There’s been a 90% drop in the pound killing of U.S. dogs and cats since the 1970s. Despite a doubling of the number of animal companions, the number of dogs and cats killed has gone from roughly 16 million to as low as 1.5 million. Its been called “the single biggest success of the modern animal protection movement.” Why? Here’s what a recent study, a follow-up review, and what my own analysis of the data…
Animals in “shelters” and pounds have no voice of their own and need others to speak for them. In a victory for free speech — and a victory for anyone who has spoken out on behalf of animals mistreated, abused, and killed in city pounds — a Federal Court of Appeal ruled that President Donald Trump cannot delete comments or ban people on twitter for criticizing him and his policies. More broadly, the ruling reaffirms…
“Euthanasia,” “put to sleep,” even the word “shelter” is a euphemism. But “saving lives”? Many of us have long ago stopped using the euphemisms “euthanasia” and “putting them to sleep” to describe the killing of animals who are not irremediably suffering. Euphemisms obscure the gravity of what we are doing and make the task of killing easier. Once they are killed, these animals can no longer think and feel and run and play and eat…
In a case involving custody of a cat, a New York Court let the kitty help decide who he wanted to live with (after considering the totality of the circumstances). In doing so, the judge refused to provide the time honored rule of personal property involving “things that can be used, handled, or transported” and instead ruled that “it is time to declare that a pet should no longer be considered ‘personal property’ like a…
Without the force of law, animals remain at mortal risk in Austin, TX. Tucker was killed by Austin Animal Center despite a rescue group offer to save him, his former owner begging for custody, and department policy which permitted placement (but was ignored). In April of last year, for the first time since the Austin City Council passed the 2010 No Kill law, the placement rate for cats fell below 90%. Dozens of cats were…
The killing of dogs for alleged “behavior” continues apace by agencies who claim to embrace a No Kill ethic, as underscored by the recent killing of Tucker by Austin Animal Center and the killing of Linda by the Larimer (CO) Humane Society, despite rescue groups ready, willing, and able to save them. They are not the only ones. The New York City pound recently killed April, an eight-month old dog (the black pup in…
Any shelter in any community with a can-do attitude and the right approach can end the killing. One of my roles as the director of the No Kill Advocacy Center is working with elected officials nationwide on reforming archaic policies, implementing No Kill programs, and codifying No Kill practices. Recently, one of those elected officials suggested to me that his community would be unable to achieve No Kill because the municipal shelter did not have…
Austin Animal Center (AAC) recently killed Tucker, a dog, who had three places to go: a local non-profit organization; a trainer/rescuer out of state; and Tucker’s former family who pleaded with them to release him to their care. The official justification for his killing is “behavior” or “aggression.” Tucker had a bite history. The real cause of death appears to be spite. This is the story of his short life and tragic death. Beginning It…
This was Linda. She spent five months with a Colorado rescue group, living with and playing with other dogs without incident. After adoption, the family, who had her for one year, surrendered Linda to a local pound. The family claimed she had incidents with other dogs. The rescue group which originally placed her wanted her back. The pound said no. They ultimately did return her — in a garbage bag. Since the mid-1990s, I have…
A new report says that within two decades, most of the world’s meat will NOT come from slaughtered animals. Earlier this week, I posted about my experience returning to Burger King for the first time in 24 years because of the launch of a new plant-based whopper. Earlier this year, I wrote about my experience going to Red Robin for the first time ever, when it did the same. In both those posts, I noted…