People are wondering why they would import animals when there are so many local animals that are in need and shelters seem to be overflowing - these animals coming from away are taking away from much needed resources needed to save local animals.
On the surface these are all really valid points, but when you look at the story from some other angles you might start seeing some other viewpoints.
Bringing in animals from away is not something new to Nova Scotia - several rescues do it regularly, and a couple local rescues exist for no other reason. Cool Dog Rescue exists to bring dogs in from shelters in Quebec, Paws Across the Border exists to bring dogs up from the States, Ador-a-Bull rescue exists to bring pit bulls down from Ontario, East Coast German Shepherd Rescue regularly brings dogs up from the States, Litters n Critters brings dogs in from Labrador on a regular basis - and individuals regularly bring dogs home when they go on vacation to warm climates - a local woman is right now bringing 2 heart worm positive dogs home from the Bahamas that she found there.
So bringing dogs here from away is not something new and novel - this current shipment is simply getting the most press.
And I think that's a good thing - whenever rescue work of any type gets media attention - that's a good thing.
Everyone of the rescues that's involved with this operation has other local dogs also waiting to be adopted - so hopefully this added exposure will help to get them adopted more quickly.
As well - the local rescues involved with this venture - Atlantic Small Dog Rescue, East Coast German Shepherd Rescue, and the Maritime Pit Project - are some of the hardest working rescues in Nova Scotia today - they take in the most dogs, the most challenging behavioural issues - they will not be accused of doing any rescue work for the glory of the job.
I personally support the bringing in of the rescue dogs from California because there is a shortage of small dogs to adopt currently in Nova Scotia - and people today are looking in the wrong places when they go looking for a small dog - they are first going to look for them on Kijiji - and what they are finding there are people like Gail Benoit and back yard breeders.
And those are people who should not be supported.
The first place people should go look is to rescue - and if we can't supply them with what they want, then we're not much help. If they want a small dog - they aren't going to adopt a large dog just because that's all we have - they are going to move on and go on to other places - like Kijiji - and we all know the type of things they're going to find there - and it's not pretty.
So if we have to import small dogs in order to shut down the ugly things that sell on Kijiji - I don't have a problem with that - the small dogs that are dying or staying for months in no-kill shelters in other areas are in just as much need - so why not bring them here.
I also wanted to talk about the few large dogs that came in the shipment - they came because there was a raid on a hoarders house in California - which was the impetus for this whole campaign - there were 15 dogs in that house - and most of them were large - and those are the large dogs that came here - and they all have homes and foster homes to go to - the small dogs that came were just tagged on to sweeten the deal (is my understanding) - since they were coming anyway - they thought they could help to empty the shelter out a bit - which is what they did.
There is something that I don't agree with - and almost everybody disagrees with - and that is the impending arrival of the 50 cats. Everybody knows that we have a cat problem - but those cats are going to PEI - maybe it's different in PEI, I don't know - but I'm glad they are going there and not here, that's for sure.
I should also say for clarity's sake that I brought one of the dog's home yesterday for myself - his name is Diego - and you'll be seeing a lot of him here from now on. He is coming with his own set of peculiarities - but so does everyone.His intake card said that he had been at the Palm Spring's shelter since October 22, 2012 - can you imagine a 10 pound dog being at any shelter in Nova Scotia for almost 5 months? It would be unheard of - but that's the state of the shelter system in California - and that's why these dogs came here - because these dogs will be adopted much faster here.
And I also have to say - that we here in Nova Scotia have enough love for every animal - whether they come from away, or whether they are born here. Any rescue animal has a home here as far as I'm concerned and we can love them all equally.
We did such a fabulous thing when pet stores in Nova Scotia stopped selling puppies - and now we really need to step up our game and show the province that the number one place to acquire your animal is through rescue - and we have whatever type of animal you want - small, medium, large, puppy, adult - whatever - we have it - rescue is the way to go - and we will go to the ends of the earth to get it for you.
And that's what we did this week - it's all good news!!!!!
Great post. We are in rescue and some of our dogs also come from CA. Agree the best place to get a pet is thru rescuers
ReplyDeleteEspecially as long as people don't spay and neuter and such large numbers of animals are killed every year.
Ernie's mom
Well said! <3
ReplyDeleteI believe all those involved should be commended for the HUGE effort to do this. It took an awful lot of people in the right rhythm to have this happen. Those that have a negative comment are probably NOT educated to understand the global problem. Spay and nuetered education is key. It's up to us that have the heart for this, to do just that educate and perhaps more people will understand. All the generous donations, right up to the vehicle you drove is an awesome tribute to those that want to figure out a huge problem. Kudo's to all! Keep up the good work and the more it's discussed the better it will be. I would like to think of a world without the need for shelters.
ReplyDeleteCharity begins at home...but it doesn't have to end there! Kudos to you-homeless dogs don't care about borders and neither should we.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I don't think that I could sum up my response any better than what Jean Candy said! Kudos to all who help rescue and protect All animals!
ReplyDeleteVery well said--and the person above who commented on the need to spay and neuter is absolutely correct. We need far better education about this global problem, and a shift in mindset toward 'adopting' pets versus 'buying' them. Big thanks to all involved in rescuing and finding homes for all homeless animals everywhere. Period.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Joan Sinden, I love intelligent and thoughful written words. I kinda' go off the deep end when I hear negative press about the wonderful work being carried out by province wide rescues. It is all fine and dandy that people have a voice on the local CBC news broadcasts. However, the majority of negative comments I have geard in the past couple of days are simply a very large case of ignorance. CBC should first contact the shelters and the SPCA to substantiate their claims. Too often this type of babbling off at the mouth is offensive and hurtful to the groups and individuals who only want to help. This is no matter what the cause is. If you want to shoot your faces off about something, try the Senate and the Hundreds of millions those useless tools cost taxpayers. Oops, I digress.
ReplyDeleteWe love our pack and yes every one of them are rescues. One from the SPCA, one from the Nova Scotia Labrador Rescue and not least our TJ from the East Coast German Shepherd Rescue.
Cheers to animal lovers everywhere,
Lex Luthier
Your article was well written, and I agree with your comment about people wanting small dogs, they want what they want and will go to any lengths to get it. We must put people like Gail Benoit out of business. I managed SHAID Animal Shelter for 10 years and times really never changed. New ideas must be tried. Good luck and god bless. Marie Doyle
ReplyDeleteDon't shoot the messanger, as I too believe that all dogs in need should be helped and I admire the work these great rescues do, but ...from what I have heard around the fire hydrant it's not that people had a problem with the arrival of the small dogs, but on the CBC broadcast most of the footage was of the pitt type dogs that also arrived. From what I have heard people say they don't feel that bringing more of these types of dogs into NS is helpful, as there are already so many in NS sitting in foster homes and shelters (some for quite sometime now) that are not getting adopted out.
ReplyDeleteI can understand what you're saying Marjorie - but those large dogs - and the pit type dogs that arrived were mostly special needs dogs that has specialized foster homes waiting for them - so they were all special one off cases that came from a hoarding case in California - and the majority of the dogs were small highly adoptable dogs.
ReplyDeleteI had an email from a lady this morning that I thought was a really good idea - that we should have an inventory of all the dogs in rescue right now in Atlantic Canada - and see where all the lingering animals are - and maybe shuffle them around so that dogs who've been waiting awhile move to areas where they can get more notice - we do do that quite a bit - but really, there is no reason why a dog has to be in a shelter for a year anymore - with the internet and social networking - no dog whould have to stay in a cage for an extended time anymore - that really is the dark ages.
Especially here in Atlantic Canada where there is not an over population of dogs.
It's time that we really did start to work together to do what's best for all the animals - and empty out the shelters.
Great work that you do Joan, and congratulatons on your new little pup, he's too sweet. I'm happy that the rescue was able to take those larger dogs and I hope they do well. I'm sorry that there had to be any negativity around something so positive. But I think the lesson here is to be careful with the media and to make sure the reality of the situation gets correctly portrayed. I was disappointed when I saw the CBC piece because I knew right away it would cause controvery.
ReplyDelete