by Esther Mechler
The so-called “NoKill” movement needs to be renamed the “Mission Accomplished” movement in honor of the “Mission Accomplished” speech delivered by U.S. President George W. Bush on May 1, 2003 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Bush stated in the speech that the war in Iraq was finished.
(Beth Clifton photo)
That was over twelve years ago. The vast majority of casualties, both military and civilian, occurred after that speech.
Casualties
Casualties are now mounting in the sheltering world as a result of the unrealistic attitude that “there is no pet surplus” or that “more adoptions are the answer to ending euthanasias.”
When shelters slam their doors in the face of people needing to relinquish their pets, often due to circumstances beyond their control, including foreclosures, evictions, homelessness, old age, and terminal illness, where do they go?
Three-dog night. (Beth Clifton photo)
Where do they go?
This is the big question that the “Mission Accomplished” folks refuse to answer or even acknowledge. Where do they go? To the streets? Dumped on rural roads? In the woods? On Craig’s List with fingers crossed? To the local hoarder?
It is convenient to say that would-be relinquishers “could do more” to rehome or keep their cats or dogs, but the animals’ guardians have usually already called everyone they know.
People in desperation are increasingly turning to hoarders to take their animal––a fate often worse than death.
(Beth Clifton photo)
We applaud the efforts that some shelter staff make to keep pets in homes. But dogs and cats may live 15 years or more, a long time for any shelter to subsidize food and vet care. And if any shelters are now giving animals to homes that cannot or will not care for them, they are complicit in seriously worsening the problem.
Unfinished war
(Beth Clifton photo)
I see the problem as an unfinished war on homelessness for companion animals. That war is not over, no matter what people may wish to hear or think. That war will go on until the see-saw is balanced: one or two kittens or pups, cats or dogs for every good forever home. That balance is the true end to the war.
We were getting close: we went from 12 million shelter euthanasias in 1990 to fewer than three million in each year since 2011. But real progress has stalled, despite rising “live release rates,” as more animals are finding “no room at the inn.”
If we are brutally honest with ourselves and each other, we will not reduce shelter euthanasias by shutting doors, we will do so by reducing litters. That can be done––probably in three to five years by continuing pouring resources into spay/neuter programs. It can be done faster if people will spay or neuter all cats, mixed breed dogs and pit bulls by five months of age, before they can possibly produce litters.
Involved in animal advocacy since 1974, Esther Mechler either founded or helped to cofound nine organizations of national prominence, eight of which either still exist or have active descendants. Founding Spay/USA in 1990, Mechler retired as executive director in 2008. She now heads Marian’s Dream, an organization focused on getting dogs and cats sterilized by five months of age, located at P.O. Box 365, Brunswick, ME 04011; phone: 207-798-7955; <esther@mariansdream.org>; <www.mariansdream.org>.
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Since cats can mate at 4 months of age, I wish Ms. Mechler had used that age rather than 5 months. That’s what most shelters and rescues are following here in Louisiana WHEN a pediatric veterinarian can be found, as some are adamantly against early spay/neuter. Thankfully, they are in the minority. All the same, a wonderful testament to the illusion of the no-kill movement and adopting our way out of overpopulation.
Esther Mechler also favors fixing cats by four months. However, since her concern is for both dogs and cats and since many vets refuse to fix either puppies or kittens before six months of age, Esther felt that the slogan “Fix By Five” had a better chance of catching on with the public.
I couldn’t agree more, and so I’m sharing to social media, with hope and gratitude and determination. The crisis was caused by us. We are also the solution to the crisis. Each and every one of us who cares must take personal responsibility for those in our care, and take every opportunity to educate and encourage others to do likewise. There is no more pressing issue and no more easily solvable one, IMHO.
I have utmost respect for Esther Mechler. And I completely agree that Spay/Neuter efforts must be stepped up and critically funded. Rescues cannot carry this financial burden.
Taxpayers cannot continue the costs associated with killing when S/N is the long term solution.
My biggest beef is with the criminal negligence associated with adopting out pit bulls to families with children, even when they are known to be unstable. There is a reason why these dogs comprise up to 60% of all dogs at the shelter. Why is that? Because nobody wants them, save for trashy people. They should ALL be euthanized.
Great article. I like the part “If we are brutally honest with ourselves and each other,”. Animal welfare efforts, and indeed other human endeavors, require sincerity and no holds barred honesty.
Absolutely true. One point: the quickest most efficient method for eliminating dog cat overpopulation (DCO) is thru legislation, laws, ordinances.
Voluntary spay neuter helps but due to the huge numbers of unwanted litters caused by even a small percentage of nonparticipating pet guardians laws are necessary.
What I find astonishing is how national orgs pursue legal measures effecting a variety of species yet they not only won’t support various measures which direct people to spay neuter but they allow their org names to be used against such measures. Which was our experience re the overturning of our Harrison County Breeders Permit Requirement.
DCO is a social injustice issue and social injustice has never been corrected without legislation. Women didn’t get the right to vote by saying please.
I have known Esther’s commitment to spay/neuter for many years, we were pups in animal work together. She is great!! I agree that there will never ever be a time when the amount of animals equals the number of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens in excellent forever homes. Unfortunately huge numbers of people do not in any way value pets altho they have them–it isn’t in their DNA to be careful about the care of their pets or the spaying and neutering even if it is free–it is the human factor. Personally, I believe in humane euthanasia of privately owned pets that are old and no longer wanted or ill or injured pets that are no longer wanted. Open policy shelters try so hard to place these leaving wonderful young dogs and cats to either languish in no kills or be killed in shelters due to lack of space–it is a personal belief that holds owners accountable and takes the responsibility off volunteers–tough but the right thing.. I believe in strong humane education mandatory in the schools starting in kindergarten–the children are our future in that way, most love dogs and cats and it needs to be reinforced. Without going on and on, these two suggestions might help on some levels. My last thought is that every dog and cat born need to be micro chipped so that we at least know where they came from–mandatory for breeders and puppy mills!