proven no kill solutions for animal shelters and communities
Today, I want to address a topic that’s very close to my heart – the welfare of equines in our uncertain economy.
In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever to ensure our beloved horses, donkeys, mules, and all various subspecies, hybrids, and regional variations within these categories, receive the care, respect, and attention they deserve. Continue reading “Ensuring the Welfare of Equines in Today’s Economy”
Amidst the hustle and bustle of our major metropolitan areas there is a rising chorus advocating for a resurgence of compassion toward our fellow creatures. This isn’t just a contemporary notion—it’s an age-old refrain echoing through the wisdom of the world’s greatest philosophers, prophets, poets, and statesmen. Here are a few examples:
Aristotle: The Greek philosopher Aristotle, renowned for his
keen insights into ethics and human nature, held the belief that our capacity for compassion transcends human boundaries. He contended that kindness towards animals is an integral facet of moral virtue, asserting that “being a good human” also means being kind to animals. Continue reading “Compassion for Animals and the Human Condition: Insights from the World’s Greatest Thinkers”
Introduction
There’s a reason why dogs are known as “man’s best friend” and cats as our “feline companions.” Beyond the joy and companionship they bring, owning a pet offers numerous health benefits that can enhance our overall well-being. From reducing stress and boosting mental health to promoting physical fitness and providing a sense of purpose, the advantages of pet ownership are far-reaching. Continue reading “The Pawsitive Health Benefits Associated with Pet Ownership”
Introduction
In the quest for more humane communities, a powerful synergy exists when municipal animal control agencies, dedicated rescue groups, and compassionate foundations join forces. Today, I will explain the profound impact of collaborative efforts among these entities. Together, they create a formidable alliance that can transform our neighborhoods into havens of compassion and care for animals in need. Continue reading “Harmonizing Forces for Humane Communities: The Vital Role of Collaboration”
In a world often marked by its cruelties and injustices, the concept of compassion shines like a beacon of hope. Today, I want to delve into the profound significance of compassion, especially in the midst of a society that can sometimes appear harsh and unfeeling. In our journey through the realms of animal welfare and beyond, it becomes increasingly evident that compassion is not just a virtue; it is a lifeline for us all. Continue reading “The Unyielding Power of Compassion: A Beacon of Light in a Cruel Society”
Introduction
Hello, dear friends and fellow animal advocates. I’ve spent my life working towards the betterment of animal welfare. Today I want to share my thoughts on the current state of animal welfare, the progress we’ve made, and the challenges that still lie ahead.
A Lifetime of Dedication
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with numerous organizations and communities, all with the shared goal of improving the lives of our furry, feathered, and scaly friends. From my early days in animal control to leading large municipal animal services agencies, my journey has been one of learning, adapting, and growing.
Progress in Animal Welfare
It’s heartening to see how far we’ve come in the realm of animal welfare. Communities worldwide have made significant strides in improving the lives of animals. Here are some highlights of our progress:
Challenges on the Horizon
While we’ve made significant strides, there are still challenges ahead:
A Message of Hope
Despite the challenges, my hope for the future of animal welfare burns brightly. Our collective efforts have shown that change is possible, and compassion is an unstoppable force. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of animals.
As we move forward, let us remember that every act of kindness towards animals matters, whether it’s adopting a shelter pet, supporting local rescue organizations, or advocating for stronger animal protection laws. Together, we can create a world where animals are treated with the respect and care they deserve.
Conclusion
In reflecting on the current state of animal welfare, I’m reminded of the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Our journey towards a more compassionate world for animals is a testament to our moral progress. Let’s continue this journey with unwavering dedication, for the sake of the animals who rely on us for their well-being and happiness.
If I can help your organization or community, let me know at: Contact Ed Boks
Imagine how you would feel if your boss told you he was so happy with your work that he was going to give a bonus to your coworker. I suspect you would be dumbfounded. Yet, in my line of work, it is not uncommon to hear, “I really love the work my local humane society or spca does – so I sent a donation to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) or to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to help support you.”
One of the greatest misunderstandings and biggest challenge local animal welfare organizations face is the belief most people have that HSUS and the ASPCA are affiliated with local animal welfare organizations.
Do you know how much funding HSUS and the ASPCA gave your local humane society or spca? If you said “nothing,” you’re likely correct – and this is true for virtually every local animal welfare organization in the United States.
Ironically, HSUS and the ASPCA raise enough money each year to fund an animal shelter in every state. However, HSUS has no animal shelter anywhere, and the ASPCA has just one shelter in New York City – that actually handles fewer animals each year than most small local humane societies or spca’s across the nation.
The mission of the national organizations is to raise awareness of national animal welfare issues; the mission of local humane societies and spca’s is to actually care for the homeless, abused and neglected pets in their local communities.
Many mistakenly believe their gifts to national groups will trickle down to help animals in their own community. I only wish that were true.
People come to this assumption through misleading marketing tactics. Let me give you an example. I once received an ASPCA direct mail solicitation that was also sent to millions of homes across the nation. The solicitation said, “Together we can stop cruelty to animals. … As you read this letter, somewhere – perhaps not far from you – someone is inflicting pain on an innocent and helpless animal. … You may not be able to rescue that particular animal. … Please send the largest gift you can manage to help the ASPCA save animals like it.”
Clearly, the ASPCA understands that sending “the largest gift you can manage” to their New York office is not the best way to help protect “an innocent and helpless animal,” a “particular animal,” an animal “not far” from where you live.
I have no objection to national animal welfare organizations asking for support for the important work they do. However, I do object to misrepresenting their programs by implying they are helping animals in every community in the nation. This is especially disturbing as you watch the daily barrage of heart-wrenching television ads national organizations use to seek donations.
I believe the maxim “think globally; act locally.” However, I object to national organizations abusing this tenet by suggesting you are acting locally when you contribute to them. Don’t be fooled. When you contribute to these organizations, your money is leaving your community never to return. If that is your intent, fine, but be sure you understand that.
Every local humane society/spca in every city, town and county, was founded to help homeless, abused and neglected animals in their own community. Local humane societies are often governed by a local volunteer board of directors and are funded almost entirely by local support.
Most local humane societies and spca’s receive no funding from the national groups, nor are they governed by or affiliated with them. Local humane societies and spca’s are often the largest local nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization caring for the largest number of needy animals in their community – and these animals need our help. They need your help.
If you are looking for the best way to help homeless, abandoned and abused animals in your community, volunteer with your local shelter or make a life-saving tax-deductible donation directly to your local humane society, spca or animal rescue.
For more on this, click here: ASPCA spending may not be what donors expect.
Over the years, I’ve developed a deeply personal understanding of compassion. To me, compassion is a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with a strong desire to relieve it.
Compassion is more vigorous than sympathy or empathy. Compassion gives rise to a forceful desire to alleviate another’s suffering. Compassion is that essential component in what manifests in our social context as altruism. Continue reading “What is compassion? by Ed Boks”
I recently attended an anti-animal cruelty fundraising event. Heroic individuals who dedicated their lives to ending the most dreadful forms of cruelty were recognized – cruelty like the fur trade, circuses, trophy hunting, rodeos, puppy mills, the dog meat industry, and so on.
Only society’s most WOKE animal lovers were invited to this exclusive event. So you can imagine my horror when some of these extremely committed animal lovers unintentionally exposed their very own pets to prolonged bouts of pain. Continue reading “My Pet Peeve: Pets at Events by Ed Boks”
Insanity, according to Albert Einstein, is “doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.” Many communities address their feral cat problem over and over again with two basic methodologies - only to be disappointed by the consequences of their efforts.
Feral cats are cats who have reverted to a wild state – born from tame cats that owners abandon or allow to run loose. These cats mate with other free-roaming cats, and their offspring, raised without human compassion, are wild, or feral. They grow up and breed with other feral and free-roaming cats and the cat population increases exponentially. Feral cats are considered a public nuisance by some and a public health concern by others. They needn’t be either.
The two methodologies employed by most communities are Do Nothing and Eradication. Decades of applying these methodologies has proven they don’t work – and there are very real biological reasons why.
It is easy to understand why doing nothing has little impact on the problem, but it is not as easy to understand why eradication does not work.
Feral cats typically live in colonies of 6 to 20 cats. When individuals try to catch cats for extermination, this heightens the biological stress of the colony, triggering a survival mechanism that causes the cats to over-breed and over-produce. Consequently, instead of birthing one litter per year with two or three kittens, a stressed female will produce two or three litters with 6 to 9 kittens each.
Even in the unlikely event that a person could catch and remove all the feral cats in a neighborhood, a phenomenon known as “the vacuum effect” would result. The removed colony had kept surrounding colonies at bay, but once removed, all deterrents evaporate and the surrounding cats enter the new territory to over-breed. The vacated neighborhood is quickly overrun with feral cats fighting for mates, caterwauling, and spraying for territory. Extermination only exacerbates the problem and actually produces worse results than doing nothing at all.
However, there is a third methodology that is increasingly practiced in communities across the United States and around the world with amazing results. It is called Trap/Neuter/Return, or TNR.
With TNR, all the feral cats in a neighborhood are trapped, sterilized, and returned to the area where they originated – under the care of a colony manager. The colony manager is a trained volunteer in the neighborhood willing to feed, water, and care for the colony.
TNR prevents the vacuum effect. Altered cats display none of the troubling behaviors of intact cats. Feral cats provide free rodent abatement, a service many neighborhoods unknowingly rely on. Since feral cats only live three to five years, the problem literally solves itself through attrition, provided TNR is implemented community-wide.
TNR also solves public nuisance complaints. There is an adage that says “you can’t herd cats.” In fact, you can herd neutered cats because they tend to hang around the food bowl. No longer having the urge to breed and prey, they follow the food bowl wherever the colony manager takes it. Feral cats can be trained to congregate in areas out of the way of the public.
TNR is a non-lethal, humane and cost-effective solution. Understanding these facts, municipal animal shelters ought to enact a moratorium on accepting feral cats until a comprehensive community-wide feral cat program can be initiated.
TNR empowers citizens to solve this troublesome problem once and for all. Feral cats are trapped, neutered, vaccinated, health-checked by a veterinarian and returned to their neighborhood where their population is stabilized and reduced through attrition.
If you would like more information on TNR or if you need help to develop this program in your community, please contact me.
