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Jerry Neidich's avatar

Dear Nathan, l am a devoted follower of your commitment to animal welfare and your brilliant legal analysis of technical matters such as the homelessness crisis that you describe in today’s update (June 28). I am not an attorney and thus do not have the legal expertise to respond accordingly. But as a former educator (school principal, Professor,Chairman), l have always advocated for Reality Based Learning/Project-Based Learning emphasizing a Common Sense Approach to Learning. Utilizing such in my advocacy for Animal-Study Schools. Thus, l think that a broader look at the homelessness and animal rights issues would be to tackle the political issues in places like Los Angeles and California and NYC and New York State, where the mayors ànd governors, and our Federal Government agencies, should all focus on taking care of both human and animal rights (Sentient Beings entitled to the same respect and treatment as Human Beings). I again ask you Nathan Winograd to be our Ambassador of Compassion and Animal Welfare in order to help Make This a Kinder and More Loving World ❤️🐶😿🇱🇷

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ms's avatar

Thank you for elaborating, Nathan — too important of an issue — Animals must always be the priority — If Human is unable to care for Animal, no matter what the reason, then Animal must be sent to loving & caring People — Moreover, no matter what the studies from Academia, Animals must all be treated with love and care and their well-being must always be placed FIRST on the Agenda, no matter class or classification.

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Gail O'Connell-Babcock's avatar

What happens it seems in the publish or perish or legal world is inconvenient facts are eliminated to meet a preferred view or outcome. The biggest liar wins. Effective solutions require all of the facts, not selected facts to meet ego needs or a preferred outcome.

So first I hope Nathan submits his report on the complex concerns about animals owned by the homeless to the New Yorker as an example of what Jonathan Franzen’s swipe at feral cats was not: honest and true to the evidence.

Every week I order and read public records from Multnomah County Animal Services, the county dog prison in Multnomah County Oregon, first trying to see who I can help and second to record atrocities towards animals that are cruel and heart breaking. Many of the animals belong or belonged to homeless persons where there is deprivation of care secondary to poverty and then another class: Cruelty and neglect often related to drugs and mental illness. The latter cases are the hardest because of the few options available. If neglected and abused dogs are impounded by the county for legal hold or protective custody, they are not given a second chance if the county wins custody or the owner surrenders their animal. In legal cases they are most often killed arbitrarily when no longer needed as evidence. In one case a dog named Shadow was starved by her homeless owner, and MCAS once they won the case killed her despite humane options and despite the fact that they had monies to care for her. Other street dogs with any behavior challenge whatsoever including fear, can’t get out of kennel easily, leash reactive etc. are also killed. They agencies charged with protection kill the victims of failed protection.

There is no safe haven or safety net for these dogs; for the rehabilitation of abused and neglected dogs, from situations like this one, not uncommonly coming from homeless population. It is a no win dilemma: They absolutely cannot stay with their abusers. But their protectors are abusers too. The choice is between two evils, between the devil and the deep blue sea. The answer really is I think to eliminate pound culture and its pro creators and create an alternative sheltering community where some dogs go to group homes for care and rehabilitation, others can go straight into homes, but that requires a whole new set of shelter providers with knowledge and compassion. There are none here. The way MCAS management gets money from the county government is to deliberately exaggerate public safety challenges where everyone is “safer” when a dog is killed as if there were no other way, like Petey, a terrified Chihuahua killed as a public safety risk whose “bites” on record never broke the skin. We are safer now.

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Gail O'Connell-Babcock's avatar

Sorry about some of the typos above, tired. I write about the stories of every animal killed or misused that I can but can't keep up there are so many destroyed lives that should be honored ... This one is Petey's... May his soul rest in peace.

https://mcas-sheltershock.com/2025/06/27/falsifying-death-certificates-to-kill-shelter-dogs-petey-the-little-chihuahua/

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