When Animals Need Rescue from Rescuers

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2009-11-29 17:00:00 UTC
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It takes a certain kind of person to rescue an animal off the streets, to run a shelter faced with overwhelming numbers of animals and underwhelming resources. There's an amazing amount of self-sacrifice, love, and dedication that goes into rescuing and sheltering animals.

Usually.

In early November, it was discovered that at least three dogs had recently starved to death in the City of Memphis Animal Shelter. When the ASPCA was asked to help with the investigation, they found over 200 dogs and cats living in miserable conditions at the shelter. Many were deprived of food and water.

The law also finally caught up with Tammy Hanson, the owner of Every Dog Needs a Home Animal Rescue that had been housing 400-500 dogs in "unspeakable and deplorable" conditions. The so-called rescue operation was raided four years ago, but Tammy and her husband fled before charges could be brought against them.

People like the Hansons and the Memphis Animal Shelter employees are an anomaly, but that doesn't make their stories any less horrifying. Animal abuse, neglect, and homelessness are bad enough on their own; it shouldn't be too much to hope that when they're rescued, animals are actually headed for a better life. Shelters should be committed to doing what they're paid by the community and their donors to do, which involves more than just providing shelter. At the very least, they need to meet the legal requirements of basic animal care, which does not include "non-accidental starvation," as one veterinarian reported the Memphis dogs suffered.

If you are suspicious of your local animal shelter's conditions, demand accountability from their board of directors. If the regular channels don't work, call in the media. Nothing gets things changed faster than a front page expose.

For private rescues, I can understand how it might be easy to get in over your head. It's hard to start helping one or two animals without opening the floodgates. Individual rescuers need to set limits for themselves, to stick to a number that they can reasonably care for and provide a life that's worth living. They need to be able to ask for help when things start to get out of control. It's not easy, but it's certainly preferable to being the next headline. If they're really in it for the animals, then that should come before anything else, especially pride.

Photo credit: FEMA

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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