Recently on a media website, Pat Dunaway has been writing a series of articles relating to the failure of the No Kill movement. I recommend reading each one to educate yourselves with the damages being done by this movement.
Everyone that I know of, including myself, work for the day when pets don't have to be euthanized for time and space in our shelters. How we go about doing that makes the difference.
We do need shelter reform, no one questions that. But we have to deal with the real problem of shelter reform, pet overpopulation. No Kill pays lip service to spay/neuter but actions speak louder than words. And the actions of No Kill says they stand with the breeding community on stopping legislation about spay/neuter. No Kill lives in the present, wanting to save them all, but the cost is the future. Standing against mandatory spay/neuter now, according to No Kill, means more euthanization in the shelters. Thus far, that hasn't proven to be the case in those areas with mandatory spay/neuter.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/no-kill-movement-savior-or-scam
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/topanimalrights/does-no-kill-support-cruel-puppy-mill-businesses
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/no-kill-movement-menace-public-safety
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/pets-euthanized-funds-stolen-chaos-within-no-kill-continues
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/pennsylvania-cities-being-held-captive-no-kill-policy
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/please-dont-give-no-kill-if-you-care-about-pets
This type of reporting needs to continue.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
NO KILL MISREPRESENTS OPEN DOOR ADMISSION SHELTERS
The No Kill movement proclaims they have a handful of shelters who are open admission shelters. So what is the No Kill definition of open admission?
Open admission, in my book, is the taking of pets at the time of presentation. No Kill tries to discourage owners from surrendering their pets, assuming an attitude toward the owner who has to surrender. Of course, shelters see those owners with excuses such as the cat doesn't match the new furniture, but for the most part, owners surrendering pets is a traumatic experience. These owners are making the best decision rather than just opening the door and putting the pet out. I, personally, am against surrender fees but can understand why we have them. But let's make sure that animals aren't turned away because the owner can't afford the surrender fees. Many times the reason for surrendering is a lack of funds.
Recently a facebook page was established with official responses to an inquire of these No Kill shelters on their admission policies. I want to share those with you. Another thing noted was that the hours of these No Kill shelters are such that working people are out of luck.
Manatee just became No Kill. And when you have hours that do not favor a working man, then appointments are a way to keep those owner surrenders in check. Currently this shelter only takes appointments for four hours one day a week. Plus the surrender fee is $100 and you can see how that discourages people as well.
We're playing games with animal lives when it comes to No Kill. What is humane about turning away an unaltered or pregnant pet to be dumped and have a litter under an abandoned house to die miserably? We need to encourage owners to surrender to shelters rather than discourage.
We need to paint a nice picture of shelters, not denying the truth, but educating people that it is in the pet's best interest to surrender it to a shelter and risk euthanasia rather than abandonment is in many instances the most humane option. I find no humanity in No Kill, and keep in mind, this is Nathan Winograd's No Kill, I speak of.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
A CHALLENGE TO THE DEVORE ACTIVISTS TO SHOW THEIR TRUE AGENDA
The City of San Bernardino is bankrupt and this affects animal control. I challenge the Devore activists to show that helping animals is their true agenda by their going into that shelter and putting as much effort into fund raising/volunteer/adoptions as the effort they put into condemning Devore.
Okay, you want to claim you help animals, which animals are in the more desperate situation, Devore or City? I say City at this point. So what is it, Devore Activists, are you going to show that you are what you say or are you going to show your true agenda by not helping the City and the animals?
I already know the answer.
Okay, you want to claim you help animals, which animals are in the more desperate situation, Devore or City? I say City at this point. So what is it, Devore Activists, are you going to show that you are what you say or are you going to show your true agenda by not helping the City and the animals?
I already know the answer.
Friday, October 5, 2012
FAILURES OF NO KILL IN THE HEADLINES
And not in a good way. No Kill is falling all over the country. Here are just a few of the current headlines.
Does No Kill Support Cruel Puppy Mill Businesses?
Group Says Cleveland Animal Control Critically Overcrowded
http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120912/OPINION/120919741/1074Allegations of mistreatment demand immediate probe of Cattaraugus SPCA
Does No Kill Support Cruel Puppy Mill Businesses?
Opposing Views-17 hours ago
Re-opening of Wyoming County SPCA
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Group Says Cleveland Animal Control Critically Overcrowded
The Chattanoogan-Sep 16, 2012
Activists with Cleveland for a No Kill City said kennels and cages are critically overcrowded at Cleveland Animal Control and "we are begging the community to ...
Overcrowding at Animal Shelters Becoming an Epidemic
|
Allegations of mistreatment demand immediate probe of ...
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The dark side of no-kill in Waco, Texas
Examiner.com-Sep 12, 2012
These are headlines from just a week. No Kill is failing all over.
|
Monday, September 17, 2012
THE TACTICS OF THE EXTREMIST AGENDA
The ASPCA originally issued this statement concerning No Kill, Winograd style.
STEP 1 - ESTABLISHING A PROXY
A member of the community will begin to adopt the talking points of the Extremist Agenda using aggressive and divisive language to describe the state of that community's animal welfare organizations.
STEP 2 - CREATING A LOCAL ORGANIZATION
The proxy forms an organization (i.e. No Kill San Bernardino/Austin/Philly) that will act as the local brand for the Extremist Agenda and begin to use social networking to expand.
STEP 3 - ENGAGING IN LOCAL POLITICS
The No Kill organization lobbies local public officials and candidates regarding the euthanasia rates at the municipal shelter. In many cases, there does exist public attention to the need to reform the sheltering system to increase lifesaving. The proxy will get involved in providing questionnaires and financial support to candidates perceived as sympathetic to the Extremist Agenda.
STEP 4 - SLANDERING EXISTING ANIMAL WELFARE
The Extremist Agenda slanders the existing shelter director and any local humane organization that is deemed as sympathetic to the status quo. The aim of the slander is to put enough pressure on the director to step down (which is often achieved).
STEP 5 - INSTALLING A PUPPET REGIME
A new "compassionate" director sympathetic to the Extremist Agenda is put into place by effective lobbying. The Extremist Agenda organization will often advocate a candidate with little or no experience who will essentially do as they are told.
STEP 6 - SAVING FACE WHEN THE AGENDA FAILS
The Extremist Agenda displaces blame when the program becomes unsustainable by blaming either their own director or local public officials for not backing sufficiently.
STEP 7 - SLANDERING MEDIA
Attacking unfavorable media is commonplace for the Extremist Agenda when a story runs that questions any component of implementing overnight solutions while demonizing hard working welfare organizations.
THE EXTREMIST AGENDA
STEP 1 - ESTABLISHING A PROXY
A member of the community will begin to adopt the talking points of the Extremist Agenda using aggressive and divisive language to describe the state of that community's animal welfare organizations.
STEP 2 - CREATING A LOCAL ORGANIZATION
The proxy forms an organization (i.e. No Kill San Bernardino/Austin/Philly) that will act as the local brand for the Extremist Agenda and begin to use social networking to expand.
STEP 3 - ENGAGING IN LOCAL POLITICS
The No Kill organization lobbies local public officials and candidates regarding the euthanasia rates at the municipal shelter. In many cases, there does exist public attention to the need to reform the sheltering system to increase lifesaving. The proxy will get involved in providing questionnaires and financial support to candidates perceived as sympathetic to the Extremist Agenda.
STEP 4 - SLANDERING EXISTING ANIMAL WELFARE
The Extremist Agenda slanders the existing shelter director and any local humane organization that is deemed as sympathetic to the status quo. The aim of the slander is to put enough pressure on the director to step down (which is often achieved).
STEP 5 - INSTALLING A PUPPET REGIME
A new "compassionate" director sympathetic to the Extremist Agenda is put into place by effective lobbying. The Extremist Agenda organization will often advocate a candidate with little or no experience who will essentially do as they are told.
STEP 6 - SAVING FACE WHEN THE AGENDA FAILS
The Extremist Agenda displaces blame when the program becomes unsustainable by blaming either their own director or local public officials for not backing sufficiently.
STEP 7 - SLANDERING MEDIA
Attacking unfavorable media is commonplace for the Extremist Agenda when a story runs that questions any component of implementing overnight solutions while demonizing hard working welfare organizations.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
OWNER TURNAWAYS BECOME PUBLIC SURRENDERS AND PETS END UP WITH NO NAME
There is a part of No Kill that really disturbs me and that is the one concerning owner surrenders. Sure we all know the occasional excuse that the pet didn't match the new sofa, but most of the time the reasons are quite different. Especially in this poor economy where people are losing their homes, their lives, and they are forced into surrendering their pets.
Rancho Cucamonga is a good study example of what happens when owners are turned away. When Rancho went No Kill, suddenly Rancho residents were showing at the surrounding shelters trying to surrender their pets because Rancho was turning them away. Of course, Rancho denied that but it was pretty obvious to everyone. Two news articles referred to the long lines waiting to surrender when No Kill was declared. These articles referred to pets being abandoned at the shelter as well. It is no coincidence that the number of public surrenders increased.
Public surrenders are when a good Samaritan picks up an animal off the streets and brings it to the shelter. Rancho's public surrenders increased dramatically after becoming No Kill. That means that owners were turning their pets in as strays in order to get the shelter to take them. These owners and pets were already traumatized but to make it worse is when the pet is left with no history - no name. How cruel can No Kill be to rob a pet of their name, a name that could help them survive better in the shelter. But this is what is happening with the No Kill shelters.
This story reminded me of this cruelty bestowed by the No Kill movement.
They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street. But something was still missing as I
attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.
But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.
See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too.
Maybe we were too much alike.
I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."
____________ _________ _________ _________
To Whomever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different.
So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't
matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads.
Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel."
He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.
Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand. He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.
Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.
And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you...His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive.
I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with .. and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.
Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he
loved me.
If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.
All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.
Thank you,
Paul Mallory
____________ _________ _________ _______
I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver
Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.
I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.
"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.
"C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered.
His tail swished.
I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my
face into his scruff and hugged him.
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek.
"So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again.
"Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?"
Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.
Rancho Cucamonga is a good study example of what happens when owners are turned away. When Rancho went No Kill, suddenly Rancho residents were showing at the surrounding shelters trying to surrender their pets because Rancho was turning them away. Of course, Rancho denied that but it was pretty obvious to everyone. Two news articles referred to the long lines waiting to surrender when No Kill was declared. These articles referred to pets being abandoned at the shelter as well. It is no coincidence that the number of public surrenders increased.
Public surrenders are when a good Samaritan picks up an animal off the streets and brings it to the shelter. Rancho's public surrenders increased dramatically after becoming No Kill. That means that owners were turning their pets in as strays in order to get the shelter to take them. These owners and pets were already traumatized but to make it worse is when the pet is left with no history - no name. How cruel can No Kill be to rob a pet of their name, a name that could help them survive better in the shelter. But this is what is happening with the No Kill shelters.
This story reminded me of this cruelty bestowed by the No Kill movement.
They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street. But something was still missing as I
attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.
But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.
See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too.
Maybe we were too much alike.
I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."
____________ _________ _________ _________
To Whomever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different.
So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't
matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads.
Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel."
He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.
Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand. He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.
Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.
And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you...His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive.
I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with .. and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.
Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he
loved me.
If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.
All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.
Thank you,
Paul Mallory
____________ _________ _________ _______
I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver
Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.
I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.
"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.
"C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered.
His tail swished.
I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my
face into his scruff and hugged him.
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek.
"So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again.
"Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?"
Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
TRIBUTE TO THE BOGO SALES AND FREEBIES OF THE NO KILL SHELTERS
STOP DE-VALUING OUR PETS, NO KILL
YOU ARE THE REASON OUR SHELTERS ARE FULL
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