to us. We are the real humane society in the United States – small h, small s. Join us.