Letter from Shelter Manager to Breeders, Buyers, and People Who Surrender Animals

by Stephanie Ernst · 2009-07-08 04:30:00 UTC
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A few days ago on Twitter, @deafanimals linked to a gut-wrenching post on their blog: "Life of Cats and Dogs at Shelters," with the subtitle "A Letter from a Shelter Manager." It's not entirely clear who wrote the letter (a note at the end of the post explained, "The letter from shelter manager shown above was crossposted via email"), but it's a painfully honest look at what happens in countless shelters, about the animals who end up there (and why), about what happens to them during their brief stay, and about how many of them have no chance of leaving alive, despite being perfectly lovely, adoptable animals.

The letter has been circulating for some time, so many of you may have already seen it, but if you haven't, take the time to read it now. If you're thinking about continuing to support breeders, read it. If "surrendering" an animal who is in your care has ever occurred to you, read it. If you think a shelter is a safe, calm place where animals stay in comfort until being adopted and that surely the animal you gave up wouldn't be "euthanized," read it.

Photo by Flickr user cnycnfreelancer

Stephanie Ernst wrote the original Animal Rights blog at Change.org until December 2009. She can now be found at Animal Rights & AntiOppression.
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