Hurricane Milton puts animals in harm’s way, but rescuers are on the ground
News and headlines for October 5 - 11, 2024
In the news: No Kill Sheltering Autumn 2024. The No Kill movement’s capture. Do you have what it takes to save lives? Plant-based steaks? Yes, rules top EU court. Undercover videos show cruelty on factory farms claiming to be “humane.” Hurricane Milton puts animals in harm’s way, but rescuers are on the ground.
These are some of the stories making headlines in animal protection:
No Kill Sheltering Autumn 2024
The Autumn 2024 issue of No Kill Sheltering is available for subscribers of The No Kill Advocacy Center.
The current issue covers:
Enacting laws to protect animals in “shelters”;
Why bad policies and not intakes lead to killing and what to do about it;
Why are officials sacrificing good animals to protect bad directors?;
The county pound, which kills more animals than any other reporting “shelter” in the U.S., is sued for “gross mismanagement“;
The short life and tragic death of a dog named Chai;
And more.
If you are a patron-level subscriber to this page, you can also download it here.
The No Kill movement’s capture
I received this email through The No Kill Advocacy Center:
I’m thankful for your long-standing advocacy for animals. I first saw you at a conference in Tucson in the mid-90s and have followed your work since. Over the years, I’ve watched many who once claimed to support no-kill turn their backs on animals. I don’t need to tell you that. You’ve written about how they now fight lifesaving reforms, defend killing, and protect those who abuse animals... Do you know why this happened [and…] is there anything we can do about it?
In addition to that email, others expressed similar concerns about “individuals or organizations who profess to want to help animals — but ultimately betray them.” This includes Best Friends, Austin Pets Alive, and leaders and former leaders of these organizations, including Kristen Hassen.
Hassen just penned a $2.45 million contract to “consult” with Riverside County after spending a year praising them despite its pound killing more animals than any other reporting U.S. “shelter,” and per a lawsuit, leaving dead animals in their cages and other animals covered in excrement, ignoring California law, and carrying out “a policy to kill healthy, adoptable animals, instead of spending resources feeding, caring for and housing them.”
Here’s a reader’s personal experience:
[Kristen] Hassen was in Palm Springs, CA trying to sell and justify her recent contract with Riverside County Animal Services at their commissioners meeting. Hassen had to sit in a meeting, while a hundred-plus animal advocates gathered and essentially told her that she was misguided, cruel and greedy. Not one single person came forward to support Hassen or her failed HASS policies.
Animal lovers presented story after story, some from as far away as Memphis, El Paso, Tucson and Austin… of her “consulting expertise”… They shared the aftermath of her inhumane policies. The unwanted litters, packs of dogs, lawsuits and tragic deaths of animals that resulted from her idea of “helping communities” by keeping animals out of the shelter.
“The No Kill Movement’s Capture” — my response to how and why people like Hassen and organizations like Austin Pets Alive undermine reform efforts and what we can do about it, is here.
Do you have what it takes to save lives?