We Are Their Voice

September 14, 2010: Today, we had the pleasure of hearing from Joe Elmore from the ASPCA, and Sgt. Carey Stout from The City of North Charleston Animal Control, about animal welfare in the Charleston Area. The topic was especially pertinent as today we presented a gift from our club to the John Ancrum SPCA to support spay and neuter clinics. Mr. Elmore began his presentation with a brief history, dispelling common misconceptions. He elaborated on how animal welfare defines and effects communities and why Charleston was chosen as one of 9 cities to receive over $1,000,000 to better the lives of animals.

The ASPCA is the first and oldest animal organization in the U.S. They run the poison control center and the oldest animal research hospital in the nation, housed in New York City. The non-profit also spends much of its energy working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies prosecuting animal crimes, such as dog fighting and puppy mills. To further its outreach, The ASPCA has chosen nine communities to invest in and increase positive outcomes for “at risk” animals. Charleston is one of the nine.

Elmore observed that Charleston was chosen because it values its animals, but struggles with over population, as does much of the deep south. The key to reducing euthanasia, is eliminating over population by diligently spaying and neutering cats and dogs. The association’s goal is that future generations not be faced with the difficult decision of which animals live or die, solely because they are unwanted.

After the overview, Mr. Elmore addressed these common misconceptions: animal rights vs. animal welfare, animal activism vs animal advocacy, no kill facilities vs no kill communities and animal cruelty priorities. ASPCA is about animal welfare supporting spaying, neutering, leash laws, they are not supporting “animal rights” to pro-create at will, wonder at large etc. They support no kill communities and state that “no-kill shelters” do not exist as we must euthanize sick and dangerous animals. Additionally, ASPCA focuses their resources on cruelty priorities which are dog fighting and puppy mills, not eating meat and hunting; choosing to fight the battle of over population and not horse drawn carriages. In summation, it is my belief that the association is striving to make the most impact in the worst areas!

The goal in Charleston is to reach a 75% live rate (up from a starting 37%) from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2011 with the option to continue the program until March 31, 2013. Some ask, Why Charleston? Elmore responds because we can affect change. Thirty years ago the country euthanized 28 to 30 million animals a year, that number has dropped to 5 million. “We are winning this battle, you would not find such staggering results in the fights against drugs or violence.” Last year the JASPCA took in 11,500 animals and over half were put down. By the end of this year, the shelter plans to get the live rate above 50% – save more animals than we put down.

Pet Helpers and Humane Net are other partners in the battle to secure animal welfare. These groups work with the local John Ancrum SPCA to reduce euthanasia of healthy and treatable cats and dogs. Here are four ways you can help save a life: increase spay and neuter, financially support spay and neuter clinics, make room for one more pet in your home and heart and host a work place adoption fair! Help Charleston lead the way to be a no kill community and spare our children and our pets the agony of life threatening decisions.

Submitted by Elizabeth Burwell, Keyway Committee Chair