NOT TRANSPARENT

Greenhill's website says "At Greenhill, we do not euthanize adoptable animals. … However, because humane euthanasia of unadoptable animals does take place here, we refuse to call ourselves a 'No Kill' shelter."

Greenhill says it has already embraced the main core of the no-kill solution, which is "no euthanasia of adoptable animals." Why won't they implement the rest of the program? Does Greenhill know better than all the other shelters and communities across the country that have successfully adopted the no-kill solution? It is not rocket science!

An important part of the no-kill solution is accountability to the community. One has to ask, why would Greenhill not welcome transparency? A community's SPCA should be the shining, guiding light towards the no-kill solution.

I used to be an untiring, loyal supporter and volunteer at Greenhill. I used to speak highly of their programs, their dedication and the lengths they went to, to save even the youngest life no matter what.

Two years ago, Greenhill had a list of over 200 active foster families. The current number of homes stated on their website is only 75. That decline speaks for itself.

On another note, I would like to personally thank the staff at LCARA for making small, positive steps towards the no-kill solution.

Tamara Barnes, Eugene EW 05/17/07

EGO WARS KILL ANIMALS

Camilla Mortensen did an excellent job of summarizing many of the issues ("No-Kill" cover story, 4/26) revolving around a fierce battle raging in Lane County involving an effort to protect the innocent lives of unwanted and abandoned animals in our community.

I have been heavily submerged in this battle to give recognition to the flawless merits of the "No-Kill Solutions" (www.nokillsolutions.com) presented by Nathan Winograd last July to a standing room only audience.

I have seen many things in my life that have repulsed me, but nothing as ugly as the ego wars that rage throughout this community, starting from the top — the commissioners — and trickling down to the most innocent-appearing of animal welfare supporters.

With these battles raging, the only victims are the animals themselves, and unless and until there is common ground for all to stand on and people can rise above their own personal issues and dig deeply into their souls to feel that the need of these animals is much more important than winning their personal ego wars, the animals will continue to die at a rate of 10 per day at our local animal control shelter.

The commissioners (with the strong exception of Bill Fleenor and Pete Sorenson) can't stop fighting among themselves long enough to look at what's happening around their own chairs, much less the community.

I believe this community has enough heart and resources to do away with the unnecessary killing of adoptable animals at our local shelter. It should be THAT simple.

Robin Loving, Eugene EW 05/10/07

HELP SAVE THE ANIMALS

We really appreciate the extensive coverage EW gave last week (4/26) to the local effort to create a no-kill community in Lane County, utilizing nationally proven strategies at no net cost to the taxpayers, with the goal of ending the killing of adoptable and medically/behaviorally treatable companion animals and feral cats in our Lane County animal shelters.

In order to accomplish this as quickly as possible, we need the support and volunteer efforts of every caring "can-do" resident in this community! These are your shelters! Help make them safe for the animals entering their doors!

The No Kill Community Coalition (NKCC) meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 pm at Harris Hall in the Lane County Administration/County Court House building, located at the corner of 8th Avenue & Oak Street in Eugene. All people interested in helping Lane County become a no-kill community are urged to attend! The next meeting will be Monday, May 14. For more information, check out www.nokillcommunity.org

Diana Robertson, Co-Chair, NKCC Steering Committee, EW 05/10/07

SHAPE UP, LCARA

Camilla Mortensen and EW are to be congratulated for bringing the tragic plight of Lane County's shelter animals into a much clearer focus (4/26). Our overall community and our public shelter have shamefully failed what were once wonderful cats and dogs on a massive scale, and those public officials who are responsible show few signs that they intend to change course. Tens of thousands of animals have been killed by LCARA in the past dozen years. LCARA kills 70 to 74 percent of all cats received. How can anyone of conscience defend this horrific reality?

Far more people need to make it clear to Lane County government and to LCARA that they will no longer tolerate our public shelter being run without humane and progressive written guidelines and programs. LCARA needs to hear the message loudly and clearly that it is repugnant for them to be killing adoptable animals and that the agency must establish a sound, online record system for every single animal that enters its doors. There should be some sort of third-party or independent oversight of this policy to ensure that it is faithfully followed by shelter personnel.

If you care about dogs and cats, please make it clear to the Lane County Board of Commissioners that you find it highly objectionable that the animals at LCARA have been relegated to the very lowest position of importance on Lane County's list of department concerns.

Susan McDonald, Eugene EW 05/10/07

 

Abandoning animals is a crime

I agree with Sarah Steinkruger's Nov. 25 letter encouraging people to get their animals spayed and neutered.

I volunteer at Lane County Animal Regulation Authority, and recently a litter of puppies was brought in that had been found at a dumpster near a retail establishment. Animal abandonment is a Class A violation under Lane County code. If caught, the violators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Many of us on the No Kill Community Coalition agree that intake fees discourage low-income people from safely delivering litters to shelters. The cost of spaying and neutering is quite prohibitive to those who struggle with their finances.

The nonprofit Willamette Animal Guild can provide part of a solution to this problem by providing spay and neuter clinic options for low-income people. This program desperately needs additional funding. People with a conscience will do the right thing and spay and neuter their pets. However, there will always be people who'd rather lay their own problems on other people's doorsteps.

Please open your hearts to the plight of the homeless and abandoned animals in our community. Visit www.wagwag.org for details or call (541) 345-3566.

I know if we pull together as a community, we can help prevent these tragic incidents in the future.

ROBIN LOVING R-G 12/09/2006

I read with interest Sarah Steinkruger's Nov. 25 letter to the editor titled "Don't dump pets at vet clinics" regarding litters of kittens who were abandoned recently at a local veterinary clinic.

She recommends that "People need to spay and neuter their pets to stop the overpopulation that leads to animal abandonment." What she may not realize is that the cost of a cat spay at a veterinarian's office here in Lane County has risen to an average of $135 each (not including exams, vaccinations, etc.), which is out of the reach of many low-income families who are struggling just to pay their rent and utilities each month.

There is a solution to this problem. The Willamette Animal Guild (WAG), a local nonprofit organization, is presently fundraising in order to open a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for low-income pet owners and feral cat caregivers in Lane County. Every dollar donated to this project brings the clinic a step closer to reality, and will save unwanted cats and dogs from being born and then abandoned or killed.

I hope that all caring pet owners, veterinarians and other animal-related businesses will support this desperately needed clinic. For more information please check out WAG's Web site www.wagwag.org or call (541) 345-3566.

I would like to clear up a matter that is often misunderstood.

Some people seem to misinterpret the purpose of a veterinary clinic. A veterinary clinic is a hospital where people seek treatment for their animals. It is not an adoption agency. Yet that is the idea some people have gotten into their heads.

They believe a veterinary clinic is a place where they can dispose of pets they no longer want. Veterinarians love animals, so it is their duty to care for every animal. Do people know how much it costs a veterinary clinic to care for an abandoned animal? Each animal requires food and cage space that could be used for patients. Employees are needed to care for the animal. Vaccines and drugs are often necessary because the animal usually has not been properly cared for.

Recently three boxes of kittens were dropped off at a veterinary clinic within three days. Each box was tightly sealed and set at the front door. Sixteen kittens were found inside.

The clinic became responsible for housing and finding homes for the kittens. Do people really expect a veterinary clinic to be able to care for all of these kittens?

There are only so many employees to foster them and only so much cage space. Who is going to pay for all of this?

People need to stop dumping their problems on others. People need to spay and neuter their pets to stop the overpopulation that leads to animal abandonment.