When it comes to animal advocacy, sadly, not all organizations are in it for the best interest of the animals they claim to protect, and it’s important that compassionate Americans know who’s who. Too many groups have become wealthy & powerful by preying on the empathy and altruism of Americans, while sweeping the truth about their policies and practices under the rug.
It turns out that many fans of No Kill Nation on Facebook are also fans of the Humane Society of the US, the ASPCA and/or PETA. On the surface that might seem logical, since all organizations revolve around animal welfare, but the reality is, the philosophy that guides No Kill Nation couldn’t differ more from the philosophy these other groups subscribe to.
Many Americans believe (as I once did), that the HSUS, the ASPCA and PETA are working to save the lives of animals. Many believe that the hard-earned money they donate in response to the heartbreaking TV commercials and fundraising campaigns goes directly to the causes these organizations promote. Many believe that these groups are the biggest proponents for No Kill policies. Unfortunately, all of these statements are patently false.
What’s the difference between No Kill Nation and these other organizations? The main difference is a fundamental belief that a No Kill Nation is possible. These other organizations, despite the message they publicly promote, do NOT believe in the concept of No Kill, and in fact they work against it. They advocate killing, and they often espouse the idea that companion animals are “better off dead” than to be in the hands of humans. This comes from a deep-seated belief that human beings are bad – not to be trusted, and will abuse and neglect animals given the opportunity. In the end, this mentality serves to punish the animals, and leads to millions of unnecessary deaths. In truth, most people love animals, and will treat them with kindness and love, given the opportunity and the education.
We are a nation that spends more than $40 billion on our pets annually. It’s a very small percentage that are abusive or neglectful. Unfortunately, many on the front lines of animal rescue see so many horror stories involving animals (due to the time they spend at the local shelters), that they become angry & resentful towards other human beings. Falling prey to these beliefs is the worst possible scenario for the animals.
Instead of killing animals because we believe that human beings can’t be trusted, we should be praising the responsible pet owners, encouraging people to adopt, and educating them on how to properly care for their pets. This way, both animals and people benefit.
The HSUS, the ASPCA and PETA are fundamentally opposed to what No Kill Nation is working to do, which is to implement the proven No Kill Equation (an 11-step set of programs and policies for shelters) and create No Kill communities across the country. This is happening in communities across the country, and it’s possible everywhere. Anyone who tells you differently is either misinformed, a proponent of the status quo of killing, or brainwashed to believe otherwise. Personally, I used to be brainwashed, and believed that killing was necessary due to “a lack of resources” and “too many animals, not enough homes”. Both are nothing more than myths - the myth of overpopulation, and the myth that money = lives saved. Statistically, there are 17 million people in the US looking for new pets annually, who could be convinced to adopt, and 3-4 million that die in shelters – that’s far more than enough homes. Additionally, the No Kill Equation can be implemented within, and often under budget – so don’t let a shelter administrator tell you that MONEY is the key to life-saving.
These myths have persisted for decades, and their continued power is why the HSUS, ASPCA and PETA take in hundreds of millions of dollars per year from compassionate Americans. When the public gains widespread awareness about where their dollars are going, and realizes that the status quo isn’t working, that animals are dying needlessly and that there IS another way, these groups will have to evolve or die. There’s no room for the acceptance and advocacy of killing. A No Kill Nation is where we’re headed, and we will arrive.
If you want to learn more about No Kill Nation, please visit the Facebook page (which just hit 100,000+ fans!) and don’t hesitate to post questions. I definitely encourage you to read further about the policies & actions of the HSUS, ASPCA and PETA. Nathan Winograd has some terrific blog posts on the topic.
If you love companion animals, if you believe that every life is precious and that every saveable animal deserves to live, than the HSUS, the ASPCA and PETA are NOT on your side … but No Kill Nation is.
Hannah, tried to figure out an email address for you, but couldn’t. Great article! Please, can you publicize the case of Skippy, a golden retriever sentenced to death in MA?
Here’s an article with his story: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/02/22/people-rallying-to-save-freetown-dog-on-death-row/
Here’s the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Skippy/136018379798745
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Hi Debra,
I will check this out and definitely see how I can help! Thanks for spreading the word!
This all sounds terrific. Does your group do educational seminars on the 11-step process? I think it would be great if you could have people go to shelters and present your process to them. Maybe they don’t know how to implement it at their own shelter. Perhaps you could create a video and post it on every shelter’s wall, and your own wall, so others can see it and present it to their shelter leaders. I think sharing this knowledge as far and wide as it can go is the only way for others to implement it. It’s much easier to get shelter leaders to watch a video than read a book. They’re usually far too busy for that.
Amy, No Kill Houston is organizing a Building a No Kill Community to be presented by Nathan Winograd, Executive Director of the No Kill Advocacy Center. Please join us and learn about the No Kill Equation. http://nokillhouston.webstarts.com/index.html
Pingback: Tweets that mention The Difference Between No Kill Nation & Other Animal Advocacy Groups | Save Shelter Pets -- Topsy.com
Pingback: The ASPCA Offers a Sad Alternative to Oreo’s Law | Save Shelter Pets
For several years, I have been an ASPCA supporter for all the reasons you mentioned. They’ve gotten about $500/yr from us but no more. Do you have a monthly giving plan? I will gladly reallocate that money to NKN.
Hi Cissy,
So glad to hear you’re going to rethink your decision to donate to the ASPCA. NKN is in the process of becoming a 501c3, at which time donations will be taken, but in the meantime I’d recommend you donate to local No Kill groups in your community! And please sign up for the NKN mailing list at http://www.thenokillnation.org, so you can keep abreast of the 501c3 status. Thanks!
As per your advice I contacted our local SPCA and talked to some wonderful people. I plan on checking them out this week and becoming a regular supporter if all is as it seems. I had always assumed they were involved with the ASPCA, I was wrong. They are one of few local no kill groups doing a lot with a little and I’m happy to get involved with them. Thanks for making me more aware.
So glad to hear that Cissy! Yes, some of the local Humane Societies and SPCAs are actually No Kill facilities and operate independently from the national groups, but each one is different, so it’s crucial that you check them out thoroughly and make SURE you ask about their kill rate. Many seem nice on the surface, and claim that they only euthanize sick/vicious animals, but their numbers will tell you the truth.
Excellent summation Hannah.
I founded and run a small grassroots 501c3 non profit animal rescue in New Jersey. I got a call from a woman yesterday who is preparing her will. She wants to have her executor liquidate her assets (home, car etc) and donate the money to specific animal organizations. She wants to include mine in her will. There is a caveat however. She has 2 dogs and 1 cat and they must be included in her bequest. Her first choice for the recipient of her estate was the ASPCA. When she spoke with the ASPCA she was told that the ASPCA could not take her dogs because she did not adopt them from the ASPCA. They were, however, very were willing to take her money though. She of course will not be including the ASPCA in her will and she said she will no longer be donating to them on an annual basis.
You can add this to the list of disgusted ASPCA donors.
What a great post!! I am on the board for our local pet foster program and the words “humane society” do appear in our name although we are not connected to any other organization. There is such a stigma attached to those words! Alot of the time there is an assumption that because we are in the nonprofit business of animal welfare it MUST mean that we are in line with PETA. Thanks so much for sharing this! Shared and liked!!
PETA do not advocate animal killing.
Hi Genevieve,
While they do not publicly advocate animal killing, unfortunately they are in practice some of the worst killers of companion animals. To quote from Nathan Winograd’s blog: “In 2010, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) impounded 1,553 cats. They killed 1,507 and found homes for only 28. Another 9 were transferred to killing shelters and their fates are unknown. That’s a 97% rate of killing. In 2010, they took in 792 dogs and put 693 to death. They found homes for only 16, with 54 sent to killing shelters and their fates are unknown. That is, at best, an 88% rate of killing.” I recommend you read more about this organization – they’re not what they seem. http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=5374
The cats, and dogs also, that PETA and HSUS and ASPCA and many other well run groups that can handle the large problem situations often get stuck with are the feral colonies and the hoarding situations that they are called in to remedy by the authorities. Good luck people, trying to find homes for those animals. If you are not allowed to practice TNR, what would YOU do with 100 cats with health problems that are totally antisocial? With dogs, the choices are even more limited.
Hi Nanci,
I’m not sure what you’re referring to when you say they’re not allowed to practice TNR … in many cases, these groups advocate killing these colonies of cats rather than practice TNR. While hoarding cases, puppy mills, etc. are difficult situations, that’s no excuse for mass killing. Shelters that are determined to take killing off the table are able to find creative solutions in these cases. You say these groups “can handle the large problem situations”, but in reality – they often dump all these animals off on local rescue groups after coming in for the initial raid. Then, many of these animals end up dead. So frankly, these groups CANNOT handle these situations. The clean up and care process for the animals is usually done by local groups with very limited funds.
Genevieve, PETA administrators believe that owning pets is a human ego need and that it is morally wrong. Both Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco do publicly state that they do not want domesticated animals to be owned and they hope that gradually domesticated animals will no longer exist. They believe that human beings engineered tame animals and that we should not have done it. Hannah has already posted their “rescue” program. PETA is not now, nor have they ever advocated a “No Kill” strategy.
There is enough scientific evidence that non human animals evolved into communities just like the humans ones did and that our partnerships are mutual but this is not the belief of PETA.
Unfortunately, with the merger of HSUS, Doris Day and Fund for Animals the same beliefs are permeating the major animal charity groups.
Former HSUS employee
It seems I have been waiting for a group like yours. I have now 10 rescued dogs, besides my 3 personal dogs (a nineteen year old Cocker, a 13 year old yellow Lab mix, and a 3 legged Daschund mix). All of these have been rescued off of the streets, and it is harder and harder to find homes for those I rescue. I am only allowed four dogs, so I live in fear of Animal Control, as the Miami Dade shelter is a death sentence. The Humane Society says if they cannot adopt them out, they will have to be euthanized. These are all nice young to adult healthy dogs, with no big problems. I cannot bear the thought that they won’t be allowed to live just because there is no place for them to go, and I cannot afford to feed them and care for them as they deserve. So, I have no choice but to start taking them to the Humane Society of Broward County with a pat on the head, many tears, and a prayer. I have put this off to the point of desperation. I have spent so much on vet bills over the years getting rescues spayed and neutered, vaccinated and HW checked.. and giving them the TLC they needed to get healthy… that now I am out of funds. My health is not good, yet I work every day to make sure I can buy dog food. And still there are more and more stray dogs starving on the streets where I live in Miami and I have to drive right by them every day. It sounds like your organization would be so helpful to me … and most of all… these very deserving dogs. Can you help?
Hi Tina,
I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. Sounds like you’re a wonderful person facing some hard times. Unfortunately, No Kill Nation is not a rescue group, so we can’t place your dogs for you. We’re an animal advocacy group that works for shelter reform. However, there are many resources locally that may be able to help, and avenues that may be effective for you in terms of placing your pups. I’ll send you an email with further information!
Nanci . . . to find out what happens to animals “rescued” by HSUS from alleged hoarding situations, I recommend that you look at the many posts at YesBiscuit! regarding “The Alabama 44.” I’ve learned to be very worried when HSUS or PETA say they are “helping.”
http://yesbiscuit.wordpress.com/category/alabama-44/
Great advice Karen!
Tina, can you contact a pet food bank to help you out? We have several here in Ga. and you could try Freekibble.com Ask Wallmart for any damaged bags of food. They donate them to rescuers. No Kill are you able to help this woman??