Just posting again to also say I can relate to how difficult this process must be for you, SCUPPER. When I was little, my mom’s dog (who had been her dog before she married my dad) could not get over being aggressive to us (her kids and husband) because it couldn’t get used to being part of a “pack” and not being the alpha dog and couldn’t understand that we weren’t trying to hurt her (my mom) when we ran at her or jumped on her. After the dog nearly bit my sister, my mom took it to the shelter and had it put down. Though it was extremely emotionally difficult for my mom to do, she didn’t see that she had any choice because she couldn’t in good conscience give the dog away. I don’t think she doubted that she had done the right thing but, boy, it was hard. She still gets teary talking about it twenty-five years later.
We’re lucky, here in Asheville, NC: although we have several no-kill organizations locally, they all work with the full-access shelter (ours). And as near as I’ve heard, none of them badmouth us for performing euthanasia. If they did, we’d firmly and politely set them straight.
As it is, they’re a great resource. When someone calls me and tearfully tells me that they don’t know what to do with poor Fifi, but they can’t keep her, I always talk to the caller about limited-access shelters. I explain how they work, I explain how to evaluate them, and I give them phone numbers for several limited-access groups. I want people to use us as a last resort.
Thing is, we’re all working toward the same goals of ending animal overpopulation and improving the lives of companion animals. If we cooperate, we can benefit from one another’s expertise and resources. If we play Holier than Thou (including saying things like, “No-kill shelters are dishonest!”), then we waste energy fighting one another instead of channeling it toward our goals.
Like I said, we’re lucky here in Western North Carolina: the no-kills around here understand their role and our role. If they were a bunch of self-righteous pricks about it, things might be different.
Daniel
Webmaster
http://www.ashevillehumane.org