Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi.  I was curious myself, so I did some searching and found some notes
    that might help you with the question you asked.
    
    Try note 2110.16 - I think it will explain everything and give you a
    phone number to call if you have any more questions.  Some of the other 
    notes regarding shelters/humane societies are #278 - 1119 - 1706 and 
    2283.
    
    I could be wrong - but I thought Humane Societies were no-kill
    i.e. name 'Humane'.  Obviously if a cat had distemper or some other
    threatening disease the animal would be referred to the nearest vet.
    Shelters and other animal 'housing' places should be more thoroughly
    investigated.
    
    Of course, I have been told that I look at the world through rose
    colored glasses - so perhaps I am more trusting than I should be.
    
    Perhaps someone reading this note will be more experienced and
    knowledgeable regarding the definition of 'shelter' - 'humane society'
    - etc!
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany & Sam
    

    They are definitly NOT a no kill shelter.
    
    /b

The Nashua Humane shelter is not a no-kill shelter.  However, they do try to 
keep the animals as long as they can hoping to place them.  The hardest time
is now with new litters of kittens being brought in which means less room to
keep some of the older cats.

The Nashua Humane were also (may still be I don't know) advertising in the
Saturday edition of the Nashua Telegraph, giving a photo of "The Pet of the
Week" up for adoption.  This proved to be quite successful for most of the
animals.  Hudson shelter also used this method last I knew.

     <<< Note 3691.0 by CLT::KOBAL::CJOHNSON "Eat, drink and see Jerry!" >>>
                          -< Nashua Humane -No kill? >-

    
    
    I was wondering if anyone knew if the Nashua Humane Society is
    a "no-kill" shelter.  I have a feeling that it's not, but 
    wasn't sure.  Does anyone know?
    
    Thanks
    chris_Callie_and_Tigger_Too

    re: 1
    
    Marilyn, I was wondering how you could expect all shelters to
    be no kill, when, for example, the Lowell Humane Society takes
    in on an average month, 2,000 animals (kittens, puppies, etc.).
    How would an shelter find space to house, feed, and care such
    a huge quantity of anmials from month to month. 
    
    I think that shelters that are no kill, limit their quantities, or
    try to at least, so that they don't have to put an animal down.
    If a no kill shelter refuses to take an animal because their space
    is full, that animal has to go to another shelter and take it's
    chances.  I think shelters in larger cities may have a more serious 
    problem with quantity and space.

    Re:  .4
    
    I guess I didn't make myself clear.  I was under the impression that
    there was a distinct difference between a 'shelter' and a 'Humane
    Society'.  Perhaps they are one in the same - and in THAT case the
    answer is obvious.  One would have to thoroughly investigate each and
    every one to find out if it is 'no-kill'.
    
    Sorry for the confusion!
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany & Sam
    

    
    	The Humane Society of Southern Hillboro County ,
    	unofficially called the Nashua Humane Society is not
    	a no-kill shelter.  But they do try and keep the animals
    	for as long as possible.  I volunteer for them working 
    	Bingo games two Wednesdays a month and I can tell you that
    	they are some of the nicest, most caring people I've met.
    	If it weren't for the Bingo games, the humane society would
    	be closed down by the end of the summer and all the animals
    	would go to the local pound.  But they're going their darndest
    	to keep it open and EXPAND!  Which will create more beds and more
    	care for more animals.
    
    	I'll make a plea again, anyone that is interested in helping out
    	at the Bingo games, please contact me or Michelle at the Humane
    	Society (883-8512).  The Bingo games are working out well and our
    	players increase with each week...which means we need more
    	volunteers.
    
    	JJ
    

    re: 1
    
    Hi Marilyn, I think you were clear and I misread your meaning.
    I think the confusion is that the organizations seem to use
    the terms Humane Society and Shelter interchangeably.  We think
    that a shelter is one thing, but an organziation names themselves
    a shelter when they don't fit the meaning of the term.  Whereas
    an organization names themselves a Humane Society, but is NOT a
    no-kill organization.  It would probably help if the titles of
    the organizations fit the descriptions of the terms.  I guess we
    just have to do the extra homework and investigate each one to
    find out just what the charter of the specific organization really
    is and also if they live up to their charter.
    
    Sorry if I misread your meaning!
    
    E.

>    the terms Humane Society and Shelter interchangeably.  We think
>    that a shelter is one thing, but an organziation names themselves
>    a shelter when they don't fit the meaning of the term.  Whereas
>    an organization names themselves a Humane Society, but is NOT a
>    no-kill organization.


The real problem here may be that many people believe that a cat or
dog that has no home, no regular medical maintenance, and no regular
source of food is NOT in a humane situation.  The organizations like
the humane society are pledged to deal with these homeless animals
by finding the owner or responsible human if at all possible, placing
the animal in an ACCEPTABLE home (I emphasize that word because it
has many meanings as well - ask any working person who has attempted 
to adopt a puppy or a young kitten), or, as last resort, to destroy
the animal.  In their view, this IS much more humane than leaving the
animal in the wild or placing the animal in an unacceptable living
arrangement.  The Humane Society of America DOES NOT promise to keep
an animal ALIVE.  They believe that the quality of life for the
animal is of paramount importance.  In this context, keeping a cat or
dog in a cage indefinitely does not provide a quality of life that
is deemed acceptable.  Of course, the sheer number of unwanted animals
eliminates any other answer, anyway.  The no-kill shelters simply
refuse the animals they cannot "store" - forcing them to the humane
society shelters where they are adopted out or killed if no home can
be found.

    re:  8
    
    Excellent explanation - very well said!  That seems to be what
    happens at the no-kill shelters (taking only placeable animals),
    forcing those other to go to other shelters.  I'm not sure folks
    realize that this is what happens.
    
    As difficult as it is, I do agree that caging an animal for a
    'long' period is not any kind of a life.  Of course, the alternatives
    are pretty awful also.  It's a problem that's been around for a long
    time and probably will be.  I wonder if folks across the pond have as
    many strays and unwanted animals as we do?  How do folks deal with 
    the situation in other countries?
    
    E.

    I'm not really sure about the numbers of unwanted animals over here
    (UK). At the moment though there is a shortage of kittens. Of the few
    people I know that had some kittens this year, all were spoken for a
    matter of days after they were born. We got a pedigree kitten for
    many reasons, one of them being there were no moggies around at the
    time! Ask Phil about the kitten shortage ;-)
    
    Lisa plus Pookie (*still* sulking) and Rolf (the new boy)
    

Mmmm.  Wonder if more folks over there are spaying/neutering their cats?
Wish more people over here followed that example.

Pat_with_max_of_six_in_3_room_apt

                      <<< Note 3691.10 by XNOGOV::LISA >>>
                   -< Lots of adult cats/dogs - no kittens! >-

    I'm not really sure about the numbers of unwanted animals over here
    (UK). At the moment though there is a shortage of kittens. Of the few
    people I know that had some kittens this year, all were spoken for a
    matter of days after they were born. We got a pedigree kitten for
    many reasons, one of them being there were no moggies around at the
    time! Ask Phil about the kitten shortage ;-)
    
    Lisa plus Pookie (*still* sulking) and Rolf (the new boy)