When the claws come out

War of words between local animal shelters is unreasonable

Natalie Dyck

A recent Winnipeg Free Press article showcased a war of words between Bill McDonald, executive director of the Winnipeg Humane Society and D’Arcy Johnston, president and founder of D’Arcy’s A.R.C. (Animal Rescue Centre), a no-kill animal shelter in Winnipeg.

According to the article, in a recent newsletter editorial McDonald accused no-kill shelters of “warehousing” animals in unacceptable conditions due to their unwillingness to euthanize them.

As a long-time volunteer at a no-kill shelter, I feel McDonald is out of line in his condemnation. If McDonald assumes that no-kill shelters are just storing animals for the sake of it, he is ignoring the spirit of caring and compassion that comes with the no-kill mandate.

No-kill animal shelters work on the premise that all animals deserve long-term care despite adoption deterrents such as ill-health, disabilities and behavioural problems. Some pets can live for years in these shelters. They are provided with basic comforts as well as love and affection from staff who have taken the time to get to know each individual animal. While adoption efficiency is sacrificed, quality of care is greatly increased.

McDonald compares no-kill establishments to his own, which is flawed, because he fails to recognize that no-kill shelters provide a different, though complementary, service. While euthanasia is a sad but necessary reality for some of Winnipeg’s unwanted pets, no-kill establishments provide the opportunity for animal rehabilitation.

Overall, however, it is a detriment to the goal of animal welfare for either side to engage in public name-calling. There is no reason whatsoever for animal shelters to compete as if they were rival businesses. To do so is to reduce a noble and urgent cause to a petty and useless public relations battle. Shelters should work together to provide a high quality and broad range of care for animals in need.

Time and energy spent on public bickering could be better put to fundraising and other initiatives, such as the “SPAY now or PAY later” campaign put on by the Winnipeg Humane Society and the City of Winnipeg Animal Services. This campaign aims to highlight the importance of spaying and neutering pets, a reality which may be lost on some Winnipeggers.

Unwanted pets – especially cats – run rampant in our streets, frostbitten, malnourished and diseased. It is mandated by law that all pets must be sterilized by six months of age and adherence to this bylaw is essential in terms of animal welfare in this city.

Sandy Klowak is a former Uniter beat reporter. She is currently studying creative communications at Red River College.

Published in Volume 64, Number 7 of The Uniter (October 15, 2009)

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