Why It Doesn't Work!

Sunday Nov 28th 2005

I was at the Animal Samaritans SPCA Clinic today (they were closed to the public) putting a new ceiling in Exam Room #1 that was damaged by last winters rain. A man came to the door and assumed I was "In Charge" at the Clinic and when I explained I was just a volunteer and the clinic was closed he acted indignant that someone wasn't there 24/7 to meet his needs.

He had found a dog that he wanted us to intake to the shelter. He explained in great detail all the places he had been and we were "his last chance of getting the dog into a 'No-Kill' shelter". I explained we were at capacity (4 Dogs) and do not take in "stray" animals. He demanded to see in writing that we were only licensed to have 4 dogs for adoption. I tried to explain that if he wanted the stray dog he found to get back to its original owner the only solution is to take it to an Animal Control facility. Animal welfare organization shelters are not the place to take stray and lost pets. He did not like my answer.

He went ballistic.... and demanded I take the dog... I offered a list of shelters we have printed up and he went on a tirade about having gone to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to rescue strays and how he would never, under any circumstances take an animal to a "Kill" facility. His demeanor was borderline belligerent and I thought it best to just back off and say I was sorry and there was really nothing I could do.

Why do people think it is better to take strays to no kill animal welfare facilities?? It actually reduces the chance of pets getting back to their original owners! Owners don't go to every rescue group, animal welfare shelter, and other "no kill" facility to look for their lost pet..... they go to Animal Control Facilities! Yet it seems they are the last to know about the lost pets.

I had been working on this WEB Site evenings for several days and couldn't help but think.... What if the Dog was MicroChipped? If I had had a scanner available I might have been able to scan the dog, call the owner, and get the dog back to its original home. But I don't have a scanner and if I scan the dog and get a valid read off a microchip what are the chances of locating the correct "Registry"! Not very good I am afraid to say.

That is the reason we need a better method of tracking companion animals here in the Coachella Valley. It will take a huge education effort on the part of all Animal Welfare Organizations, Animal Control Facilities, Pet Service & Care Facilities, and our Civic Leaders. But it can be done!

Judd