Pound proposals
With reference to your correspondent Don McLean letter (Gaz 12/5) I was surprised and disappointed that there is no further comment by others in the most recent edition I support him strongly when he says “council has the chance to make an enlightened decision...” sadly Don, I doubt if that will be forthcoming.
Unfortunately, the Have your Say opportunity recently provided on the council’s website is likely to be just a bit of window dressing so that whatever decisions are made can carry the words following public consultation.
Personally, I have made the same suggestions before but with little interest by anyone.
Working for a few years in Mid West America I lived in Omaha. Nebraska and had a very close relationship with the Nebraska Humane Society, which is one of the largest animal rehoming facilities in America.
At that time (early 2000s) it had a greater than 93 per cent success rate in finding new homes for all types of animals (currently around 10,000 per year).
In summary it’s success is based around: A facility that was a conversion from an old supermarket, purchased by public donation, sponsorship and a grant.
A small full time staff.
A large team of volunteers who worked with the animals.
Another team of volunteers dedicated to fundraising.
Investigation of complaints of cruelty. A modern day care centre for dogs generating income.
Education of all ages with basic aspects of animal husbandry.
Programs of rehabilitation with prisoners in the local young adult prison.
The facility was. spotless with a pet shop and the public could walk around the caged area where animals waiting for new owner were situated.
It was popular for children to visit on weekends and for school groups learning about animal welfare.
Our company sponsored the society by providing free vaccine for animals being rehomed While this facility is large the model on which it is based might well be a practical basis for a new approach by council.
Of greatest importance is the use of volunteers that reduces running costs and may give young people a grounding start to future veterinary careers. To me this is the sort of enlightened decision to which Don refers rather than patching up of old methods which do little to satisfy the needs of the animal owning public.
Adequate education of the younger members of our society by skilled animal nurses, veterinarians and volunteers, retired from similar positions, is an essential clue to overcoming many of the animal control problems faced on a daily basis.
Dr Ralph Slaughter, Drouin