A sheltered life? Harsh reality at pounds/Workers offer pointers on how animals' tragedy could be averted

[Guest guest]

Saw this article regarding a book about animals who are surrendered or

picked up and sent to shelters. The authors spent one week in a typical

shelter in Northern California and randomly selected 75 animals to

photograph and profile. They also documented each animal's final destiny.

 

Note: the authors Marilee Geyer and Diane Leigh will speak at 1 p.m.

Wednesday at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, 800 Foster City Blvd.,

Foster City. $4-$6. For more information, call (650) 212-7522.

 

Cheers,

Tammy

 

 

SFGate: A sheltered life? Harsh reality at pounds/Workers offer

pointers on how animals' tragedy could be averted

 

The original article can be found on SFGate.com here:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/08/20/HOGFHE953D1.D

TL

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Saturday, August 20, 2005 (SF Chronicle) A sheltered life? Harsh reality at

pounds/Workers offer pointers on how animals' tragedy could be averted

Mitchell, Special to The Chronicle

 

It's not for the faint of heart, this book. But " One at a Time: A Week in

an American Animal Shelter " addresses a subject that people need to know

about: the harsh realities of dogs and cats who are surrendered to shelters

or wind up there as strays. These are realities that most people either

aren't aware of or simply choose to ignore.

Until I read this book, I was among those who had no idea of the shocking

statistics: 6 million to 8 million animals enter shelters each year.

Nationally, only 20 percent of dogs and cats in homes are adopted from

animal shelters. Only 1 animal in 3 has a home that lasts their entire

lifetime. Less than 2 percent of stray cats are reunited with their

guardians. Every 9 seconds one animal is euthanized.

Count to nine. There, an animal is dead. Count again. There, another

dead.

And it's all the more heartbreaking because it's so preventable, say co-

authors and former shelter workers Marilee Geyer and Diane Leigh. They spent

one week in a typical shelter in Northern California and randomly selected

75 animals to photograph and profile. They also documented each animal's

final destiny. In a phone interview, I asked why they had left their shelter

jobs to write such a difficult book.

" We wanted to put faces on these statistics so people understand that

these aren't just numbers, but beautiful, precious, unique beings, " Leigh

said. " Each animal has a life, a history. If we can make it more personal,

it has more power and more impact. "

" I worked in shelters for nearly a decade and was almost destroyed when I

left, " Geyer revealed. " For me, this book was born out of the incredible

grief and sadness that shelter workers go through. I channeled that sadness

into something educational and to pay tribute to the millions of animals

that we'll never see. "

Both Geyer and Leigh believe that change begins with facing the truth, no

matter how hard that may be. Indeed, this book induced a plethora of emotion

in me, ranging from amazement to tenderness to tears. But mostly, I felt

anger. Anger at the indifference, selfishness and lackadaisical attitudes of

people who invite animals into their homes, then relinquish them with nary a

thought.

Like the woman who refused to pay a $20 reclaim fee when Kelly, her older

golden husky mix, slipped out of the yard. She figured Kelly, whom she

claimed was " a great dog, " would get out again, so she surrendered her for

adoption. Was safeguarding the yard ever a consideration? Kelly wasn't

adopted, a dilemma often faced by older pets, and was euthanized.

Then there was the person who surrendered Pearl and her newborn kittens,

citing on the release form, " unable to care for them. " Why wasn't Pearl

spayed to begin with? Pearl was euthanized.

Someone else dumped Kelli, a terrified little terrier mix, on a busy

highway. Another dog euthanized.

Then there were Duke and Lady, active blue tick coon hounds who had been

tethered to their doghouses for their entire lives. A concerned neighbor

finally called the shelter, and the dogs were confiscated after the guardian

refused to correct their inadequate conditions.

Some people give more thought to their pizza-topping selections than they

do in deciding to get a pet. Are they prepared for the changes that will

take place when they invite a pet into their lives, such as vet bills and

new feeding and exercise schedules? Have they considered potential allergy

problems? Will other household pets be compatible with this new addition?

If the prospective guardians are renters, how stable are their living

arrangements?

" Each (shelter) animal's situation could have been prevented, " Leigh

said.

" It's hard for people to wrap their minds around. They understand how

adopting saves lives, but it's a little more indirect to see how prevention

helps as well. " She's referring to constant themes in the book, which

address the need for spaying, neutering and pet identification. Also cited

is the sorry fact that 96 percent of dogs surrendered to shelters were given

no training by their guardians.

" These are lifesaving acts, but it's hard for people to understand

because prevention is more intangible and indirect, " she said. " We want to

help people realize that it's not just about saving animals once they get

into the shelter, but saving them from entering the shelter in the first

place. "

It was difficult to read about something I'd never heard of: " kennel

stress, " a condition to which even the most loving animals often succumb.

Caused by noise, unfamiliar smells, fear, continual confinement and lack of

human contact, kennel stress eventually results in irreversible emotional

trauma. Some animals become depressed, lethargic and lose weight. Others

become hyperactive and start exhibiting extreme behavior problems.

As Leigh and Geyer write, " Finding a new home for an animal is always a

race against time: Shelter workers know they must get an animal out before

kennel stress sets in. At the least, a depressed, withdrawn animal is less

likely to be chosen by adopters. At worst, an animal that has become

aggressive cannot be placed at all. "

Even happy endings, which the book includes, involve " an invisible

victim.

" This is because a crowded shelter might have to euthanize one animal to

save another.

" When I worked in the shelter I always wanted to show people how things

play out, " Leigh said.

That can be what eventually happens when they an animal they are wholly

unprepared for. Or when they let their cat have a litter so their kids can

witness " the miracle of life " while kittens are dying in shelters. Good

people don't think they're contributing to this tragedy, but they don't

understand how their actions affect their community shelter.

So " One at a Time " may not be a favorite among book clubs, and it's

unlikely that the film rights will be purchased, with Meg Ryan starring as

the bighearted shelter director who manages to save every Lassie and

Winn-Dixie. Still, it's a book that animal lovers should read.

Because awareness creates change. And change might mean fewer dogs and

cats dying.

No Voice Unheard is a nonprofit organization. Its Every Nine Seconds

campaign asks people to log on to www.novoiceunheard.org and submit a photo

of an animal that has touched their lives. In honor of that animal, the

authors will donate a copy of their book, " One at a Time, " to a designated

shelter for use as an educational resource.

 

Hearing the voices

Marilee Geyer and Diane Leigh, authors of " One at a Time, " will speak at

1 p.m. Wednesday at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, 800 Foster City

Blvd., Foster City. $4-$6. For more information, call (650) 212-7522.

 

E-mail freelance writer Mitchell at home.

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Copyright 2005 SF Chronicle