I am an animal lover. A sensitive soul, who can all-too-keenly empathize with the depth of pain & confusion our nation’s shelter pets are forced to experience. They are the voiceless, who cannot speak for themselves. Through this blog, I hope to contribute to the growing choir of voices speaking out for our nation’s homeless animals.
Each year, 3-4 million innocent animals are killed in our nation’s “shelters”. This is completely unnecessary, and in a civilized and compassionate society, nothing short of criminal. Pet overpopulation is no more than a persistent myth. There are 17 million Americans looking for pets each year – so only a small percentage of these people need be convinced to adopt from shelters in order to save each and every precious life. This is possible with the No Kill Equation. It’s happening across the country, and there’s a group of us, advocates of a No Kill Nation, who just won’t accept the injustice anymore. (Thanks to No Kill advocate Nathon Winograd for those factual tidbits).
I hope to shine a light on the daily miseries our homeless animals face, especially in Miami, my city of residence and, sadly, the locale of a particularly neglectful animal services facility. In Miami alone, there’s a network of incredible rescuers who devote every free waking hour to the mad rush to save lives and rescue animals from the dreaded MDAS facility. I am in awe of the work these people do. True lifesavers and angels on earth for these desperate animals.
In addition to my animal advocacy and work with rescue here in South Florida, I absolutely adore animals of all kinds, and want to share the joys of their existence with my readers. They are our companions, our soul mates, and our fellow residents on Planet Earth. They have a right to life, and deserve our respect in all matters which concern them. I hope to entertain, engage & educate. There will be joy, and there will be sadness. Both emotions are perpetually present in the world of animal rescue. Comments are welcome and encouraged. Thanks for reading. <3
“If dogs don’t go to heaven, I want to go where they go.”
Hannah-
I read your article about pets in assisted living and want to let you know that the company I work for, Chelsea Senior Living allows residents to have pets as do many assisted living providers. Sunrise Assisted Living also allows pets and has community pets as well.
We at Worthington (managed by Chelsea) have a Sheltie named Tess who we adoped as our house dog 8 months ago. She was dumped into a high kill shelter by her owner’s kids after the owner died at the age of 83. A local rescue a friend works with brought Tess to us after our 10 year old Beagle rescue, Trav, died. We also have Ryan, an abandoned barn cat with FIV who lives in our first floor Alzheimer’s unit. He can’t be with other cats due to the FIV so he’s ideal with us. We also have cats Dylan and Dakota who live on our second floor Alzheimer’s unit. These three cats are all so personable and the residents adore them. In fact, Ryan is the only one who can pull one of our residents (Eunice) out of a bad mood when she’s crying. We also partner with Rescue Ridge to do a “foster” program for our residents who desire the companionship but are afraid to take on the committment of pet ownership. So they foster a cat for however long until they feel it’s too much or they pass away and at that point the cat returns back to Rescue Ridge.
I think that’s wonderful Julia! Thank you so much for sharing. We need more assisted living facilities like Chelsea Senior Living! I know there are good ones out there … I just think we need more awareness and need to change the overall perception of pets as “unsanitary” or a burden to both those in assisted living facilities as well as those renting or owning homes in communities that don’t allow pets. Your Rescue Ridge program also sounds incredible, I love that idea and hope more facilities will consider something innovative and beneficial like that!
Sounds like anyone would be lucky to live at your facility – including animals!
thank you for sending these messages out. the public who sends money to the big orgs need to read this, thank you.
What happened to the petition to remove Pizano from MDAS?
Hi Sara,
The petition is located here: http://apps.facebook.com/petitions/1/we-demand-dr-sara-pizano-be-removed-as-director-of-miami-dade-animal-services-and-a-new-shelter-be/
Thanks!
I was completely naive about HSUS, ASPCA and PETA. I’m not sure how I got to your site. Curiosity mostly. But I have learned so much on this site and others like it. Thanks!
The ASPCA and HSUS always got my suspicion when I read how much the head honchos of those places made. They should be made to give the money they get to the no-kill shelters and rescues that do all the work saving animals that the kill shelters don’t do! And don’t get me started on NYCACC, NYC itself, the crooks in their government and that scum Mayor Doomberg!
I’m glad senior assisted living centers and senior living apartments and cottage centers allow pets. Some rescues have seniors act as fosters of senior pets. This allows the seniors to have a companion pet who is not as rambunctious as a younger pet would be. Any major medical needs for the pets are paid for by donations to a separate senior pets fund.