I'm like you in that I need to get involved more in the workings of our local shelter. I hate to run on so much without a real grip on the subject. I've been kind of fired up about this whole thing since our local no-kill shelter operator was arrested and charged with animal cruelty a couple of weeks ago. I know you posted on the thread I started, but it's located in the Animal Protection forum for anyone interested.
Are you sure that most shelters operate under HSUS guidelines? From what I've heard, there is no affiliation. If there is, why such disparity in results?
I see HSUS mostly as a lobby group but do know of some boots on the ground things they've done. It would be nice if there was an umbrella group to set standards and to help in networking between shelters. Maybe there is....I just don't see it in the results.
Maybe a bureaucratic mentality has set in and it's all about the shelters perpetuating themselves forever. If so, this will be a tough nut to crack. I don't think we'll ever see a zero kill nationwide, but certainly some of these shelters could do better. I'd love to see a day when there are fewer shelters needed but they almost seem like a growth industry. |