Companion Animal Care Articles from All-Creatures.org

Animal Shelter Woes in Minnesota

From Dr. Michael W. Fox, OneHealth.com
November 2024

These are all forms of cruelty for which every board of directors of animal shelters and local humane societies should be held responsible when opposing euthanasia by in-house veterinary staff. Compassionate killing is a necessity in the reality of many animal rescue and sheltering operations, calling for empathic support for all involved.

As published November 4 on Minnesota Star Tribune:

As a veterinarian with a doctoral degree in ethology/animal behavior, and having been involved in animal rescue and sheltering in several countries for over 50 years, I was most distressed by the news that the animal shelter in Mankato, Minnesota, is virtually closed, according to the article "Dispute shutters animal shelter" in the  Minnesota Star Tribune, Nov. 4th 2024. Some of the organization's board members had opposed the euthanasia of aggressive dogs considered unadoptable by the shelter management.

I have deep respect and sympathy for all who work in animal shelter operations where they face reality of having to euthanize some dogs whose aggressive behavior is unmanageable, and also un-adopted cats for lack of space and resources.

This is a nation-wide issue in animal shelters. Some shelters keep such dogs incarcerated for the rest of their lives, which is inhumane but is under the pro-life banner of "No Kill." Un-adopted cats, under this same banner, are released in many communities across the U.S. to fend for themselves with adverse impact on wildlife, a risk to public health and for them, too often, a slow death from diseases and injuries.

These are all forms of cruelty for which every board of directors of animal shelters and local humane societies should be held responsible when opposing euthanasia by in-house veterinary staff. Compassionate killing is a necessity in the reality of many animal rescue and sheltering operations, calling for empathic support for all involved.

ADDITIONAL NOTE from Michael:

It is tragic indeed that animals should suffer the consequences of the sentimentalists' pro-life pandemic across in the U.S.and blindly endorsed by the U.S. Supreme Court that has resulted in much angush and suffering for pregnant women in a culture where patriarchal chauvinism persists. 

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: November 5, 2024
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