Nothing frustrates/angers me more when I hear people and rescue groups bad mouth the ARL because they “kill” dogs. The ARL receives over 19,000 dogs per year, yes that’s thousands, so let me ask you this what should the ARL do with all these dogs that are the result of “IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS”, they have no choice people! Until people quit back yard breeding, supporting pet shops that sell dogs FROM PUPPY MILLS, quit buying designer puppies and other PUREBRED puppies from PUPPY MILLS, quit letting their dogs run loose, worse yet turn their dogs loose because they don’t want them anymore the ARL will HUMANELY put dogs down.
Rescues have the option to say “NO” when they are full, the ARL doesn’t have that same luxury so of course rescues can be “no kill”. We have to start holding the owners responsible for their dogs, if you own a dog TAKE CARE OF IT! Remember the dog didn’t ask to live with you, you asked the dog.
Director Amy Heinz of AHeinz57 Rescue & Transport says it all:
Bridging The Gap
I have volunteered at both no-kill shelters and traditional shelters. In my experience, the no-kill shelters tend to put down the traditional shelters for euthanizing animals. Likewise, the traditional shelters have criticized no-kill shelters. One even went so far as to say that, “Until all shelters can be no-kill shelters, NO shelters should be no-kill shelters.” Likewise, I’ve heard some no-kill shelters readily accuse traditional shelters of “murdering” animals and having no heart or soul. This has to stop!
Like religion and politics, the world of animal rescue has it’s extremes: those that are charged with the care of innocent animals and treat them horribly, and those that claim to value all furry lives, but really only accept the cutest, healthiest animals. I believe, just like religion and politics, there are far more moderates out there. People who are simply trying their best to do the right thing for these poor lost souls. There is definitely a gap between no-kill rescues and traditional shelters, but I don’t think it is necessarily a large gap if we are all honest and realistic about it.
AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport has a dream to bridge the gap between no-kill and traditional shelters. We all have common ground in that we are all in this business because we ALL care about animals. It’s not fair that our rescue gets to boast that we do not euthanize animals when we have to turn animals away because we don’t have room. The animals we don’t have room for end up at the traditional shelters because they do NOT turn animals away. It’s not fair that they are left to deal with the horrible reality that there are simple too many animals and not enough homes. It’s not fair that they must make the horrific decision of who lives and who dies, while we sit back and pat ourselves on the back. But, what is most unfair of all, is that there are so many reasons why this debate even exists: overpopulation due to puppymills and lack of spaying/neutering, owner surrenders, pets being dumped like trash, dog fighting, and laws that do nothing about this problem. These are the things we must all focus on, instead of focusing on who is doing a better job saving lives. We all must come together in a united effort to help these animals. We have to stop putting each other down and start joining hands.
A starting point to bridge this gap is the transportation networks we are involved in. By monitoring the traditional shelters and pulling as many as possible on their last day, we are alleviating the need to euthanize so many.
If you would like to join us in our mission or have ideas on ways to bridge this gap, please contact us at aheinz@aheinz57.com or post your comments on our “Post Your Ideas“ page. (AHeinz57 PetRescue & Transport)