Arecibo shelter
I received an email showing the horrible conditions under which the animals are living at the Arecibo shelter. As expected, many people were outraged and voiced that on mine and other blogs. I am so thankful that people see these pictures (taken by Katie of Island Dog) and feel the disgust for the situation that they should. Groups like Island Dog and those in Puerto Rico, like Amigos de los Animales and others, are working their best with the local government and shelter officials to solve the horrible problem and they need help from all of us. Please see the posting below that I took from Liz' blog.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Arecibo Shelter In The News Again
The Arecibo Shelter was on the news tonight as a result of a chain of emails being sent around showing the neglect of the animals. Since the Mayor started paying staff the shelter has been operating in violation of the animal protection law, and health department regulations. The municipality has not been providing the basic necessities for the animals since Amigos de los Animales first went out there in the summer to help vaccinate the 80 dogs that were there at the time (a number now well over 150). And as we all knew would happen, once they opened their doors officially, they were inundated with surrendered animals with no means to care for them properly. Nonprofit rescue organizations and individuals have been providing food for the dogs, and also medications, but if proper protocols aren't being followed in terms of sick animals and their care, not to mention a hundred other things, medication can do little to help.
The problem is simple, and not, both at the same time. Fund it, or lose it, is the name of the game at this point, with some variations on both of those themes. The shelter needs to be streamlined immediately, and we have some ideas on how to accomplish that. And it needs to be done in a noncombative way, since there has been some serious bloodshed out that way between the shelter staff, rescue workers and the municipality, and the relationships are far to damaged to help beyond this point (but a purpose was served, mind you). Now it is time for negotiation. Undoubtedly the staff, the Mayor and municipality are being inundated with email, mail, faxes...And how receptive they will be to negotiating at this point, is uncertain. If they aren't willing to sit at a table and discuss options, then the shelter will most definitely close at this point, because there has been ample time to make it work, to get all ducks in a row, so to speak. Personally, I hope they are willing to sit down and talk, because the island needs another shelter, despite how deplorable local shelter adoptions are, and there is potential there.
For those people that are horrified by what they've seen in those emails sent around, the question is, what can you personally, or as an organization, do to help? All of you on the island and off the island with an opinion need to ask yourself that question. Can your organization take in two or three or five or ten dogs from the Arecibo Shelter? Because that's what they need. Twenty dogs in one run is too many, clearly. They don't have the resources to maintain those dogs in sanitary conditions. So can you take a few in, or do you know someone who can? Can you give money to help a consultant come in? Because that's what they need to stay open. It won't necessarily solve the problem, but it will buy us time as we work on solving the problem. How much can you give? And can you encourage others to give, take up a collection? How about helping the shelter set up and run an adoption program, or volunteering to help them once a week, or twice a month? Can you set them up a Petfinder account and help them reach the community through advertising each week?
So tell me what YOU can do, NOT what you think WE should do, and maybe that can help us come up with the truly best course of action. There are many things to take into consideration as we view this dilemma. But what truly dictates most action is figuring what options are available. And if people do not step up to the plate to show what they would be willing to do to help, no matter how big or small, options narrow. As an example, if we call every rescue organization on this island and no one is willing to take in any animals, many of those animals will be euthanized if the shelter is closed. However, maybe those organizations could take in animals is they had the resources to do so--meaning money and space for boarding. Undoubtedly some people can't help with boarding or rescue, but can give money. Others can't give money but are good at other things. This is what we need to know as we try to make decisions that are in the best interest of the animals. As rescuers, we want to save them all. But we are truly--especially in this case--limited in our options based on what people can or cannot do to help.
So, again, tell me, what can you do to help the Arecibo Shelter? And trust me, your answer will be put to good use.
Liz' blog
Friday, October 17, 2008
Arecibo Shelter In The News Again
The Arecibo Shelter was on the news tonight as a result of a chain of emails being sent around showing the neglect of the animals. Since the Mayor started paying staff the shelter has been operating in violation of the animal protection law, and health department regulations. The municipality has not been providing the basic necessities for the animals since Amigos de los Animales first went out there in the summer to help vaccinate the 80 dogs that were there at the time (a number now well over 150). And as we all knew would happen, once they opened their doors officially, they were inundated with surrendered animals with no means to care for them properly. Nonprofit rescue organizations and individuals have been providing food for the dogs, and also medications, but if proper protocols aren't being followed in terms of sick animals and their care, not to mention a hundred other things, medication can do little to help.
The problem is simple, and not, both at the same time. Fund it, or lose it, is the name of the game at this point, with some variations on both of those themes. The shelter needs to be streamlined immediately, and we have some ideas on how to accomplish that. And it needs to be done in a noncombative way, since there has been some serious bloodshed out that way between the shelter staff, rescue workers and the municipality, and the relationships are far to damaged to help beyond this point (but a purpose was served, mind you). Now it is time for negotiation. Undoubtedly the staff, the Mayor and municipality are being inundated with email, mail, faxes...And how receptive they will be to negotiating at this point, is uncertain. If they aren't willing to sit at a table and discuss options, then the shelter will most definitely close at this point, because there has been ample time to make it work, to get all ducks in a row, so to speak. Personally, I hope they are willing to sit down and talk, because the island needs another shelter, despite how deplorable local shelter adoptions are, and there is potential there.
For those people that are horrified by what they've seen in those emails sent around, the question is, what can you personally, or as an organization, do to help? All of you on the island and off the island with an opinion need to ask yourself that question. Can your organization take in two or three or five or ten dogs from the Arecibo Shelter? Because that's what they need. Twenty dogs in one run is too many, clearly. They don't have the resources to maintain those dogs in sanitary conditions. So can you take a few in, or do you know someone who can? Can you give money to help a consultant come in? Because that's what they need to stay open. It won't necessarily solve the problem, but it will buy us time as we work on solving the problem. How much can you give? And can you encourage others to give, take up a collection? How about helping the shelter set up and run an adoption program, or volunteering to help them once a week, or twice a month? Can you set them up a Petfinder account and help them reach the community through advertising each week?
So tell me what YOU can do, NOT what you think WE should do, and maybe that can help us come up with the truly best course of action. There are many things to take into consideration as we view this dilemma. But what truly dictates most action is figuring what options are available. And if people do not step up to the plate to show what they would be willing to do to help, no matter how big or small, options narrow. As an example, if we call every rescue organization on this island and no one is willing to take in any animals, many of those animals will be euthanized if the shelter is closed. However, maybe those organizations could take in animals is they had the resources to do so--meaning money and space for boarding. Undoubtedly some people can't help with boarding or rescue, but can give money. Others can't give money but are good at other things. This is what we need to know as we try to make decisions that are in the best interest of the animals. As rescuers, we want to save them all. But we are truly--especially in this case--limited in our options based on what people can or cannot do to help.
So, again, tell me, what can you do to help the Arecibo Shelter? And trust me, your answer will be put to good use.
Liz' blog
posted by Ginny at 8:13 AM
1 Comments:
Well said.
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