| WRR
Home > E-Newsletter: WRR Sanctuary
News > December 2007 >
Saving the Lives of Companion Animals
 Saving
the Lives of Companion Animals
by Dr. Craig Brestrup, Development Associate
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR)
was born thirty years ago in San Antonio when its founder,
Lynn Cuny, became concerned about the plight of urban wildlife,
recognized that they had no spokesperson, and decided to do
something about it. Among the situations that worried her
were infant wildlife who were left motherless when trees were
cut down or wind displaced nests, animals injured in accidental
encounters with humans, and animals who were seen as nuisances
by people who had few qualms about lethally removing their
"problem." Now, in 2007, of course, the wild animals
who benefit from WRR's care include not only urban wildlife
but a wide variety of regional indigenous
wildlife as well as nonindigenous animals such as primates,
parrots,
and iguanas.
With the move to our new 187-acre property
in 2001, the option of also taking in farmed
animals opened up. We now have the Do
No Harm Farm here at WRR, where around 300 sheep, goats,
pigs, chickens, cows, and others live whose fate took a dramatic
turn when they arrived here rather than a slaughterhouse.
Because WRR is well-known and respected throughout
Central Texas (and we are pleased to say, much of the rest
of the country as well), we often find ourselves asked to
intervene on behalf of yet other kinds of animals. I refer
to companion animals. So now we have a feral cat sanctuary
and other cats and dogs available for adoption.
We also have taken the lead in major dog rescues when it didn't
appear any other organization would.
 I
bring up this issue of companion animals because, wherever
you are, you undoubtedly are aware that your local community
has more dogs and cats than shelters can hold or homes that
make themselves available to them. The result is that animal
control departments and other shelters take them in and kill
them. We at WRR oppose this, and ten years ago I wrote a book
addressing the issue, Disposable Animals: Ending the Tragedy
of Throwaway Pets. There are many initiatives that communities
can take to provide for homeless companion animals, and when
they take responsibility for doing so and when they put energy
and resources behind it, they may be surprised how quickly
they can make a vast difference in the lives of local dogs
and cats.
San Antonio, Texas, is the city that WRR has
been most associated with since it began operations there
in 1977. It is also the city with the tragic distinction of
killing more of its companion animals per capita than any
other major U.S. city. Last year the city's animal control
killed almost 34,000 animals, which was close to 90% of all
that arrived at their doors. Some years, over 40,000 are killed.
This is an abominable situation and one that cries out for
an urgent response, which so far is not forthcoming, despite
a Strategic Plan that calls for the city to become no-kill
by the year 2012. The Plan is over a year old now and the
killing rate has not diminished, so the chances of success
are slim.
We urge all of you, whether you live in San
Antonio or somewhere else, to investigate what is happening
to the innocent dogs and cats in your city. You almost certainly
will be appalled. Then turn your disgust into action. Write
a letter to the editor, write or call your Mayor and city
councilperson and the directors of local humane groups and
animal control. Demand that something be done and volunteer
to help. All those poor animals that are unnecessarily killed
when they could have been someone's companion can be saved.
Knowing that, what can one say about communities that fail
to take strong, immediate action to keep them alive and find
homes for them?
 If
you live in San Antonio, we urge you to take the time to visit
www.sanantonio.gov/council
and take a few, life-saving minutes to find contact information
for your district's city councilperson. Please send them an
e-mail, urging them to put an immediate end to the killing
of over 110 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens every day at
San Antonio Animal Control. For those of you around the rest
of the U.S., see your area's government website for your representative.
You CAN make a difference by speaking up for these animals
who have no hope of surviving unless we make our voices heard.
|
