I'd like to thank Gunhild Marcher for her tireless support for the animals of Green County. It has been very sad for me to watch her and two other longtime Green County Humane Society board members reluctantly resign. I experienced and watched them endure disrespectful treatment given to those who disagree with the new outdoor home adoption policies. Having worked with dog rescues for almost a decade, I've never met anyone more committed than these three to helping homeless animals. They've put in years of blood, sweat and tears for the animals, and worked under tough conditions with little money to operate the shelter. But they never gave up. They stayed through the toughest of times because of their love for the animals. Gunhild almost single handedly transformed the shelter from a high-kill to a no-kill shelter. The new board thanked none of these women for their years of service.
This week, GCHS had a sweet little eight-month-old beagle listed as available for outside adoption. Because this guy has a strong scent drive, he won't be a farm dog free to run and be the farmer's companion. No, he will have to be tied up or kenneled for the rest of his life. GCHS doesn't even require that he have a companion dog, as most other humane societies do. Dogs are pack animals, and were never meant to be alone, living a life little better than solitary confinement in prison.
Millions of people have been happily living with indoor cats and dogs. They will tell you it can be easy to housebreak or litter train a puppy or kitten, as well as spay and neuter adult dogs and cats, and that a little time cleaning will resolve shedding issues.
The new GCHS board has considerable talent and abilities. Unfortunately, it has not only adopted questionable outdoor adoption policies (less humane than surrounding shelters' policies), but its advisor publicly advocates for outdoor placements in which dogs would be tied or kenneled. They have treated dedicated board members very poorly. To the "old" board, I would like to say thank you and you are missed.
Surely those of us who have worked with homeless animals and have seen the misery outdoor life can bring to some animals can express our opinions without being told "enough already" or "go sit in the corner."
By the way, I'm a recent adopter' of a coonhound that is very happy to be in an indoor home - well worth his six-month wait at GCHS.
This week, GCHS had a sweet little eight-month-old beagle listed as available for outside adoption. Because this guy has a strong scent drive, he won't be a farm dog free to run and be the farmer's companion. No, he will have to be tied up or kenneled for the rest of his life. GCHS doesn't even require that he have a companion dog, as most other humane societies do. Dogs are pack animals, and were never meant to be alone, living a life little better than solitary confinement in prison.
Millions of people have been happily living with indoor cats and dogs. They will tell you it can be easy to housebreak or litter train a puppy or kitten, as well as spay and neuter adult dogs and cats, and that a little time cleaning will resolve shedding issues.
The new GCHS board has considerable talent and abilities. Unfortunately, it has not only adopted questionable outdoor adoption policies (less humane than surrounding shelters' policies), but its advisor publicly advocates for outdoor placements in which dogs would be tied or kenneled. They have treated dedicated board members very poorly. To the "old" board, I would like to say thank you and you are missed.
Surely those of us who have worked with homeless animals and have seen the misery outdoor life can bring to some animals can express our opinions without being told "enough already" or "go sit in the corner."
By the way, I'm a recent adopter' of a coonhound that is very happy to be in an indoor home - well worth his six-month wait at GCHS.
