Page 13 - Demo

of whom are advocating no negotiation and no amend- ments of any kind to legislation they oppose. Personally, I think that’s shortsighted—and a pity. It doesn’t help anything to defeat unpalatable legislation if the prob- lem that spawned it continues to exist; it has to be addressed, and solved, before it can be truly put to rest.
Many have pointed to Nathan Winograd’s no-kill shelter program as a solution to the overpopulation problem. Although there’s no doubt it will work well in affluent, educated cities like San Francisco, I can’t see how it will work in those areas that need it the most, where unwanted litters and kill shelters keep the euthanasia rate deplorably high. No-kill shelter success depends on a large pool of educated dog lovers with deep pockets, willing to spend their time and resources on something they believe in. But in areas where the twin scourges of ignorance and poverty combine to promote neglect of or even casual cruelty towards com- panion animals, that critical volunteer pool is next to nonexistent. Bottom line: People don’t have the luxury of worrying about their dog’s reproductive status when they’re busy wondering how they’re going to keep a roof over the family’s heads and food on the table.
What can be done to prevent pet overpopulation and resulting euthanasia in areas like these? We all know the answer, don’t we? Education, education, education. No, it’s not easy to change the mindset of a prevailing culture, and it won’t happen overnight—but it can be done. Slowly, in response to persistent efforts, attitudes can be changed.
Pet owners need to be reminded—by way of an effective public relations campaign—of the many ben- efits to them of living with a spayed or neutered pet. Volunteerism in this effort can really be fairly mini- mal—what it takes is a handful of well-connected dog folks to solicit donations, discounts, and sponsorships from local businesses to get the PR ball rolling. (Letters to the editor, op ed pieces, fliers, posters, billboards, and public service announcements, all extolling the benefits of a spayed or neutered pet.) If someone happens to know how to write grants, you’re in business—there is still money out there available for animal welfare causes if you look hard enough, and heaven only knows this is a critical one.
The second piece of the puzzle, of course, is a well- publicized low-cost spay/neuter clinic—or even better, a series of them. If one of them can be mobile, so much the better—once you have people at least a little inter- ested, you need to make it as easy as possible for them to participate. Will it be a wild success the first time around? Probably not—but eventually, with persistence, the tide will turn.
There are far too many awful social issues facing us as a society that we’re helpless as individuals to resolve; this is one I believe we can control, one community at a time, if the will is there. And the government doesn’t have to do it for us.
A Rescue Dog’s Christmas Poem
Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town, Every shelter is full—we are lost, but not found.
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
We hope every minute that someone will care,
They’ll come to adopt us and give us the call,
“Come here, Max and Sparkie—come fetch your new
ball!”
But now we sit here and think of the days...
We were treated so fondly—we had cute, baby ways. Once we were little, then we grew and we grew, Now we’re no longer young and we’re no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash, They reacted so quickly—why were they so rash?
We “jump on the children”...”don’t come when we call.” We bark when they leave us, climb over the wall.
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
Now we suffer the consequence of the errors they made.
If only they’d trained us, if only we knew...
We’d have done what they asked us and worshiped them,
too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse, let to roam - Now we’re tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye... “Maybe someone else will give you a try.”
So now here we are, all confused and alone...
In a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat, With so many to care for, they can’t stay to chat.
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer... We know that they wonder how long we’ll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads... Of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds. Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears - Our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.
If you can’t adopt us and there’s no room at the Inn - Could you help with the bills and fill our food bin? We count on your kindness each day of the year - Can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat... And help get us something special to eat. The shelter that cares for us wants us to live, And more of us will, if more people will give.
— Author Unknown
—Sheila Dolan
September/October 2009
The Australian Shepherd Journal 11