September Newsletter
When animal shelters report data to the public, they generally structure it carefully to sway public opinion. If an agency can show donors how their contributions are making a difference, the public can more easily be persuaded to give more money to continue the life- saving success the agency appears to be achieving.
The unfortunate part of this strategy is that selective data obscures the ugly facts and fails to reveal the real performance of the agency, which has an impact on the entire community.
Here is the raw 2006 data that reflects how our Indianapolis "humane" animal sheltering system is serving companion animals in our community. Sharing this telling data with the shelter's donors will not be the director's priority because if donors were aware of this performance they would demand better. Donors support animal shelters to improve conditions for animals, not to support the status quo.
27,270 animals entered the sheltering system.
15,214 (56%) of these animals were killed. This is 42 animals per day.
12,056 (44%) of these animals came out of the shelter alive. This is 34 animals per day.
3,327 (22%) of these animals were killed at the Humane Society of Indianapolis
11,887 (78%) of these animals were killed at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control (IACC)
The Humane Society of Indianapolis is a selective admission shelter that charges a fee to accept a relinquished animal. This often results in the animal being taken instead to IACC, an open admission shelter that accepts all animals without a fee.
Move to ACT believes that all animal shelters in a humane community have one duty - their responsibility to the homeless animals being killed. Unfortunately, shelter agendas are too often focused on branding their image, promoting misleading numbers, and masking the ugly facts with euphemisms that will generate more donations.
When we know these raw figures and realize that each number represents an animal's life, our silence becomes betrayal. Silence is accepting the status quo practice of "adopting some and killing the rest."
"Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result" - the definition of insanity
Why is this status quo tolerated? Why do people continue to contribute money to support this kind of performance? Often it is because shelter leaders and the public have never been aware there is another way.
Fortunately, there IS another way. It is a comprehensive, community-based delivery of programs and services proven successful in other communities. It has improved the chances for animals coming out of the sheltering system to 85- 90%. In Indianapolis, this translates to 31 fewer animals being killed each day.
Move to ACT welcomes Nathan Winograd http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/index.html , the architect of No Kill sheltering, to Indianapolis for a book-signing for his soon-to-be-released book, REDEMPTION. Mr. Winograd will also provide a 90- minute multimedia presentation explaining his blueprint to end the systematic killing of shelter animals.
When: October 8, 2007 Doors open at 6 PM; the event begins at 6:30 Where: The Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort and Inn 4790 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222.
Shelter leaders, boards of directors, rescue organizations, and civic leaders in Indianapolis and across the state have been invited to come and learn how they can become life-saving heroes with the blueprint for success called the "No Kill Equation."
To learn more, to RSVP for this event, and/or to purchase the book, visit www.movetoact.org . All proceeds from books purchased through Move to ACT will help bring Nathan Winograd back next spring to present his workshop/seminar on No Kill programs.
The insanity of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results must stop in Indianapolis sheltering. The animals deserve your help. Before we sleep tonight, 42 animals will meet their death in an Indianapolis "shelter." The silence of not demanding better is deafening.
We look forward to seeing you on October 8th at 6 PM.
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