Welcoming 2014

Happy New Year!

What an extraordinary year 2013 has been. Never has the contrast between those who are working to save each and every life, and those happy to continue to profit from catching, impounding and killing pets been more stark. Our friends in the US have seen an extraordinary 231 communities achieve No Kill. Thousands of pounds, shelters, rescue groups and individual volunteers working together to save 90% or more of their intakes.

This is the new benchmark.

Here in Australia, the message has changed from an acceptance of high shelter kill rates and community blame, to a focus on proactive programs, rescue groups and adoptions. Shelters who under perform are no longer able to rely on unquestioning donor support.

It was enormously busy on this blog also. Saving Pets had over 200,000 visitors and 270,000 page views in 2013, a three-fold increase on 2012.

There were 189 new entries, growing the total archive to more than 850 posts.

The busiest day of the year was the 16th April with more than 15,000 views. The most popular post that day was ‘What walking in the Million Paws Walk is really supporting’.

The top five posts that got the most views in 2013 were:

• Thomas (32,000 views)
• What walking in the Million Paws Walk is really supporting (21,000 views)
• Kerser – a victim of BSL (14,000 views)
• Starving, neglected pets find no safety with the RSPCA (8,000 views)
• ‘It’s not us, it’s you’. The Lost Dogs Home discusses high kill rates (6,000 views)

The most commented on post in 2013 was ‘Thomas’ with 358 comments.

The post I wished more people had read was ‘Oops! Everything we know about cat management is wrong‘

The post I feel I worked hardest on was ‘History repeats‘

To everyone who wrote to me during the year to share their experiences, or to offer interesting links – thank you! It makes my heart sing that working for change and advocating for homeless pets is now a true community issue, and pet lovers from all backgrounds are coming together to demand the end to the killing.

I am especially delighted that several shelter CEO’s have contacted me or spoken to me at events, despite the fact that I have criticised their policies. Even though we disagree on many issues, they trust they will receive support and advice when they do implement life saving programs. There has been more adoption promotions this year, than any year I’ve seen previous, which is a very good thing.

I know that kill shelter apologists may dismiss my what I write without even reading it. To them I have just one message – killing is never kindness. A safe future for companion animals is inevitable and you will be remembered in history as an enemy to animal protection.

This blog is not perfect. It is a one person effort and sometimes it shows. While I try to fix my FU’s as soon as they’re pointed out, for the sometimes terrible grammar and shocking spelling, I apologise.

My aim has always been to try to source the most accurate and current information in an effort to dispel some of the mythology and pseudoscience which holds back our community’s life saving potential. I also hope the blog has given pet lovers a peek ‘behind the curtain’ of animal welfare, so everyone can become empowered to drive for positive change. The doors of the major shelters are being forced open – we will no longer gift these organisations hundreds of millions of dollars a year, so they can kill our pets and blame us for their failures. We will save these pets ourselves.

On a personal note, my new bub is now 8 weeks old and thriving. It has meant November and December have been a quiet months on the blog, but I look forward to having more time to research and write over the coming weeks.

Again – thank you to everyone who has supported Saving Pets. Wishing you every success with your life saving in 2014!