Category Archives: Animal Shelters
Somedays it is not easy …
Yesterday, a friend who I volunteer with contacted me because she was experiencing difficulties in continuing to volunteer with homeless pets. The tipping point in her case was a local animal control shelter who recently euthanized all of its cats (about 80) because a strong virus swept through the shelter. I’m not passing judgment on [...]
Shocking that this still happens in America
Did you know that some states still condone killing shelter animals in a gas chamber? Only these states have outlawed it to date: Banned for all animals (including ferals and wildlife): Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming Banned only for cats and dogs: Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, New [...]
A shelter where you feel better after visiting?
For those of you who have volunteered at, adopted from, or visited an animal shelter, did you feel happy after you left the shelter? Or did you feel sad, depressed, anxious, and worried about the pets left behind? If it is the latter, then I want to tell you that there is a shelter in [...]
Moral dilemma of words
As I was writing my next book (Defending the Defenseless: A Guide to Protecting and Advocating for Pets which is now in editing), I struggled with whether to use the word “euthanize” or “kill” when addressing the shelter animal overpopulation crisis. Over the past few years, the No-Kill Advocacy movement has grown and encourages animal [...]
When helping animals becomes overwhelming
This morning I read an article about 157 starved and neglected dogs that were seized in Alaska. Our initial reaction, as those that love and protect animals, is to get the dogs to safety, give them food, water, and shelter. For an animal shelter, especially small rural shelters, in-taking 157 dogs at one time can [...]
Celebrate the holiday season with animals!
There are so many ways to help animals during the holiday season, especially homeless animals in shelters. For me, I am sending toys and treats to the pets at the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center, one of my favorite shelters that has wonderful caring staff and very few resources. I am also providing foster care [...]
Lending a healing hand
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Kathleen Prasad for my next book. She co-founded Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) which is working to train others on how to incorporate Reiki healing for shelter and other animals. As a Reiki Master myself, I recognize that healing is something that everyone can do to help animals [...]
The amazing world of animal transports!
Since 2000, I have assisted in moving animals (primarily cats) out of shelters to adoption organizations or foster homes where they could live until finding an adoptive home. I have seen volunteers drive across a state, and sometimes across state lines, to get a cat or dog to a safer location. Moving cats and dogs [...]
Changing the soring rates of euthanasia.
This story from Erie County, Pennsylvania about the soaring number of cats entering shelters is tragic. These cats have a certain destiny of being euthanized and really points to a bigger problem. It’s easy to blame the shelters who have to euthanize because they ran out of space, or they don’t have enough adoptive homes. [...]
