Over the duration of the Profiles series, I hope to bring to you perspectives from a full spectrum of individuals involved in animal issues: pet to show, rescue to USDA breeder, hunter to farmer, animal owner to non-owner, traditional pet to exotic. Although you may not always agree with the individual perspectives, I hope that you will take the time to consider their point of view.
Since I started becoming involved in the issues surrounding pet ownership rights, the greatest resource in this area has been people. I’ve been introduced to a wealth of experience and perspective by people who have spent their lives caring for animals. I’ve been privileged to gain the trust of individuals frightened by the idea of losing the animals they hold dear.
I’ve met a wide range of clever, witty & dedicated people. I’d like to introduce one of them to you now: Shirley Thistlethwaite, writer of the YesBiscuit! blog where she advocates for pitbulls and other animals in shelters in the Southern US. She is a supporter of the No-Kill shelter movement and can write a range from hilarious to heart-rending.
Shirley, what motivated you to become actively concerned about animal owner rights?
I started out many years ago, probably like a lot of people, believing the direct mailers I received from animal rights groups and wanting to support and help. Because you know, I love animals. But this was in The Before Time and once I got connected online with other pet owners, I learned about so many direct actions and legislative proposals by AR groups that were anti-pet to my mind. I realized that if I wanted to continue to own pets and provide the humane care that I so strongly believed was my right, I’d better get involved in learning and educating.
You are active in supporting Pit Bulls and the No-Kill Shelter movement, how do you see proposed animal-rights sponsored legislation affecting you and these subjects directly?
Mandatory Spay-Neuter (MSN) legislation is probably the biggest threat to both. Pitbulls are sometimes singled out for MSN as part of breed biased legislation. General MSN legislation for all cats and dogs is proven to increase shelter populations wherever it’s been enacted. Since most shelters are kill shelters, an increase in shelter population means an increase in killing. And that’s heading in the absolute wrong direction.
What recent animal-rights event or activity has affected you most?
The killing of the Wilkes County Pitbulls by HSUS. When the dogs were initially seized, HSUS used the opportunity to brag on their website about the great thing they did by shutting down a major dogfighting breeding operation. And of course visitors to the site see a photo of a sweet Pitbull and are asked to clicky to donate money to help HSUS shut down more dogfighters. The truth is that HSUS went to great lengths, including sending 2 reps to *lie to a judge in a court of law* to ensure that every last one of these dogs was killed – even the puppies still nursing from their dams. After convincing the judge to order the deaths of all the dogs, HSUS paid for the killings and sent away all those who had been caring for the dogs in substandard conditions during the seizure – even requiring foster owners to bring in pups they had cared for at home so they could be killed. Afterward, HSUS defended their actions as justifiable saying that even the puppies were born killers. Lots of cruelty cases haunt me but this one has earned a special spot in my book. I won’t forget.
What is your biggest source of hope since becoming active in protecting animal owner rights?
The Internet. Mass communication has the potential to expose the behind-the-scenes deception animal rights extremists have relied upon in the past to further their agenda. We now have the means to spread the truth among pet owners like never before. Knowledge is power.
If you could ask the media to do one thing when reporting animal related stories or animal related legislation, what would that be?
Quit going to extremist groups like PETA or lobbying groups like HSUS for comment on pet related stories. Neither PETA nor HSUS operates an animal shelter – a simple, undisputed fact that is regularly missed by the media. When seeking comments on a pet news item, try going to pet owners/breeders, no kill shelter staff/volunteers or someone else with a proven history of caring for pets humanely.
Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved
[...] This post was Twitted by GingerKenney [...]
Very minor correction: PETA and HSUS both operate animal shelters after a fashion.
PETA operates one of the highest-kill “shelters” in the country in that they have a shelter registered with the state, even though they kill almost every animal, make no attempt to place adoptions, and have no visiting or viewing hours.
HSUS operates several shelters in the US for large species, zoo animals, etc., the best known of which is the Cleveland Armory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas. It would be more correct to say that they do not operate any companion animal shelters.
Hello James,
Thank you for the feedback. I’d agree with the technical point on PETA, though it stretches the definition of shelter to the breaking point.
However, the HSUS facilities you refer to are sanctuaries, not shelters. These sanctuaries were , I believe, acquired in the HSUS take-over of other groups and are intended as permanent residences for the small numbers of horses/zoo animals taken in. They are not shelters, which are intended as temporary housing until placement in a permanent home. A small distinction perhaps, but an important one.
I appreciate the interest and feedback. I look forward to your further participation in the discussions at AR-HR!
[...] This post was Twitted by JodiDugan [...]
Quote from Daphna Naphminovitch:
PETA does not maintain an animal shelter. [...] We do not have a public facility that’s open to the public where people can stroll through and pick an animal. That’s not a service that we are able to provide.
From the 2007 PETA trial: http://www.petakillsanimals.com/Trial_Day7.cfm
Regardless of how PETA has registered its pet slaughterhouse with the state of VA, even they don’t put forth the pretense of having a “shelter”.
[...] This post was Twitted by YesBiscuit [...]
Hah! That’s interesting that they deny that they run a shelter and yet file all the paperwork to run a shelter. Wonder what purpose that serves them. As for the HSUS, agreed!
It is horrible ashame that these two huge organizations are out to kill dogs or a least dogs of a certain breed. Both could do so much in the way of helping save millions of shelter pets lives by embracing what has proven to work for many shelters going the no-kill way. Hopeful with more and more factual information being posted online about what they actually do or don’t do in the way of saving shelter pets people will demand better of both these groups or stop supporting them with donations. Most Americans love pets and desire to see more shelter pets leave the shelters alive.