By Marti Staprans Barlow
As I see it contributor | Posted: Thursday, January 3, 2008 12:00 am
Ariel Minne wrote eloquently on Dec. 25 about her sorrow at the death of Gulliver, an abandoned dog, at Heartland Humane Society. She said she will now volunteer at the Safehaven shelter because of its "no-kill" policy.
In the field of animal welfare, there has long existed a perceived difference between animal shelters that are "kill" or "no-kill" shelters.
Most no-kill shelters will not euthanize an animal because of time and space limitations.
This also means that, unlike Heartland, such shelters have very limited enrollment.
When a no-kill shelter is full, the only humane option is an open enrollment shelter such as Heartland.
Too often, the animals are abandoned on the roadside instead.
Heartland should not be unfavorably contrasted with Safehaven. Like its neighbor, Heartland strives to save as many animal lives as possible.
In 1997, Heartland launched the detailed "Euthanasia is not the Solution" action campaign, decreasing its euthanasia rate by 70 percent, thus saving more than 100,000 animals in those 10 years.
Heartland has reduced pet overpopulation at its source through innovative adoption programs, humane education and aggressive spay/neuter programs.
Heartland accepts many times the number of animals housed at Safehaven, while grappling with finite kennel space, illness, behavior problems and sometimes dangerous animals.
With limited kennels and foster homes, there are times when the painful decision to euthanize must be made. Heartland evaluates the animal's age, temperament, physical condition and ability to fit into a standard home along with crucial space availability.
Heartland workers are faced with these difficult decisions every day, while another 10 dogs and 20 cats are coming through the door.
The only thing that gives a shelter worker some relief from the emotional pain is the fact that euthanizing an ill, behaviorally questionable, or abused pet is better than releasing it out the back door to starve and suffer on the streets.
Even though the nationwide annual euthanasia rate has been reduced from 120 million dogs and cats in the 1970s to 4 million now, more can be done.
It's simple: If the intake of companion animals at open enrollment shelters like Heartland exceeds adoptions, rescues and foster homes, euthanasia is inevitable result.
We need to work with Heartland and support the "Euthanasia is not the Solution Campaign."
Animals should not be purchased from puppy mills but should be adopted at shelters. Only 20 percent of our companion animals are now adopted from shelters.
Feral cats should be spayed or neutered, teachers should promote humane education in the classroom, and dog trainers could help train pet owners in responsible practices.
I urge our community to stop the false no-kill versus kill argument, and realize that innocent animals like Gulliver are euthanized because of the human irresponsibility that brought them to the shelter in the first place.
Withdrawing support from Heartland would only cost more lives.
Let's work together, effectively, to honor Gulliver's memory. Make a donation to Heartland or Safehaven in the memory of Gulliver or in honor of outstanding volunteers like Ariel Minne.
Both Heartland and Safehaven share the same vision of ending pet overpopulation and abuse, while creating a kind, compassionate community where our devoted companion animals are respected.
Lives depend on us.
Marti Staprans Barlow is a former executive director of the Heartland Humane Society.