Just as the original ASPCA brought about radical changes to the way animals were treated at the turn of the last century, we need a group to step up and radically change the way government funded animal shelters are run. There needs to be a total revamp in shelters across the country. These animals are not trash, needing to be disposed of as cheaply as possible. They are living, breathing, feeling beings that deserve to be treated humanely, with kindness and respect.
My vision for such an endeavor would be a privately run shelter and co-op resource center to provide spay and neuter, veterinary care, housing options, adoption and education. It would include multiple rescue groups with no hidden agenda other than the humane care of animals. It would contract with cities to handle the animals with caring, well trained officers, dedicated to the compassionate handling of animals as well as investigation of cruelty cases. It would include lawyers well versed in animal cruelty law to prosecute such cases, lobbyists to promote more laws with stiffer penalties and public input to encourage judges to hand down such penalties.
I know, dream on right?
The fact remains, there needs to be change from within and without. Public outcry only goes so far. Career politicians know how to say what people want to hear in order to placate the masses. After a while, things settle down, out of sight, out of mind. Meanwhile, nothing has really changed.
Meanwhile, shelters carry on just as they always have, more than happy to slide by, doing the bare minimum when it comes to animal care, more than happy to let rescue groups do the work, whether arranging adoptions, providing transport, paying for veterinary care, etc. When the current volunteers get frustrated, burn out or get kicked out for speaking up, they just wait for the next group to come along. And so it goes.
I am hopeful eventually we will see radical change, shelters adopting and following shelter standards, providing proper training, promoting education, avoiding becoming the easy dumping ground when people choose to shirk responsibility. Shelters need to be managed much the same as a veterinary/boarding facility, including meticulous attention to record keeping, which includes daily animal care, managing medical conditions and providing enrichment.
This type of approach guarantees increased morale among staff, better care for the animals, an uplifting, less stressful environment which promotes healing and well being for all.
My vision for such an endeavor would be a privately run shelter and co-op resource center to provide spay and neuter, veterinary care, housing options, adoption and education. It would include multiple rescue groups with no hidden agenda other than the humane care of animals. It would contract with cities to handle the animals with caring, well trained officers, dedicated to the compassionate handling of animals as well as investigation of cruelty cases. It would include lawyers well versed in animal cruelty law to prosecute such cases, lobbyists to promote more laws with stiffer penalties and public input to encourage judges to hand down such penalties.
I know, dream on right?
The fact remains, there needs to be change from within and without. Public outcry only goes so far. Career politicians know how to say what people want to hear in order to placate the masses. After a while, things settle down, out of sight, out of mind. Meanwhile, nothing has really changed.
Meanwhile, shelters carry on just as they always have, more than happy to slide by, doing the bare minimum when it comes to animal care, more than happy to let rescue groups do the work, whether arranging adoptions, providing transport, paying for veterinary care, etc. When the current volunteers get frustrated, burn out or get kicked out for speaking up, they just wait for the next group to come along. And so it goes.
I am hopeful eventually we will see radical change, shelters adopting and following shelter standards, providing proper training, promoting education, avoiding becoming the easy dumping ground when people choose to shirk responsibility. Shelters need to be managed much the same as a veterinary/boarding facility, including meticulous attention to record keeping, which includes daily animal care, managing medical conditions and providing enrichment.
This type of approach guarantees increased morale among staff, better care for the animals, an uplifting, less stressful environment which promotes healing and well being for all.
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