Do you donate to Animal Welfare Groups & Organizations?

[Duppers]

Just found this:

"The ASPCA runs one shelter in New York City. Despite an adopter base of about 8 million people, the largest in the nation, it adopts out less animals than the Nevada Humane Society with its 425,000 residents. It adopts out less animals than many shelters in communities with 100,000 residents. In fact, it adopts out less animals than some rescue groups. And yet it takes in over $100 million a year because people think that it is adopting out animals all over the country.

In fact, many people think they are donating to their local shelter when they donate to the ASPCA. And they think that way, in part, because that is what the ASPCA wants them to think. Not long ago, the ASPCA went door-to-door ...

More: http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=6325

Many people really believe that their donations to the ASPCA or HSUS go to their local animal shelters, when in fact, they don't.

A clear distinction should be made between the large national groups and the local shelters. People should donate to the national groups but know that their money is going to other types of efforts, as opposed to saving pets in their local communities.

Additionally, there are many examples of the HSUS and the ASPCA coming into these large seizure situations, then leaving the animals in the care of local shelters and rescues without offering funding.

It's only fair that everyone understands the distinction between the large national groups and the local organizations, so they can be fully versed on how their funds are being used. It's just about transparency.

Donate to your LOCAL Rescue Groups AND to the National ones.

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. Every animal

I have ever had was an animal that needed a home when I took it in. Rescues. All of 'em. But none of 'em came from a "rescue" organization. Many, however, have come from local vets.

Two reasons for me chosing not to take animals from "rescue" organizations. First, I think the placement process many of these organizations use is unnecessarily intrusive. No amount of information gathering will ever be able to guarantee a perfect home and successful adoption. If someone has an established relationship with a vet and that vet is willing to recommend the person take in the animal then that should be all that is necessary to place an animal. A complete life, employment, credit and medical history, a full home inspection and 25 references should be unnecessary in such circumstances. Second, the contractual conditions of the "adoption" placement agreement of many of these organizations are unacceptable to me. If I am responsible and provide care for the animal for an extended period of time then I am the person best suited to judge the experience, temperament, needs, desires, preferences and acquaintances of the animal - and that makes me best suited to determine where the animal should be placed should I no longer be able to care for it.

My vet routinely arrives at her clinic to find abandoned animals. I have a dog that she took care of for nearly 3 months. She doesn't ask for any kind of assistance. But I've helped her place animals. And when I've had food or medicines or other items available I've made them available to help care for these abandoned animals.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. I have always intended to adopt from a rescue group, but

it seems that when it is time to take in a new animal, one falls into my lap instead. So I do not know how all of our rescue groups operate, but I know exactly what you mean about some of them. One group that I recently contacted wanted to do a home inspection, wanted references from family members who do not live in the house (which I do not have close enough for them to be of any help), and a reference from a vet. I do not have issues with the vet reference, but the rest of it is bullshit. And if it is true that they would want a credit/employment/medical history, that is over the top. But I am sure that I will find a way to adopt a needy kitty when I am ready again, with or without a rescue group.

But......I also contribute to our local rescue groups and Humane Society or will go to the vet and pay a bill for one of the groups. Local. But then again, all of my donations are now local because I can see what the groups are doing. Jaded.

[Duppers]

3. I found everyone of my kitties dumped on the street

They were nearly starving and full of worms; one was full of tape worms.

They some how will find you.

[Duppers]

4. I will think of you

as Saint Coyote_Bandit from now on.

:hug:

[CountAllVotes]

5. yes, I do at times

However, all three of my cats are rescues/shelters/etc. The eldest (pushing 18 years) was living under this guy's house and was so sick and thin and filled with worms, I am absolutely shocked that she is almost 18 years old.

My second eldest cat, aka "Mr. Flame" is pushing 11 years as I got him from a no-kill shelter in my county.

My third and youngest and highly beloved cat Jules is from the local animal shelter. She too was very sick and had some sort of a parasite living inside of her that took months to get rid of and she had a respiratory infection which was spread the to other two. However, Jules has persevered and is now almost 5 years old now.

I'd have more cats if I could afford them as I love cats.

I love dogs too and the pictures of posted here of the lab with the puppy make me go awwwwwwwww. :D

I've made donations to the Humane Society of Missouri, Texas and a couple of other places directly when an urgent need has presented itself (like ending up with 200 puppies and dogs saved from puppy mills). My fight to stop puppy mills after my own sad experience with the last dog I owned has scarred me for life and I doubt I'll ever have another dog because of it but, the fight will never stop against this awful cruelty.

I also fight those that debark dogs. That is extreme cruelty and people that do this do puppies and dogs belong in one place known as JAIL. :mad:

:dem: :kick:

[undeterred]

6. One of Russ Feingold's daughters works for the National

Humane Society in Washington. I met her during his last campaign and she told me she wanted to go into Public Service, but not Politics. A very nice person.

[Lisa0825]

7. I donate monthly to the only no-kill shelter in this area which I volunteer with.

I occasionally donate during special events to other are groups, but no national organizations, for the very reasons you state.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Yes, a local cat shelter.

This: http://www.felinerescue.org/

[michaz]

9. We donate regularly to our local shelter but we also...

get our dogs from a rescue group in the south. Our rescue Weimaraner came from Michigan 8 years ago. But our last 2 dogs, both came out of high kill shelters in Georgia. A rescue pulled them for us and we had them transported up here to upstate NY. Our Border Collie mix is 8 months old and she arrived 3 weeks ago; our Black Lab mix is almost 2 now and she arrived last November. We like to pull them from the south because there are so many there that are "gassed" on a regular basis and their laws are really in bad shape. These dogs arrive here and are taken right away to our vet. But they are given their shots, worming and flea treatment before they arrive. Our newest dog, Aspen, was already spayed. Our dog we received in November was not and we had her spayed. She obviously had already had puppies at some point. They are the sweetest animals and very loving. These dogs really are grateful animals.