[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Thanks for your thoughtful response, livingdustmops. What I am wondering about is his contention that for the most part, shelters could be run differently and we could effectively stop euthanizing pets. Winograd's contention is that there is NOT a pet overpopulation problem in the US, that if shelters ran more efficiently, almost all these pets would have homes.

He is full of crap on this...the supply is to large...Think about it, the last 5 years we have euthanized over 24 million animals...now do you really think we have enough homes for all of those animals? Or is it just everyone wants the newer models?

He says several times in this book that he would visit shelters where well over half the cages were empty, but at the same time, these same shelters were still euthanizing dogs because they were "over capacity."

I just don't agree with what he says on this issue...been inside to many of them across the country even before the ecomony took a turn for the worst to believe this.

Also, while I hesitate to bring this up because I know it's a real sore spot... I believe this book gives lie to PETA's claims that their abysmal kill rate (90%+) is because the animals they take in are the "worst of the worst". Based on my reading, it appears to me that they ran (run?) some open admission shelters in several counties, and there's no reason to believe that the profile of dogs and cats they admitted was any worse than it is for an average shelter. If this is the case, this is an appalling failure of leadership on PETA's part, and it makes me ill that they basically lied about why their kill rate is so terrible.

I believe PETA has their own agenda but comparing their 3000 kill to the rest of the nations over 4 million kill doesn't make sense either. I would also want to know were these city run shelters who contracted PETA then the laws are directing when these animals have to be euthanized ...not the shelters or PETA.

Again, I'm not sure I trust Winograd to tell the "truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth". I'm still learning about him.

I think he has some marvelous points, just like I think PETA does, HSUS does, AKC does, and the list could go on and on. I learned over the years you cannot just trust one group...you have to follow the $$$ and then you will start to see the truth. The truth is we are a very uncaring nation when it comes to our pet companions..or animals in general. Look at the animal research industry (it would break your heart), look at the slaughter industry (it would break your heart) and the list could go on. Until we become a nation who really cares then this will continue.

I do think education helps but we need more.