Shelter Means Death Check out this article on CNN: http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...p-361022c.html Shelter Means Death City euthanizes half of pets it gets - audit BY LISA L. COLANGELO DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU Landing in a city animal shelter is a death sentence for more than half of the strays that are taken in, according to an audit released yesterday. Still, City Controller William Thompson said his report found that conditions have improved in recent years at Animal Care and Control, which handles stray and abandoned animals for the city Health Department. "Animals are treated more humanely than they were before, but they still have a long ways to go," said Thompson, who last audited the agency in 2002, finding what he called "a nightmare." More than 44,000 animals were brought into city shelters in 2005, the vast majority of which were dogs and cats. Of the canine and feline cases, only 27% were adopted. An additional 17% were taken by rescue groups and 4% were returned to owners. But 52% were euthanized. "That number is too high," said Thompson. Animal Care and Control officials noted the audit largely praised shelter conditions and adoption efforts. But they said shelters are overwhelmed with unwanted animals. "The biggest issue here is reducing the number of animals coming to care centers and that is going to require that people take responsibility for their pets by spaying and neutering them," said Richard Gentles, director of administrative service at AC&C. "This is not a problem we are going to adopt our way out of." The audit, which covered July 2004 through this March, also found: Sick animals being housed with healthy animals, possibly spreading illnesses, including upper respiratory infections. Some 250 animals were unaccounted for, a problem attributed to sloppy bookkeeping. Dogs in the Manhattan and Brooklyn shelters are rarely taken out of their cages for walks. Gentles said AC&C has started a dog-walk program with volunteers and has tightened up protocol for dealing with sick and missing animals. "They also need to improve their visibility," Thompson said. "New Yorkers would open up their hearts a little more and adopt animals if they were aware." Originally published on June 20, 2006 |
That is just so sad. I dunno....maybe they shoud just make it a mandatory law that all the animals must be spayed and neutered, and then people would HAVE to adopt these poor animals if they wanted a pet. I wish I could save them ALL. :cry: |
Wow. That number IS way too high - :( :( :( :( it's plain sad to hear THAT many pets are being given up & I bet many people don't have a clue they're dropping their pets off for the gas chamber ...I blame both the people who do this AND the shelter - The Shelter can find a way to keep the dogs and cats alive so they can be adopted if they really tried or at least cut down on the deaths..... What a sad situation this country has with Shelters and unwanted/abandoned animals. I'm starting to think the MANDATORY Spay Neuter program IS the way to go too......people will still find a way to cheat at it but at least more females would be prevented from unwanted pregnancies. |
that sickning.. very much so...what a sin |
Quote:
the supplier of puppy mill pets who sell to the pet stores." |
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