"Space is an issue in a shelter. So we really need the community to come together, rescue and adopt from Polk right now so that we can house these animals without having to euthanize other animals in order to make space. And that's really important right now," Moehring said. Those of you out there who support seizing and forfeiting animals that are in less than optimal conditions NEED to understand this basic reality. Seizing them often means KILLING healthy adoptable animals.
It appears that the shelter that now has the Florida 261 had about 16 dogs in the facility prior to this seizure and, if you watch the video at the first link, you will see that the facility is quite small. They have the dogs doubled up in kennels and there are no where near even 130 kennels in that facility so what kind of kenneling are these animals in now? Are they really in a better place than they were? How much does it really help to get the existing 16 adopted when one has brought in 261 dogs?????????????
Other options? How about the local SPCA which had about 63 dogs in its facility? Obviously that is also a small facility and likely close to maxed out. Almost certainly in no position to take in a significant number of the dogs seized.
While the original owners of these animals may have been in somewhat over their heads, I certainly admire their attempt to keep the dogs ALIVE rather than killing to "make space"! Dead is NOT better!!! Dead is NOT better than dirty, fleas, ticks, normal worms, tooth tartar and even ticks! Dead is NOT better than mere neglect from being overwhelmed because of a tanking economy that leaves so very many animals in need. The economy will recover and, when it does, they may get homes and better lives but at least they'd be ALIVE to go to those homes. Dead is the END. Dead is NOT better in cases like this!
"Dozens of volunteers from rescue groups all over the Bay Area spent the holiday weekend" helping with the FL 261. We all know that rescues are ALWAYS short handed so what of the animals they left behind while doing this? Were any other facilities left short handed? Did any animals die or get killed because they were short handed and that's when mistakes get made? I've already heard of one that may well have been euthanized in error in a nearby area and I can't help wondering if that's exactly what happened.
Sickening that these rescue folks don't network and get along. Had they done so, perhaps these animals could have been helped at their original location and there wouldn't be threats of KILLING healthy adoptable animals to make space for them now.
Can you really call it "rescue" if the end result is killing healthy adoptable animals? Save this one but kill that one to make space for it. Is that "rescue"? How is that saving animals to trade one life for another when both could have been saved?