I need some help with terminology, please. For over a year, I led a campaign to bring changes (such access to pets and photos of them) and to increase the live release rate at my local shelter. It’s run by a 501c3 and has contracts with the city and county. The GREAT news is that the shelter finally hired a new, hard-working, passionate, progressive director and everything has changed in just a few months. New policies and new programs are making a huge difference. I could not be more thrilled! But our shelter is not yet technically “no kill”, if that is defined as saving 90%. BUT they are implementing all the programs to get there. I see how hard the staff are working to save lives. What is the best way to identify a shelter that is making real progress to no kill, but not there yet? It does not seem fair or accurate to call a shelter a ‘kill” shelter when they are making real progress and saving more and more lives. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground? What is the best answer to the question, “Is this a kill shelter?” Thank you!
Perhaps point out the wonderful things that are happening rather than simply designating the shelter as kill or no kill. I would focus on the changes and the difference they are making. Check out UPAWS for some good marketing and community building. Folks in the upper peninsula of Michigan have made/continue to make amazing things happen for the animals there.
Shirley I know you don’t do FB, but someone shared this picture which identified Columbus county animal shelter , and over it was “When your local pound or shelter is crammed with abused pitbulls, chihuahuas with birth defects, and thrown away hunting dogs, it doesn’t point to a problem with the shelter, it points to a problem in the community.”
What a great way to market your shelter animals, don’t ya think?
If you truly believe “it’s all how they’re raised,” no stray shelter dog or abused dog would be safe to place in a home. I’ve worked with many animal victims of abuse — some have issues, it’s true — but many of them are just as resilient as Theodore.
YesBiscuit! 
A dog was critical to gathering evidence against Jared Fogle — he is one of only four dogs in the country trained to find hidden electronic devices.
https://www.thedodo.com/dog-key-to-case-jared-fogle-1304411980.html
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Good dog, yes biscuit! I hope they train more for this specialized work.
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And the WSJ had a great feature this week on how much Istanbul loves its cats.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-istanbul-should-be-called-catstantinople-1439942244
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I need some help with terminology, please. For over a year, I led a campaign to bring changes (such access to pets and photos of them) and to increase the live release rate at my local shelter. It’s run by a 501c3 and has contracts with the city and county. The GREAT news is that the shelter finally hired a new, hard-working, passionate, progressive director and everything has changed in just a few months. New policies and new programs are making a huge difference. I could not be more thrilled! But our shelter is not yet technically “no kill”, if that is defined as saving 90%. BUT they are implementing all the programs to get there. I see how hard the staff are working to save lives. What is the best way to identify a shelter that is making real progress to no kill, but not there yet? It does not seem fair or accurate to call a shelter a ‘kill” shelter when they are making real progress and saving more and more lives. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground? What is the best answer to the question, “Is this a kill shelter?” Thank you!
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Perhaps point out the wonderful things that are happening rather than simply designating the shelter as kill or no kill. I would focus on the changes and the difference they are making. Check out UPAWS for some good marketing and community building. Folks in the upper peninsula of Michigan have made/continue to make amazing things happen for the animals there.
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Inspector General’s report on Cook County Illinois Animal and Rabies Control department has been released. Link to the entire report is in this story: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/New-Report-Finds-Issues-at-Cook-County-Animal-Control–322544242.html
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Shirley I know you don’t do FB, but someone shared this picture which identified Columbus county animal shelter , and over it was “When your local pound or shelter is crammed with abused pitbulls, chihuahuas with birth defects, and thrown away hunting dogs, it doesn’t point to a problem with the shelter, it points to a problem in the community.”
What a great way to market your shelter animals, don’t ya think?
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Oh that’s swell. Who do they think is going to adopt/foster/donate for/etc all these animals? THE COMMUNITY.
I adopted a couple of “thrown away hunting dogs” and an “abused pitbull”. I’m also a member of the community. I guess I’m part of the problem.
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Nice article addressing assumptions about dogs, ‘No, It’s Not All How They’re Raised’ –
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trish-mcmillan-loehr/how-theyre-raised-pit-bulls_b_8029078.html?utm_hp_ref=pit-bulls
If you truly believe “it’s all how they’re raised,” no stray shelter dog or abused dog would be safe to place in a home. I’ve worked with many animal victims of abuse — some have issues, it’s true — but many of them are just as resilient as Theodore.
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Terrible news day, even before I read one of the baby pandas born at the National Zoo has died. Here’s a good respite:
http://boingboing.net/2015/08/26/baby-meets-her-family-cat-for.html
(Disclosure: This is exactly how I react to cats walking on me too.)
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