6 June 13 • 2019 jn The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that’ s useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to refl ect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfi ed advertisers, contented employees and profi table growth. To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110, Southfield, MI 48034. OUR JN MISSION 1942 - 2019 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week jn Arthur M. Horwitz Executive Editor/Publisher ahorwitz@renmedia.us F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@renmedia.us Digital Editor: Allison Jacobs ajacobs@renmedia.us Social Media Coordinator: Chelsie Dzbanski cdzbanski@renmedia.us Director of Sponsored Content: Cassie Kunze ckunze@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin2132@gmail.com Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Arts Editor: Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman@renmedia.us Contributing Writers: Ruthan Brodsky, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Julie Edgar, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Adam Finkel, Stacy Gittleman, Stacy Goldberg, Judy Greenwald, Ronelle Grier, Lauren Hoffman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Allison Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Daniel Rosenbaum, David Sachs, Karen Schwartz, Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein, Joyce Wiswell | Advertising Sales Vice President of Sales: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives: Annette Kizy, Ryan Griffin Sales Support: Courtney Shea, Ashlee Szabo | Business Offices Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Jessica Joannides, Kelly Kosek, Michelle Sheridan, Susan Walker | Detroit Jewish News Partner: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Partner: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Partner: Michael H. Steinhardt Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@renmedia.us | Departments General Offi ces: 248-354-6060 Advertising: 248-351-5107 Advertising Fax: 248-304-0049 Circulation: subscriptions@renmedia.us Classifi ed Ads: 248-351-5116 Advertising Deadline: Friday, 12 p.m. Editorial Fax: 248-304-8885 Deadline: All public and social announcements must be typewritten and received by noon Tuesday, nine days prior to desired date of publication. Subscriptions: 1 year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $85 2 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$153 3 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$204 1 year out-of-state . . . . . . . . . . .$125 2 years out-of-state . . . . . . . . . .$225 Per year foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . .$300 Detroit Jewish News 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110 Southfi eld, MI 48034 ©copyright 2019 Detroit Jewish News views 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.