I Guess I'm Just Mean
It has been pointed out to me that I am a mean person. This judgment was passed as a result of one of my blog entries entitled "What's It Worth To You".
The subject of this entry involved the need for this area and the surrounding counties to have an updated, adequate animal sheltering system. In re-reading that post, I am afraid I miss where I said anything that was mean or untrue about the shelter we already have. I merely pointed out the reasons our area needs an additional choice.
You see for some unknown reason I am the person that receives all the complaints about what is and is not being done at the existing shelter. I get over 200 emails a day from people requesting help to re-home animals but out of those emails I will also receive at least one or two from people that have had a bad experience dealing with the shelter.
In addition to the complaints about customer service in the shelter, I also receive the pleas for assistance from people that have failed to get anyone to invesitgate possible abuse or neglect situations. Now I do know that sometimes what is perceived as abuse or neglect is not a violation of law. I have done a couple of entries trying to explain what "adequate shelter and sustenance"mean, so I am not going to discuss that here and now. What I am talking about are the cases where dogs are emaciated and scarred up or are tethered outdoors without any visible shelter,food or water.
We have three investigative venues available to us in this area. One is our local animal control, one is the Humane Society of Missouri and one is the ASPCA. All three of these agencies are trying to service a huge area, some of which is densely populated. We must face the fact, the more people the more open cases.
Animal complaint calls are at the lowest priority for law enforcement agencies because of the type of other crime they must deal with daily. Whatever fires may be burning under that cloud of smoke a battered, emaciated dog signals, it must take a back seat to the very visible crimes we see on the news each day. We have an area large enough to warrant a seperate entity to handle animal complaints.
Another point that was made to me was about a call I received during the pre-Christmas time period relating to a woman that had two approximately eight week old puppies dumped in her yard. When the woman called the shelter to find out about the proceedure for surrendering them to the shelter, she was told if they were brought into the shelter they would be euthanized because no one wanted Pit Bull puppies and they did not have any room anyway. When she asked about rescue options she was told there were no Pit Bull rescue options. Of course when asked, no employees of the shelter admitted to telling anyone such a thing, so obviously this woman is just some nut or a stranger answered the shelter's telephone. I know this woman and I know her to be reliable. I also know I have heard the same type of complaint related to me on numerous occasions which is why I would have believed her regardless of whether I know her or not.
Yes, it is a fact that Pit Bulls comprise 70-75% of the dogs filling our shelters and that 90% of them will be euthanized. Do they really need to be targeted before they even have a chance? I am not the only option for Pit Bull rescue in this area.
Finally, the complaint that animals are being turned away, whether stray or owner surrendered, because surrounding areas have refused to contract with this shelter.
Point in fact; stray animals must be held a minimum of five days under the laws of the State of Missouri. That means that ALL owner surrendered animals will be the first pulled for euthanasia regardless of age, health, temperament or breed. The no-kills are not the only ones that have a capacity limit to consider. If any open admission is charged with the duties of holding animals for an animal control agency, they must comply when these animals are brought in regardless of the number of animals already in residence. There is only one way to accomodate these animals and this is by killing enough animals to open space. That is just the way it is!
Now please explain to me where I am a mean person because I do not wish to be embroiled in the politics of this shelter and I have done something about it by removing myself from the fight? Explain to me where pointing out that this county, as well as the surrounding counties, could think outside the box and come up with a solution to the never ending complaints regarding the present system of animal sheltering available to this area and how that makes me a mean person.
I did not call for the demise of HSSEMO. I merely asked if anyone had ever considered taking a proactive stance and doing something besides complaining about that place. We have other options available but the issue is being clouded by the emotion surrounding all things humane. Please stop for a moment and consider the realities of this issue from a practical point of view. We have the need, how do we accomplish our goals?
UPDATE: The two teenagers in Maryland will be awaiting a new trial in the felony animal abuse case in which they are charged with setting a young Pit Bull on fire for the fun of it. The jury was deadlocked 11 to 1 in favor of conviction but the one hold out caused a mistrial. Now there is justice for you!
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