This is the story of the Marquette Co Humane Society in MI - but it could be your local shelter's story too. During the period from 1999-2006, the private open-admission shelter was killing 60% of the pets in their care. Their administrator had been in place for decades and was very resistant to change. The … Continue reading UPAWS: Doing It
Category: No Kill
Are You Enabling the Needless Killing of Shelter Pets?
Our battle for a No Kill nation is not against the public. It is against the cowards of our movement who refuse to stand up to their colleagues and friends running shelters that are mired in the failed and defunct philosophies that allow (indeed, cause) killing. Our battle is against those who claim to be … Continue reading Are You Enabling the Needless Killing of Shelter Pets?
Why Your Shelter is Failing
If your local animal shelter is killing healthy/treatable pets, it's failing. Here's how the shelter director will explain the needless killing: Pet overpopulation: There are just too many pets and not enough homes for all of them. Lack of MSN: Because we don't have a mandatory spay-neuter law here like they do in other places … Continue reading Why Your Shelter is Failing
By What Right?
What gives a taxpayer funded animal shelter the right to abuse and/or kill pets? Is it the law of Finders Keepers? "We got 'em now so we can do whatever we want to 'em"? There are laws to protect pets from abuse and killing by private citizens. Should animal shelters and their workers be exempt … Continue reading By What Right?
The Audacity of Hope
It's National Animal Shelter Reform Week. These dogs are at my local "We kill our friend every day" shelter. I want to effect change for them. Why are you working towards reform? Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. ~ His … Continue reading The Audacity of Hope
National Animal Shelter Reform Week
The No Kill Advocacy Center launched National Animal Shelter Reform Week this week in direct response to HSUS's National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Inga Fricke of HSUS: “A shelter is a safe haven for animals, and a great place to adopt a new family pet. Shelters also provide critical services like investigating cruelty and neglect, … Continue reading National Animal Shelter Reform Week
Choice
The killing of friendly, healthy/treatable pets in animal shelters is a matter of choice. Every community's shelter chooses whether to stick with last century's "catch and kill" philosophy or embrace this century's No Kill Equation. By choosing to cling to outdated ideas and debunked myths such as "pet overpopulation" and "killing is a kindness", shelters … Continue reading Choice
Could You Foster a Shelter Pet?
When shelters like this one in AL and this one in NV send out emergency pleas for foster homes, do you immediately think, "I couldn't do that"? I always did. But now I'm reconsidering. I get attached - as perhaps you could tell from the recent rescue of Jennie (thank you Jamie!). In that case, … Continue reading Could You Foster a Shelter Pet?
Yeah – What She Said
On October 12, a man surrendered his 4 year old Doberman, called Shadow, to The Sumpter Humane Society in GA. Shadow was in good health and described by a shelter worker as "happy", "energetic" and "very friendly". The shelter prepared to kill him. Mercifully, someone scanned him for a microchip first and found he had … Continue reading Yeah – What She Said
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
If you are part of a movement to change the status quo, you will hit the skids from time to time. It's natural. It's part of creating change. You might feel alone, overwhelmed, and/or ineffective. I wanted to create this post as a reminder that you are not alone. We're in this together. And change … Continue reading Someone Saved My Life Tonight
YesBiscuit! 