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I have been following the information being presented on Pets Alive website about their attempts to rescue Oreo, and I think that it is very commendable that they are sticking up for what they believe in by using mostly very factual information. While some of their tactics, or methods of communication may be socially questionable (clearly their emotions are involved), I think that it's completely acceptable for them to "point the finger" at the ASPCA and support them in the decision to do so. Unfortunately, euthanasia has progressively become more humane, rather than just accepted, and because some organizations drill it into our heads all of the time that it is the "humane thing to do", we sometimes are lead to believe that this is the only answer. I will agree that in some circumstances, and in some shelters, this may be a better alternative for the animal at this point in time. However, it is absolutely necessary to change this, and to be effectively working toward changing that mindset, and the array of options that are available to a dog that has behavioral issues, which I would solely blame on Oreo's previous owner in this case. And I DO feel that because this option has become so accepted among the animal loving community, and because we have all been lead to believe it is humane, it has become a much easier way to sweep the underlying problems under the rug.

Not that I feel the need to redeem myself, but I have volunteered at various different shelters, as well as personally rescued dogs who have had behavioral problems, and I find it interesting that certain comments would automatically assume that I do not have the proper "credentials" to speak on this topic without even knowing me. I am one person, and I do everything I can to work toward what I believe in (much more than the average person). I point a finger at the ASPCA not because I am too lazy to do anything about it, but to raise questions, and to get people to ask themselves if this really is the only way, or if we've been wrongly lead to believe that it is the only way.

From my personal research, I feel that the ASPCA made the wrong decision, and I absolutely will stick up for that notion. People sometimes hear about things, and they are told that it’s the right way, or the only way, so they don’t know any different than to agree with it and go along with it. Maybe if more people really did stick up for themselves and their beliefs, things would be different.

Maybe shelter life is worse than being killed in some shelters, but definitely not all shelters, and definitely not in shelters the way they should be. I am not simply saying that shelters are awful and they do everything wrong, and I am not trying to “call anyone out”. I know that many, many people who work in shelters are extremely overwhelmed, overworked, and underpaid, and have personally worked together with these employees to help with some of the load. I have worked with many shelters, and I know this for a fact. I know that many of us are just doing the best we can, and I would never discourage anyone from doing that.  I know that only in a perfect world would all shelter life be pleasant, but it's definitely something that is worth working toward. I know that a lot of people keep saying that shelters aren’t doing enough, and I know that that is very discouraging to hear, when most shelter employees work harder than the average person. Many of the shelters clearly just need help. They need direction, and volunteers; I am not denying this. While some of them, in my opinion, are simply being run by parties who do not know any better, or simply do not care.

Generally, when a shelter relinquishes a dog to another rescue, the liability goes with whoever is caring for the dog. While I’m sure the ASPCA would not have wanted to seen damage to a person or another dog after relinquishing Oreo regardless of where the liability lay, I think that Pets Alive provided more than enough credentials and positive track records to take her in.

I recently was granted the pleasure of meeting some of the Vicktory dogs, as well as many previously aggressive dogs, housed at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Some of these dogs have since been adopted, while some of them are court ordered to stay at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives, which was their alternative to death. These dogs were all happy and healthy, and I absolutely believe that they are living a better life than they would be dead. They get walks, exercise, human interaction, toys, top-notch medical care, and they are all treated and cared for as individuals. Not just because they are high profile dogs, but because of where they are.  They are my proof that it is possible. Obviously I do not think that a lab animal has a happier life than if they were dead, but I do NOT think that we, as humans, have the right to take them out of that horrific environment only to kill them, when we have the ability to do something better.

I know that not every shelter is Best Friends, and I know that we don't all have those resources right now, but isn't this a wonderful thing for us to work on and focus on achieving? We might not always have the ability right now, but we do have the ability to work toward it, and make change so that dogs who are behaviorally challenged, or maybe even are just having a bad day, aren’t being killed and forgotten about by the millions; especially when there is someone there willing and able to help. Just because the ASPCA could not handle Oreo, does not mean no one could, and just because you’ve never seen something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Best Friends literally worked themselves from the ground up. They were a group of 20 people in the 80s who decided that killing wasn’t the only answer, and surely wasn’t the best. They decided to stick up for the animals, and now they are making absolute history by saving the lives of countless animals that would have otherwise been “humanely” killed. They started literally with nothing other than a can for change, a card table, and a phonebook. If you decide that I have not had enough experience to advocate for these animals, and for working toward a true humane community, you do not have to read my blogs, or agree with anything I say, but I would seriously challenge you to just think, for one second, that maybe there is a better way. I surely don’t have all of the answers, and I don’t claim to. I’m just trying to get readers to think of different ideas, and different possibilities, because one thing that we can all agree on, is that there is a problem, no matter what you think the solution might be.