Recently the Green County Humane Society formed a task force to look at the issue of overly aggressive animals. Creating this task force is essential to our mission of finding quality forever homes for all of our animals, providing community education and promoting responsible pet ownership. In addition to any potential legal liabilities, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to examine any act of aggression to determine what the particular circumstances were and how future aggressive behavior might best be avoided.
For some people, the formation of the task force has been misinterpreted to mean we intend to euthanize animals based on a lack of space or the length of time they've been at the shelter. This is not true. It is important to understand that we are not changing GCHS' no-kill status: Becoming a kill or low-kill shelter is not being considered.
It may be helpful to consider what one well-known animal organization says about aggressive animals to provide some perspective.
Maddie's Fund, a private foundation, is a leader in the no-kill movement. Since its inception in 1999, it has awarded almost $72 million to animal organizations and universities to save the lives of dogs and cats. Maddie's Fund defines no-kill as saving all healthy and treatable animals. Sadly, there may be instances when an animal is so ill or so badly injured that euthanasia is the most humane option.
But other circumstances may not be as clear-cut. Maddie's Fund, for example, acknowledges there are instances when an animal's aggressive behavior may place it in the untreatable category.
This brings several important questions to light. What defines healthy and treatable? How does a shelter assess an animal to determine if it is healthy and treatable, or unhealthy and untreatable? If a dog has a treatable behavior issue, how can we as a shelter provide the necessary treatment, or how can we secure a foster or permanent placement that can commit to providing the animal appropriate treatment?
This does not mean we are prepared to euthanize any animal that displays aggression. While the policy has not even been drafted, we as a board have been very clear that outcome, if even considered, would be an extreme last resort used only when all other options have been exhausted.
In order to reach the most informed, reasonable, compassionate and humane decision to all involved, we are committed to researching, collecting and digesting input from as many different sources as possible.
The task force has no definite timeline on when such a policy might be drafted and submitted for board approval. We are, however, committed to keeping open communication with our membership and the general public, and will provide periodic updates of the task force's progress.
To that end, we invite anyone with questions or concerns about the aggressive dog policy, or any other issue, to our April board meeting. All board meetings are open to the public and include time for public comment. The next board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the second-floor meeting room of the Monroe Public Library. We have a number of other items on Wednesday's agenda, but we would be happy to answer as many questions as time allows.
Members and the public also are invited to the GCHS annual meeting Thursday, May 7, at Ludlow Mansion in Monroe. There will be an open forum time for GCHS members following the election of board members. However, we do anticipate a large turnout for this event, so the time allotted for this open forum may be somewhat limited.
I am proud this board has decided to tackle this important issue. It would be far easier to assume a few hours of training for a potentially aggressive dog constitutes appropriate rehabilitation and place it up for adoption in the general public. But doing so would be irresponsible and unfair to both the animal and its potential adopter.
It is the board of directors' responsibility to our members, our staff, our visitors, our potential adopters, our community and each and every animal in our care to address this issue. We want to ensure happy outcomes for all, and that involves taking a thorough examination of the issue.
We value your input and appreciate your support in this effort. By working together, we will be able to fulfill our mission of finding quality forever homes, providing community education, and promoting responsible animal ownership.
For some people, the formation of the task force has been misinterpreted to mean we intend to euthanize animals based on a lack of space or the length of time they've been at the shelter. This is not true. It is important to understand that we are not changing GCHS' no-kill status: Becoming a kill or low-kill shelter is not being considered.
It may be helpful to consider what one well-known animal organization says about aggressive animals to provide some perspective.
Maddie's Fund, a private foundation, is a leader in the no-kill movement. Since its inception in 1999, it has awarded almost $72 million to animal organizations and universities to save the lives of dogs and cats. Maddie's Fund defines no-kill as saving all healthy and treatable animals. Sadly, there may be instances when an animal is so ill or so badly injured that euthanasia is the most humane option.
But other circumstances may not be as clear-cut. Maddie's Fund, for example, acknowledges there are instances when an animal's aggressive behavior may place it in the untreatable category.
This brings several important questions to light. What defines healthy and treatable? How does a shelter assess an animal to determine if it is healthy and treatable, or unhealthy and untreatable? If a dog has a treatable behavior issue, how can we as a shelter provide the necessary treatment, or how can we secure a foster or permanent placement that can commit to providing the animal appropriate treatment?
This does not mean we are prepared to euthanize any animal that displays aggression. While the policy has not even been drafted, we as a board have been very clear that outcome, if even considered, would be an extreme last resort used only when all other options have been exhausted.
In order to reach the most informed, reasonable, compassionate and humane decision to all involved, we are committed to researching, collecting and digesting input from as many different sources as possible.
The task force has no definite timeline on when such a policy might be drafted and submitted for board approval. We are, however, committed to keeping open communication with our membership and the general public, and will provide periodic updates of the task force's progress.
To that end, we invite anyone with questions or concerns about the aggressive dog policy, or any other issue, to our April board meeting. All board meetings are open to the public and include time for public comment. The next board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the second-floor meeting room of the Monroe Public Library. We have a number of other items on Wednesday's agenda, but we would be happy to answer as many questions as time allows.
Members and the public also are invited to the GCHS annual meeting Thursday, May 7, at Ludlow Mansion in Monroe. There will be an open forum time for GCHS members following the election of board members. However, we do anticipate a large turnout for this event, so the time allotted for this open forum may be somewhat limited.
I am proud this board has decided to tackle this important issue. It would be far easier to assume a few hours of training for a potentially aggressive dog constitutes appropriate rehabilitation and place it up for adoption in the general public. But doing so would be irresponsible and unfair to both the animal and its potential adopter.
It is the board of directors' responsibility to our members, our staff, our visitors, our potential adopters, our community and each and every animal in our care to address this issue. We want to ensure happy outcomes for all, and that involves taking a thorough examination of the issue.
We value your input and appreciate your support in this effort. By working together, we will be able to fulfill our mission of finding quality forever homes, providing community education, and promoting responsible animal ownership.
