“Just One Day” was great, and it can get even better

On June 11, Indianapolis took part in a nationwide initiative to allow healthy adoptable animals “just one day” of freedom from the fear of death. Indianapolis Animal Care and Control agreed to suspend the killing for just one day, and a dozen local rescue groups redoubled efforts to save as many animals as possible. As a result, 80 pets left IACC alive. Compared to other cities, those are impressive numbers.

So what did Just One Day accomplish? Much!

• A commitment from IACC to not kill any adoptable animals for one day
• Heightened attention to the killing of adoptable animals on our collective watch
• 80 dogs, cats and rabbits left IACC alive in a 48-hour period, thanks to rescue organizations
• Deserving rescue groups that rarely, if ever, are applauded or recognized for their rescue work (and don’t spend time self-promoting) received well-deserved acknowledgment
• These same rescue organizations (that don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on fundraising) had the opportunity to win $2,000 in much-needed cash

How was JOD promoted?

• April 25th mtA News Release
• May 31 Wish TV
• June 8th IACC News Release
• June 11th Indy Channel
• June 11th Indy STAR
• NPR Radio

What was the feedback from participating organizations? Great!

• “Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this amazing experience! It is extremely motivating to see what can be accomplished. We intend to pull from the kill shelters that need the most help so IACC is always on our radar. Cheers to you and your group for your steadfast commitment. Together, we can do this!”
• “Makes me proud to be a part of a great effort by so many great people. Thanks again.”
• “Awesome,..thanks for making this happen.”
• “Thanks for organizing this great event.”
• “It was nice to have the day for rescues to go in and we did get to meet some of the other rescues’ volunteers. Thanks for all your work on this event.”

Were more animals surrendered on June 11?

There were people who surrendered pets to IACC on June 11 because they believed the animals would not be killed on that day. IACC’s foster coordinator put out a plea for help, which happens frequently. Obviously, people who feel they have no choice but to give up a pet ARE concerned that their pet might be killed.

Was there other feedback? Yes, and it brought up some good points.

• “A stunt.”
—Anonymous commentator in the blogosphere

• “I find days like today to be an insult to those who work tirelessly in animal welfare. Every single day should be an important day for animals, not just some arbitrary date. …Rather than taking June 11 to not euthanize an animal, how about taking June 11 to create programs that we can take to schools, churches, and community groups about the importance of responsible pet ownership. Or take June 11 to find better and more creative ways to keep pets in their homes. Or develop ways to get animals to low-cost spay/neuter clinics. Really, if this Just One Day promotion had been done correctly, there would have been outreach advocates at every back door, talking to those who wanted to surrender their pets and working with them to send those pets home. “
—HSI representative and chairperson of the IACC Advisory Board and officer of the Indianapolis Animal Welfare Alliance

• “We’re back to normal tomorrow. …As good as (Monday) is, and not having our friends at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control euthanize for space, (Tuesday) they’ll be faced with the same issues again.”
—CEO of the Humane Society of Indianapolis

We think these comments deserve a response.

First, if JOD was a “stunt”, we are eager to repeat this “stunt” and make it even better! This national event was managed locally. Since no other voice for animals in Indianapolis stepped up to coordinate participation in the inaugural JOD, mtA did.

Secondly, mtA is saddened that the chair of the IACC Advisory Board would admonish the event in a public forum rather than discuss and suggest ideas in an advisory capacity to the IACC administration, especially when IACC had already endorsed and committed to the event. And some might find the tone of this letter insulting to those in the hard-working small rescues who certainly DO work tirelessly for animal welfare — and showed it in their efforts on June 11.

There are good ideas in the IACC board chair’s comments. We wonder why HSI did not take the initiative to prepare an educational program on responsible pet ownership, or sponsor a spay-neuter event, or provide advocates to counsel people who were surrendering their pets, in conjunction with “Just One Day”. We hope they will consider doing so next time.

Finally, if “normal” is receiving and killing 22 animals a day, what can be wrong with allowing a two-day vacation from such a “normal”? “Just One Day” is a step toward changing that “normal”.

When was the last time 80 animals left IACC alive in a 48-hour period? When the staff at IACC could take one day off from the emotional ordeal of killing? (And can’t we please stop hiding behind euphemisms that mislead the public? Killing animals for space is just that — killing.)

And when did small organizations last have “just one day” of recognition and the chance to add a few much-needed dollars to their barebones budgets? These groups lack the luxury of having $141,000 to spend on annual fundraising fees or $407,000 in donor dollars to spend on total fundraising expenses. They spend 100% of whatever is given to them on the animals.

What does all this tell us?

• For IACC to commit to stop killing adoptable animals for a day — JOD was a success
• For the 80 animals that left IACC alive — JOD was a success
• For the rescue organizations that participated, made a difference, received some recognition, and won some needed cash — JOD was a success
• For the media attention this generated to remind the public of the challenge posed by our collective stewardship of homeless animals — JOD was a success
• To confirm that people really don’t want their surrendered animals killed — JOD was a success
• To spark good ideas, even from organizations that chose not to participate — JOD was a success!

Going forward

MtA is already planning another “Just One Day”. We encourage every animal welfare organization to join the effort — by rescuing animals, setting up adoption events, scheduling spay-neuter days, providing educational programs, training volunteers to counsel people about to surrender their pets, and other creative means. Every idea is welcome. Let’s work together and put the animals first.

After all, isn’t it… “all about the animals?”