Pitbull/mix Information Taskforce (PIT)

This entry on sheltering programs is by PIT co-chair Barbara Moran, a journalist who covered animal-related topics for "The San Diego Union" and law-related topics for "The Atlanta Constitution." She freelanced animal-related topics for national magazines and newspapers including "Dog Fancy," "The Los Angeles Times," "The San Francisco Chronicle," and "ZooNooz." Her travels took her around the world, where she covered endangered species, including pandas in China. She has written extensively about animal control.

Animal control or Humane rescue...

Both animal control facilities and humane rescues have spay/neuter programs. WAIF is an animal control facility that purports to be a humane rescue, which is why so many donors, volunteers, and media representatives get confused.

WAIF accepts government animal control contracts. It helps Oak Harbor enforce BSL, which is why there are so many pitbulls at WAIF. WAIF works with animal control officers. The primary mission of animal control officers is to protect people from animals. WAIF has a very limited outreach and placement program. Like most animal control facilities, it mostly depends on "walk-in" customers. It does not focus on public education or advocacy on behalf of animals against practices such as BSL or backyard breeding. It is not part of a well-organized coalition of rescue groups. Animal control facilities such as WAIF focus primarily on warehousing and disposing of animals, including healthy animals. The Humane Society of the United States opposes BSL , but WAIF enforces BSL for Oak Harbor by euthanizing incoming "pitbulls."

A true humane rescue operation depends on grants, donations, volunteers, and coalitions with other rescue organizations. It works with humane officers. The primary mission of humane officers is to protect animals from people. Humane shelters focus on outreach and placement programs, on public education and advocacy on behalf of animals against practices such as BSL or backyard breeding. They collaborate closely with other rescue groups. They seek to place animals as quickly as possible in loving homes, using an organized, competent, proven adoption process. They establish and support foster homes for animals to reduce the stress of long-term confinement. Their primary focus is on placement. They don't kill healthy animals for money or lack of space.

Examples of humane organizations include PAWS in Mukilteo and OASIS For Animals on South Whidbey Island.

In conclusion, here are questions to help you judge if you are dealing with a humane rescue organization or an animal control facility:

1. How are the animals housed?
"The mental and physical health of the cats and dogs is very important to maintain and is worth the extra effort to ensure that they are warmly received and cared for from day one. This is logical, but often not done. A happy dog, after 14 days in quarantine in a small cage or run, comes out stressed and more likely to become aggressive and therefore less-adoptable. The behavior regression that you can prevent from occurring due to poor design pays back in quicker adoptions, more motivated staff and appreciative public support." Lucy Schlaffer, shelter architect

2. Are there active placement, socialization, training, and support networks?
"Second biggest mistake is looking with a micro perspective on your shelter as a sole entity. Gather what you can about the full spectrum of other groups in your area, rescue, other shelters, city/county facilities etc. What are they doing? Try to fit your program to augment the best of what is already going on. Work on cutting down overpopulation with the region to minimize how much animal space you need in the first place. These basic overview concepts are often not considered. A workshop with your local vet association, and any nearby vet school is useful to coordinate spay-neuter smartly and without group-to-group conflict." Lucy Schlaffer, shelter architect

3. Does the operation make maximum use of volunteers as foster parents, home-visit specialists, public speakers, trainers, adoption ambassadors -- encouraging enterprise and ideas? (For example, here is PAWS' volunteer opportunity page.) Or does the operation make limited use volunteers, mostly as unpaid shelter workers -- discouraging enterprise and ideas? (For example, here is WAIF's volunteer opportunity page.)

4. What is the program's ACTUAL euthanasia rate? What animals ACTUALLY get euthanized (healthy ones, particular breeds...)? What do terms like "minimum kill" or "no-kill" really mean? What are the REAL reasons animals are euthanized? Are animal behavior issues that lead to euthanasia manufactured by the operation itself?

5. Do you feel great being there as a volunteer or prospective adoptor? Are you enveloped in an atmosphere of optimism, positive energy, and commitment to finding homes for even the most vulnerable healthy animals? Is there an ever-pervading spirit of kinship and hope? Are your efforts effective related to getting healthy animals placed into good, loving homes? Only your heart can answer that one.

Bob Baker and Barbara Moran
Co-chairs (PIT)