Truth is an important and rarely used tool. Secrets are usually good indicators that foul work is afoot. Exposing the truth is like letting the sunlight in. I realise most people don’t share my love of truth an openness. That’s OK. They can go fuck themselves.
My favourite quote of the day – anon
Displeased with me highlighting their end of year figures, showing The Lost Dogs Home rehomed 3,101 pets and killed 13,594 last year. And annoyed that their history of supporting campaigns which mandated the killing of pit bulls and drove the community to vilifying unowned cats is now being questioned by the public – the Lost Dogs Home have begun working behind the scenes to try and ‘muzzle’ Saving Pets.
As you may know, for the last seven years, I’ve been working with rescue groups across the nation get pets into homes through the website, PetRescue. For the last two years, the team I work with have secured a relationship with Pedigree, to work on a major national adoption promotion, the Pedigree Adoption Drive.
This promotion allows hundreds of small and independent rescue organisations and the animals they care for, the kind of exposure only normally available to those companies and non-profits with multi-million dollar advertising budgets. This campaign has saved literally thousands of lives, made rescue pet adoption more popular than ever, and has even changed the vernacular of animal ownership; with the word ‘adoption’ now championed by the public, and ‘he’s a rescue’ becoming an oh-so-fashionable claim to fame for every second-hand moggie and mutt.
However, now the Corporate Affairs Manager of the Lost Dogs Home is in contact with our major sponsor, threatening a smear campaign against PetRescue (and by association Pedigree) should I continue to be critical towards their policies in this blog.
It’s a quite appalling proposition; that a group claiming to be advocating for animals, would work to kill a program saving thousands of lives, just to censor community opposition to their own poorly preforming shelter.
It shows a massive lack of compassion towards animals, to be willing to put a hugely beneficial program for small and independent rescue groups and the pets they’re working to save at risk, simply to quash the tide of public opinion against their refusal to contemporarise their own shelter’s programs.
And to threaten this… because of my blog… a blog which is all about is about saving lives, improving animal sheltering, and agitating when groups kill animals, instead of implementing the programs and services that would stop it… is so counter intuitive to promoting animal welfare that it’s gobsmacking.
Especially, when you consider there is an alternative way to quiet criticism. That would be to put those same energies into developing the programs which would save the lives of animals entering their shelter.
The Adoption Drive belongs to all of us. I have been immensely proud to have been a part of the transformation we’re seeing in animal welfare to date, but I am also only one cog in a giant machine that is creaking into life, and that I’m positive will gain huge momentum in this country. Not only are the team I work with, volunteers and advocates, some of the most skilled and dedicated I’ve ever met. Every single rescue group who has taken the time to champion for the behalf of every pet in their care by photographing, uploading and posting animals – more than 100,000 of them all together – not to mention showcasing their animals at events and media launches; we are all part of an amazing movement that is growing exponentially.
Rescue have worked hard. We earned this campaign. But what we also understand explicitly, is the Adoption Drive is bigger than any one of us, or any one animal organisation. To attack it, is to attack us all. And it leaves me deeply saddened that anyone claiming to be in ‘animal welfare’ would separate themselves from the rescue industry so completely, as to feel they have the right to sabotage the outcomes of so many of their peers.
So will this action against me stop me blogging? I’m actually not sure. Saving Pets might not go on, but I know I will keep working for the animals. I know I will continue to focus my energies where I believe they can do the most good. I know I will continue to stand up to bullies and those who put their own drive for control ahead of the animals they purport to care for. And I know that I will never shut up; no matter how influential or rich or powerful the opposition.
The pet-loving public is numerous and passionate. All the work we do is for the animals and our passion burns brightly because of it. We will not stop questioning. We will not stop driving for reform. And we will not ever stop working to save lives. That I know for sure.
Please note: The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and no one else, nor any agency or organisation. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my peers or employer.
Thanks to everyone who commented and I’m sorry to have held them up in the queue. I really needed to take the weekend to reflect on, and de-stress from, the last fortnight which has obviously been hard on everybody.
But in doing so, I got to have a few light bulb moments on why I felt it important to put my thoughts on the situation ‘out there’, rather than do the easy thing and just let it all play out behind the scenes.
I’ve never liked ‘playing politics’ when doing so came at the cost of animals’ lives. This of course often runs counter to having a successful ‘career’ in the animal welfare industry (worst luck!). But I also think challenging conventional thinking is where we can all do the most good, so while it would be easier to sit down, shut up and accept things for how they are, it personally has never been how I roll.
I can’t expect others to face their own resistance, champion their own life saving initiatives in their own communities in the face of great personal cost, if I’m not willing to do it myself. I found strength in the bravery of others. Those people who stand up and demand change even when the (often powerful) status quo has turned up the heat. Doing anything less myself, is an insult to everyone who has supported me. And to the animals I am working for.
If they’re trying to make it about *YOU* vs *THEM*, they’re simply trying to deflect from the facts. This is actually ok, and as it turns out, the fear of being personally attacked, is actually worse than the reality. Stick to the facts; call out any bullies and don’t let them isolate you. Go to your community for support.
Remember outcomes are key. I’m only ‘against’ one thing – the unnecessary killing of pets, in the face of viable alternatives to killing. I love my cause and I feel blessed to be doing this work. Sometimes its the fun stuff I love, like working with rescue groups to do awesome marketing and events. Sometimes its researching successful initiatives and building projects around them. In comparison, getting dragged into advocacy takes me away from my love and into the muck. But again, it’s about the animals, so you have to try, try, try every avenue you can to get the results you seek.
They want you to; get tired, get scared, think twice, start to think it’s impossible, give up. Just as hard as you are fighting, they will fight to stop you. It sucks, but that is why you have to find great people who can support you and help you keep focused on the goal. I am passionate, but I have an equally passionate support network, which is the only reason I’ve been able to keep at it as long as I have. Those like-minded connections are vital.
“Never doubt we’ll succeed”. Was the message Nathan Winograd had written in the first copy of Redemption I ever read. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like advocating in a pre-Redemption era… but the great news is, we don’t have to. The blueprint is out there. The hurdles have all been overcome before. The same villains and heroes appear in every repeat of the No Kill story in every community. And in every instance, those who champion killing are ousted, rejected by their own communities for continuing to kill, long after pet-lovers embraced those programs which made it unnecessary.
Thank you again for your continued support, bravery and tenacity. We are the future of animal welfare in Australia. And that future is looking bright for pets.
:)shel
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Its not just the Lost Dogs home – many rescue shelters, council pounds etc need to improve their attitudes and behaviours. The general public have no idea how ugly it can be and probably would be shocked if they knew how some people in dog rescue behaved to other people, let alone the dogs. I say the only way to have change is to acknowledge the issues and then work together to overcome them. I also think the shelter system has had its day and that fostering animals is the way to go. Dogs in shelters that are not well resourced and lack $ and vollies struggle to fulfill the dogs needs and often end up with dogs with ‘issues/behaviours’ that seem too hard to address and end up killed. I know because we foster the hard cases that enlightened shelters realise need specific attention. We are not always quick enough to help those in need :-( Keep up the good work. There can be no movement forward if the facts are not acknowledged about the negatives in dog rescue.
Thanks for exposing this.
It does not surprise me at all.
“Effective action is always unjust.” – Maya Angelou
Keep chipping away!
For God’s sake and for the sake the animals, don’t ever stop blogging. In fact we should all do more of it. It creates a pool of thought from which we can all draw and, more importantly, is a way of sharing input and ideas that could, finally, bring conclusion to this madness. You have my 100% support.
i belong to another rescue group and know that they have received similar threats or name calling from dogs home. Its a pity they didnt expend as much effort to save more animals, shame LDR, shame
This is all very sad and a frustrating subject.
I believe that best way to stop this is to make the councils impose a huge fine for those who do not register their dogs. To register a dog they must provide veterinary proof that the animal has been desexed unless you intend to breed, therefore you must provide proof that you are registered with Dogs NSW. I believe that within a few short years you would see the number of abandoned animals in the shelters decline. Until owners are made to desex their animals this is going to continue to happen. We can not rehome all the animals.
What a shame to hear that LDH have decided 2take that approach. Nobody likes hearing bad things about themselves – I’m going 2b optimistic &; say that at least it shows that they’re listening & that they do care. Lets hope LDH take the facts that u have published in this blog (&; that r contained in their annual report) & rise to the challenge to prove u wrong. Surely that wld b a more useful tactic for them & the animals that come into their care.
I think what they’ve failed 2realise about ur blog is that it has harnessed an ever growing group of ordinary people who don’t work in shelters, but care a lot about shelter animals. these people r intelligent & seek all the facts (good & bad) so that they can make informed decisions on which organisations they want to volunteer for, what they can do to help & which shelter/rescue group they will donate their money to. we r ur allies
It is a shame that it has to be a ‘them and us’ situation in regard to welfare systems, disappointing that we all can’t work together, tragic that the animals are the pawns being sacrificed.
When this sort of thing occurs it only makes us wonder more what their true intentions are, what it is they are fearful of losing: power? money? more than that?
In a democratic society we do have the right to question the truth. It is also a given that for those like yourself who do this publicly, some kind of retaliation can be expected in the hope of curtailing such a thing.
If there is one thing I fear it is a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’.
The future of animal welfare has shifted in late years, it is now moving into the domain of private rescue and less into mainstream shelters. Mainstream shelters existed for a long time and were autonomous to themselves. They could fully blame the public and request that same public to shore them up financially.
They don’t have to explain what they do with that money but they should by law be required to.
There has to be a better future for the animals. We have to be able to ‘question’ as part of this future, without fear of recriminations.
People who go on a massive defensive instead of looking to change is a sign of guilt. I would not back down and would not silence the true as the true will out in the end no matter how much they protest. By going to your backers they only enrage those of us who totally support you and back you and that is every pet owner in australia. We are all waiting to help and you just have to call and we can organise a picket outside their shelter that will name and shame.
We need their operators to know we will not go away and we will not be silenced.
It never ceases to amaze me how political “Rescue” has become. I have seen rescue groups fall apart and splinter because of people who have discovered that there is power in politics, and they then get agendas that are about finding a platform to be “right”.
When you have to be right – then you often feel you need to make others ‘wrong’.
I have helped many individuals and groups, but dislike getting involved in tussles unless they are where we are working at common goals to change the path of community and council, or state or federal laws to change for the betterment of the voiceless animals that we have stated we wish to save, rescue, love.
Bless the rescuers who truly get in there and do the work – adn those who enable them to do their work – unhindered – yet guided with knowledge, education, sincerity and generosity of spirit to save lives!
Petrescue has been one of the most visible and effective ways to get stories out – and to help change that “Rescue’ stigma to one of acceptance adn embrace!
I work in rescue – have for over 20 years – have been hands on in the field, and have provided advice and training for those who asked or needed it!
When humans band together for a common goal we can achieve so much. May Pedigree continue to see that Petrescue is a platform that delivers life to those who may have been completely abandoned and been put to the needle…….. and importantly to their marketing drive… that they have differentiated themselves in the market as a company that values compassion, thereby attracting better brand awareness that leads to loyal customers.
All I can say is that those ‘shelters’ that seek to bring other rescue methods into the glare of a spotlight must first be willing to take that glare themselves… for so long now, the truth has been hidden… it cannot always remain so..
We must all continue to work toward the rescue of these creatures who need us, and to the naysayers and bullies… we must stand strong, together and fight the good fight!
The stats speak for themselves but they would rather put a muzzle on you than fix their own serious problems ? Keep at it Shel… true rescuers love you… so do the animals. The cancer at LDH is well documented in archives as well as your blog which sadly I only just found.
The only big surprise was the little amount of dogs they have saved as opposed to euathanising. This should be a public scandal!!
I’m so sick of supposedly almost ‘saint like’ (said with dripping sarcasm organisations having a distinctly dark side and immediately go into attack mode if they are DARED exposed or questioned!
Marketing and PR exercises do a lot to cover up questionable fund spending and welfare of the dogs of such groups are suppose to help!
I stopped giving to the Lost Dogs Home the day they decided anything they deemed to be a Pit Bull was issued an automatic death sentence. I sent back there donation slip expressing my disgust at that decision and a request NOT to send me anymore solicitations for donations etc.
They still bloody send them and they’re automatically binned. The next one they send I will quote their appalling statistics and tell them to shove it!
It takes A LOT OF GUTS to speak up and face the wrath of a powerful and wealth organisation especially, so well done.
I hope EVERYBODY backs you and the media gets involved.
Rescue, saving lives and advocating for change and improvement for the voiceless ones is a passion that comes from within. Right and wrong to me is as simple as black and white. I don’t see it as something complicated. Yes sometimes the stress and the consequences can be hard, but the good thing about passion is that it is passion, and people get passionate when it is the right thing to do. Like many I will continue to advocate for the LDH cats and dogs and all the others as well along with other unjust treatment of our companion animals. To me saving lives from puppy factories, cruelty or pounds is the same – it is about saving lives and continuing to advocate for much needed change on behalf of all those who do not have a voice.
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ (or words to that effect)