Why Animal Shelters are not what people think

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 Why Animal Shelters are not what people think

There has been a great deal of publicity and opinion lately on the overpopulation problem in our animal shelters. Every city especially in the Southeast seem to have a never-ending struggle to stay under the kill zone. Hundreds of rescue organizations work day and night just to keep the animals out of the shelters.

Meanwhile there are groups and individuals that berate the animal care workers and volunteers calling them names like killers, abusers, or heartless. These workers do what they can with the space and resources that they have. People make it seem like they enjoy putting animals to sleep. Nothing could be further from the truth. They put their blood sweat and a whole lot of tears to protect these animals, mostly from people.

Unfortunately when you have bureaucrats making decisions without understanding the real issues, whenever it comes to budget cuts the animals are the first to lose. Also when ignorance within public opinion is rampant like dogs in summertime breeding season. There are opinions thrown about that are no more than fact-less lies. These opinions grow and people become complacent, they see an animal shelter as evil and refuse to support it.

Public funding is the only way that animal shelters and rescues will ever be able to meet or maintain a no kill status. Without the generous support through volunteering and funding we would never be able to save as many as we are saving. Before passing judgment or even worse thinking that your help does not matter.

Imagine the world where we lived in just a few short years ago when if a dog barked or growled or was pregnant with puppies their fate was sealed. Only the perfect dogs would make it out alive while so many perfect pets needlessly died.

If you feel these animal shelters are cruel, take a few hours and go work with one in your community. Put your money where your mouth is and help them help those that are unable to help themselves.

The next time Sarah Mclachlan comes on TV with the pitiful puppies, rather than flipping he channel why not pick up the phone. The pictures you see may upset you when the bruised and broken dogs are posted by your friends on Facebook. They should upset and anger you into action, as these are examples of every communities’ problem. I use the term problem not to infer they are a nuisance, I say problem as we owe them a solution.

They are all Gods creatures just like you and me, We as a community should work together to find each of them a home, a home forever. One of the most important things anyone can do to help is keep a list of numbers handy where you can report animal cruelty. Whether is the dog left in a backyard tied to a chain too short and no water. Maybe it is one left in a hot car while their owner is shopping. Be the eyes and ears of those without a voice.

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. ―Josh Billings

You may say well it is someone else’s problem, well that someone else is the one that breeds them for money or worse for fighting. That someone else is the one guilty of bully breed racism and created a media frenzy against pit bulls. That someone else is the one that lives in your neighborhood and does not give their own dogs enough to eat.You see that someone else is the one that throws them away when they are no longer cute and cuddly. Do we really want to leave it to someone else. We need to protect the innocent animals in our community.

Whether you volunteer your time just to spend time to comfort shelter dogs, or maybe you rescue your own off the streets. Maybe you think you don’t have time or are unable to help in person. There are organizations that will work when you cannot if funded they will continue to save lives until they save them all.

Whether it is the ASPCA, Best Friends or the Humane Society. or any of their sister organizations there are ways in every community to make a difference.

You can always do food drives, or collect old towels, every shelter has a with list of things they need that you probably throw away. If we each do what we can, one day in our lifetime their will no longer be those people who refuse to support the kill shelter in their area. They won’t exist because they will no longer have to make the heartbreaking decisions in order to make space for another.

So take a walk, donate some towels, pick up a phone, rescue one-off the street or from an animal shelter. Whatever you do something so that we no longer have a overpopulation problem to contend with. I am participating in Strutt Your Mutt in my community if your would like to support Best Friends virtually or in your own community please see the information below. And in the words of Bob Barker “help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.” (and certain relatives too)

Now it is your turn:  What do you do in your community to help save the lives of homeless pets? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.