 Some rescues will share information with you but it is the information they wish to share and not always the information you really want to know. A rescue will generally share the number of dogs they have rescued and the number of dogs that have been adopted. Some will even share how many were strays, owner surrenders or transferred from another shelter. Some will also share how many dogs they transferred out to another shelter, how many were returned to their owners. Few want to share the number of dogs that died or the number of dogs that were euthanized.
But is that all you want to know? Do you wish there were more statistics being shared or do believe it is all just a numbers game? Should the adoption numbers include what type of dogs were adopted out?
With the number of dogs that were rescued, do you want to know
The problem with playing the numbers game is it makes rescues competitive. No one wants to be the one with the lowest number of adoptions or the with highest number of deaths. And how can that affect the dogs? When you play that numbers game, the dogs can be affected.
If there are things you are wondering about rescue and the numbers, ask. Any reputable rescue will be happy to show you their statistics and even their financial information. As a volunteer, donor, potential adopter or community member, you have the right to know. Just ask. And the numbers game? Let's leave that to the lottery! ~Denise
0 Comments
 Ever wonder how animal shelters and rescue got started? Me too! So I did some checking into it.
First was the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals started in 1824 in Britain. The idea didn't get to the United States until about 1866. And it wasn't about dogs at first....it was about horses! Henry Bergh loved animals and he felt that the carriage horses in New York City were not being treated right so he formed the Association of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals now commonly known ASPCA. Henry was laughed at back then. Did you know where the phrase "dog pound" orginated? Found that out too! Stray cattle were once gathered and imPOUNDed until their owners picked them up. Later became Dog Pound. In the 1700's animal shelters were known as "municipal animal shelters". Stray animals were picked up and killed as they posed a public health threat. The concern was completely the safety of the people. In 1869 the Women's Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals became the first official United States shelter. The shelter was located in Pennsylvania. It wasn't until the 1960s and 70s that private animal shelters began with a focus on actually saving dogs and trying to rehome them. These first shelters were all shelters that regularly had to euthanize dogs. There was usually a specific amount of time a shelter had to get the dog rehomed or the dog was killed.. No Kill Shelters began and became very popular with a focus on not putting an animal sleep for reasons of more space in the shelter. Since then more groups have formed such as rescues and sanctuaries. At one time there were no requirements to get a dog from a shelter. The Progressive Animal Welfare Society began to truly market the dogs and began screening the people who wanted a dog. That has now moved to very long applications, home inspections, checks on criminal activity, required fences, required yards and many other requirements. Some feel that these requirements keep dogs from being adopted as the requirements are too difficult for some to meet. There are those who believe that the requirements may have been an effort to keep the dog safe and the people thought that the more requirements the more the adopter would be likely to properly care for the animal. Others believe that restrictions on adopting were placed to allow the shelters to hoard animals. And still others believe that the restrictions are to allow only the wealthier people to adopt dogs as they are more likely to be potential donors in the future. The controversy continues to build between the different groups and the way things are done in shelters and rescues. People believe their way is the only way. My opinion? As long as dogs' lives are being saved, I don't really care how they do it. It's still a good thing! I know I'm happy to have been rehomed and am now a happy lady! ~~~~Miss Roo |
Categories
All
Archives
May 2017
AuthorDenise Clark |
RSS Feed