6 June 13 • 2019
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guest column
Animal Shelters Face Complex Challenges
W
ithin the first chapters of
the Torah, Judaism teaches
the connection between
human beings and animals, and
imposes upon us a mandate to relieve
the suffering of ani-
mals — the mitzvah of
Tza’
ar Ba’
alei Chayim.
The role of animal
shelters is precisely
that — to relieve the
suffering of animals.
Unfortunately, the
need for their services
is tremendous. Animal shelters face
a multitude of complex challenges
that can vary according to location
and demographics; however, most
are rooted in inadequate funding to
support their work of providing safe
refuge and care for unwanted animals.
An animal shelter may be a local
government-owned animal control
department funded by tax-payer dol-
lars, or it may be a nonprofit organi-
zation operating entirely on the dona-
tions of its supporters. In either case,
the dollars they receive are frequently
insufficient to meet the demands for
their services.
Adoption fees cover only a small
percentage of the cost of providing
care to an individual animal, many
of whom arrive in desperate need of
medical services due to injury, abuse
or neglect.
Therefore, it is often necessary for
an animal shelter to strike a balance
between the number of animals that
can be properly cared for and keep-
ing the doors open. Funding directly
impacts even the most well-inten-
tioned shelter’
s ability to provide
quality care to animals in need. Tight
budgets translate to limited kennel
space, limited staff, limited medical
care and limited volunteer training.
Many shelters have to make painfully
difficult decisions as to the number
of animals they can house at any one
time, the number of staff they can pay
and the extent of the services they can
offer.
Because of budget limitations, the
wages of animal welfare workers tend
to be modest. Yet it is critical that
an animal shelter hire dedicated and
compassionate staff. These women
and men witness firsthand the dev-
astating consequences of the cruelty
animals suffer at the hands of human-
kind. The plight of unwanted and
suffering animals is heartbreaking,
and providing safety and nurturing to
hundreds of animals each year — the
mitzvah of Tza’
ar Ba’
alei Chayim —
exacts an emotional and physical toll
on staff. Care must be taken to detect
and prevent “compassion burnout”
among shelter workers.
Animal overpopulation caused by
an unwillingness of pet owners to
spay or neuter their animals com-
pounds the challenges of animal shel-
ters. “Accidental” or careless breeding
leads to unwanted animals, abused
and neglected animals and, conse-
quently, overcrowded shelters.
While animal adoptions help alle-
viate overcrowding, people can be
reluctant to visit and adopt a shelter
animal, concerned that the experience
will be sad or that they will be adopt-
ing “someone else’
s problems.” In
fact, purchasing an animal from pet
stores or breeders of questionable cre-
dentials carries similar risks as those
animals may be physically or mentally
unsound because of profit-driven
breeding.
Of course, with any animal there
will be unknown variables — each has
its own personality and some charac-
teristics may not appear until they’
re
comfortably ensconced in your house-
hold — but a well-run animal shelter
will be especially mindful of match-
ing the proper animal to the proper
home, taking the time to ensure a
good fit.
In the words of British author
Karen Davison: “Saving one dog will
not change the world, but surely for
that one dog, the world will change
forever.” Ditto cats.
So, what can you do to fulfill the mitz-
vah of Tza’
ar Ba’
alei Chayim? Donate!
Adopt or foster a shelter pet! Volunteer
(good for your soul and helps reduce
costs)! And … again … donate! ■
Cindy Howard is president of the nonprofit
Michigan Animal Rescue League in Pontiac
and resides in West Bloomfield with her
husband, Barry, and their three dogs.
Cindy Howard
CORRECTION:
In “
A New Home” (page 26, June 6),
Henry Ford College is where JET’
s
actors rehearsed for the first show
of the season. The name Henry
Ford Community College is no lon-
ger used.