HomeMy WebLinkAboutBetit, Cecile_Public Comment_RedactedWhen dogs are scheduled to be killed for behavior, it needs be to recognized these
animals are often afraid and rightfully so. There is close confinement—many dogs to
one kennel. There is no longer a play yard—dogs have no regular exercise. We are
told that often that there is not enough food. The dogs fight over food and space.
This then results in dogs being killed. Animals of the same gender (unspayed and
unneutered) are housed closely together in less, than ideal conditions. How do we
help SBC to improve conditions?
We read today of a bad report on a dog because as a hungry puppy, he wanted
food. We heard of staff taunting a puppy and then the puppy was euth listed and
killed.
The recent effort to bring animals to adoption events is showing a much needed,
change in being seen as a community participant. It can build interest in the shelter
and reduce the perception of the shelter’s disinterest in the community.
Efforts to encourage volunteers to walk animals and to be involved would promote
their well-being on a daily basis. In some cities, children read to the dogs and cats.
Building caring relationships in the community through communication:
The shelter Facebook page is a good way to reach the community. There need to
many more communications and more varieties of them to build relationships; to
help owners find impounded animals and to convey a kind of caring the community
and its animals.
Community members need to know the phone numbers and email addresses of
how to reclaim, adopt and rescue a dog. There are now a few more phone numbers.
There doesn’t seem to be a general email address to correspond with the shelter
staff.
The shelter’s information to rescues and interested parties is sent from a NO REPLY
address.
Outside of the Outcomes Report, there is no central place for the SBC publics to
know of animals at risk, killed or rescued, adopted or returned to owner etc.
Whether a dog is saved or killed, the next day, the info on Pet Connect speaks to an
error rather than providing a link to the Outcomes Report.
Pet Connect does not contain critical information for networkers, rescues, adopters
and the public to know such as that which comes only in email: Rescue Only, Kennel
Cards and the Review Date (this latter is a ‘pretty’ term used at SBC for a kill date for
the animal if it is still in residence; like euthanasia it sounds better than the animal
dying). Some of the email info can be linked to the Pet Connect info by clicking on
the photo. The list of dogs killed from the shelter is only online in the Outcome
Report. A networker reports daily on big dogs coming in and those killed.
People really don’t want dogs killed and they specifically, don’t want them on the
euth list even before they are available with minor reasons listed: bump on the leg,
age, ear infections, fear etc.
The number and speed of dogs and cats assigned for euthanasia greatly outstrip the
numbers of dedicated networkers. Staff doesn’t provide photos or videos with their
euth lists to help save the animals. Without photos, rescues don’t get a good feel for
the animals. Staff could invite more volunteers to do photographs, make friends
with the dogs and reassure them that they are cared for. Videos a few days after
intake would save many animals
Management and staff need to make an effort to learn how their actions are
affecting their publics. The staff’s lack of knowledge of what is entailed for
networkers to have information to prepare posts, for a rescue to procure foster care
and pledges seems a combined lack of respect for those making the effort to save
the animals as well the animals. Hopefully, the planned for meetings may help open
some paths toward more dogs leaving SBC alive.
An unfortunate recent happening that we are beginning to hear about involves
more supervision of the public’s animal posts by SBC staff. When posts are
experienced as critical, they are reported as offensive to FB resulting in a person’s
lack of ability to post. This affects networkers and those very interested in SBC and
its animals.
These ideas are respectfully presented as feedback for improvement at the shelter. If
additional information would be helpful, please ask.
Best,
Cecile Betit
Cecile G. Betit PhD
Independent Researcher
Member, SBC Networker Team since 2016