Congratulations to the No Kill Revolution and Movement

by Michel Meunier (portions first published Feb. 23, 2009 at www.nokillrevolution.blogspot.com) 

When I sometimes start going down the road of defeatism, I think to the nationwide accomplishments of this No Kill movement, and I draw strength from that. I also remind myself that any and all revolutions, even peaceful ones, do not see complete success overnight. 

I think back to myself two years ago, and I was much like many animal-welfare people I work with today. I used to think that shelters did the best they could with the enormous job they face and the numbers of animals they deal with. I made excuses for our system and didn’t see any alternatives to the mass killing, though I was saddened by it and also understood why that love-hate relationship exists between the shelter and the general public. I didn’t think that a paradigm shift could change things for the better for all involved. 

My path toward progressive thinking came from a great amount of research I did for my own education and benefit and because this subject, for some reason, touched a deep chord in me. I was drawn to the story of sheltering and the strides of progress with each and every resource I got my hands on, and my eyes were opened to the possibilities of change. It made perfect sense to me that standard sheltering was geared toward killing in the face of alternatives, and sadly, most shelter leaders at this time are still stuck in that insane loop of doing things the same way but expecting different results and lashing against the very animal-loving public they should be embracing. 

My transformation started with reading Nathan J. Winograd’s “Redemption”, followed by many hours of online research. If I could convince all people who care about companion animals to read one thing, it would be this book. But, No Kill information is also widely available online via The No Kill Advocacy Center, this national Godsend, The No Kill Nation, Best Friends Animal Society, Maddie’s Fund, etc. 

I am reminded, too, that it was in April 2007 that “Redemption” was first published and released, and in two short years, more than two handfuls of communities in the United States have dramatically turned their shelters around by following this model of sheltering. As those stories are shared and success spreads, more communities will follow. I agree with Winograd that nationwide change is inevitable … the question is will your community be in on the transformation sooner or later. Any community can ask itself the same question, and there are No Kill advocates nationwide fighting for these changes in their neck of the woods—some against stronger odds at this time than others. 

Widespread change will come when more speak out 

There is a distaste these days, even in these great United States of ours, against those that speak up against the status quo. I see it here when we are at supposed public-input meetings regarding animal welfare. Anyone who gets up to say anything critical, even if factually-based and well-founded and constructive, almost gets their heads cut off. Any shelter volunteer that dare ask questions or try to address issues is either fired or made so uncomfortable that they fear sharing their views and the truth. Personalities trump logical conversations or exchanges of ideas and solutions, etc. That’s why I so greatly admire Nathan J. Winograd’s courage to speak out the loudest and say those things many of us have on our minds but are afraid to divulge. 

It is also true that many in animal welfare (the majority in my community) are still mired in the philosophies and views of the past or cannot themselves see around or past their blaming of the irresponsible public. Many smart and dedicated people that I greatly admire still say and think that our shelter is doing the best it can–despite the continued level of killing, despite the spending that has exponentially increased, despite news or stories to the contrary, etc. 

Until more speak out and until more are outraged into speaking up and demanding better for our shelters and animals, we will still be administering the status quo of animal sheltering and killing the majority in this country. I challenge each and every person who cares and wishes our communities did not kill an average of 50%+ of our homeless animals each year to open your minds up and take some time to learn about the No Kill Revolution. I know it is time-consuming; it has become my passion, and I have spent countless hours learning about it. I would not trade those hours for anything now that I have seen the light. We need your help and voices so that we can collectively and overwhelmingly push for these changes in each and every community.