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Post by doctork on Jan 1, 2012 16:01:57 GMT -5
This has been a big story in Arizona, but I think I saw national news as well. Synopsis: Scruffy was "temporarily" surrendered to the Humane society by his owner while he obtained the money for Scruffy's care. Unbeknownst to the owner, Scruffy was euthanized within hours, and when his owner attempted to find him again, or at least find out what happened, he was stonewalled until the local news media chimed in. Here's the HuffPost account: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/30/humane-society-sparks-out_n_1175760.html?ncid=webmail3The Humane Society took enough heat that they somehow found the money to hire an expensive publicist to cool things down: www.azhumane.org/artman2/publish/aboutus/emergency_gap_fund.shtmlI usually donate to the local animal shelter wherever I am located. I am offended by the Humane society's handling of Scruffy, as I see two lives damaged/destroyed - Scruffy's, and that of his owner, a fragile recovering addict. OTOH, if people pull their donations, then more animals will be euthanized for lack of funds to care for them. Would you donate to the Arizona Humane Society? Does their justification (CYA move) make enough sense to you? Or would you find an alternative? |
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Post by BoatBabe on Jan 1, 2012 17:47:51 GMT -5
No. No. And Yes. I donate to United Way, and allocate my charity of choice.
I donate a lot of other ways, too: money, time and things. I really don't have enough money to be doing so, but I do.
The expensive publicist did a good job for the Humane Society.
This is one of those circumstances where "Scruffy" supposedly caused change in the Humane Society. That is the only solace the family has.
Why it had to came to this to finally cause some modicum of change in that organization exposes its larger dysfunction of which we didn't know.
The publicist assures us that if "resources" don't continue, more will die. I love that "motivation by guilt" strategy.
So . . . what are you going to do, doc?
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Post by joew on Jan 1, 2012 18:47:22 GMT -5
The thing that doesn't make sense to me is that it was supposedly necessary to euthanize Scruffy because they were overwhelmed with 178 animals in need of care, but if Mr. Dockery had been able to pay, this would not have happened.
It would have cost them a lot less to care for Scruffy than to hire the publicist, I expect.
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Post by BoatBabe on Jan 1, 2012 22:25:18 GMT -5
The thing that doesn't make sense to me is that it was supposedly necessary to euthanize Scruffy because they were overwhelmed with 178 animals in need of care, but if Mr. Dockery had been able to pay, this would not have happened. It would have cost them a lot less to care for Scruffy than to hire the publicist, I expect. In HINDSIGHT, Joe. They didn't know this would be a story when it happened. They were just doing what they always do. It had never been a story before. |
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Post by doctork on Jan 1, 2012 23:45:01 GMT -5
I don't know what I will decide to do, but likely I will consider donating in kind goods - food, toys, bedding, things that can only be used to benefit the animals.
I was sorting through a stack of newspapers today and came across the Scruffy story from December 18, the Sunday after Spencer's graduation, which is why the newspaper had just sat there. The front page story was essentially "Where is Scruffy," as the news of the euthanaia had not yet surfaced and the Humane society was still trying to say "We just don't now, she must be at one of our facilities."
I was thinking I should ask my friend Susan who is a real animal lovers. Then I remembered that she took in a rez puppy that was hanging around our clinic, kept him at her home until she could find an adoptive family. she didn't trust the Humane Society... But she probably has some ideas of worthy animal causes.
Of course we have personally adopted 4 stray cats, one actually from the shelter, and the other 3 who simply presented themselves on our doorstep. Including Small Black Cat who is rapidly becoming not-so-small, but still very cuddly.
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Post by rogesgallery on Jan 17, 2012 23:35:34 GMT -5
It is not just an Arizona problem or an American problem, it is a human problem. We have upset the balance of a planet without regard for the natural pace of evolution. Perhaps I am wrong and this IS the natural pace of evolution... but I think not. www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=12589&pst=1283253Certainly it is not just our brains that make our society so cruel For our body mass to brain size is the same as a Mouse and slightly less than a Dolphin — neither of which find it necessary to enslave other species or make war on their own. I wouldn't let this type of incident keep me from donating to any Humane Society. They are more humane to animals than humans are to humans across cultures and classes. |
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Post by rogesgallery on Jan 18, 2012 0:10:05 GMT -5
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Dopey Member
