In other news: ‘Tis the season of false narratives about animal shelters. Do you have what it takes to save lives? Communities are looking for someone to run or help run their animal shelters. Federal government wants to kill more wolves. Going all out for dogs. Another week, another pet food recall. Sterilization centers in every district.
These are some of the stories making headlines in animal protection:
‘Tis the season
Every few weeks during the summer, a predictable, though demonstrably false, headline pops up at news outlets across the country: “Local Shelter Overcrowded and Forced to Euthanize [sic] Animals.” The accompanying article typically features the pound manager offering soundbites about too many animals, and the need for spay/neuter. To the average reader, the news story appears uncontroversial, obvious. And, of course, fewer animals and more sterilization would be better. But when it comes to shelters, it represents one of the most persistent failures of municipal journalism. And animals are paying the price.
The central problem is that local and national news outlets don’t treat press releases by animal shelter managers as claims to be investigated. Instead, they treat them as facts to be transcribed. When a municipal agency states that it has “run out of room,” reporters routinely accept the premise without asking how that room is managed, what programs are being implemented, or whether lives are being sacrificed to uncaring and convenience.
To find out what reporters should be asking, and how to counter these false narratives, click here.
Do you have what it takes to save lives?
The following communities are looking for someone to run or help run their animal shelters: