[ SHOWGSD-L ] Fwd: 93% Support No Kill in Reno, NV
- From: stormy435 <stormy435@xxxxxxx>
- To: "showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:12:12 -0700
This is an example of what CAN be done. Instead of saying, "It CAN'T!" Hear
this, Stockton, CA and all the other communities that say, "More Laws!
Spay/Nueter! Limit how many you can have!"
S
TRANSFORMING YOUR COMMUNITY
The first step to building a No Kill community is rebuilding your relationship
with the community. And that is done by showing them that you are true to your
mission. Two years ago, in January 2007, we did a series of Town Hall-type
meetings and surveys to determine how the Washoe County (Reno), NV community
felt about its shelter, the Nevada Humane Society.
Those efforts revealed deep dissatisfaction in the community, especially among
animal welfare stakeholders (rescue groups, feral cat caretakers, No Kill
shelters, and others) with the job being done. The vast majority did not
believe the humane society was doing enough to save lives.
Rather than circle the wagons as too many shelters do, the Board of Directors
promised the community they would do better, and they idealized that promise by
embracing and launching an ambitious No Kill initiative despite a combined
intake rate of 16,000 dogs and cats per year; three times the per capita rate
of Los Angeles, five times the per capita rate of San Francisco, and over twice
the national average. In other words, they didn?t just point the finger of
blame at the ?irresponsible public,? they said they would save the animals
despite whatever irresponsibility existed in the community.
The following two years were marked by significant and substantial efforts in
that regard. We assisted the agency by assessing and revamping its operations.
A new executive director committed to and passionate about saving lives was
hired. The entire management team was replaced. And of nearly seventy
employees, only three of the original group was allowed to remain. In short,
they got the right people on the bus. And then they took that bus in a whole
new direction. That meant launching a series of programs and services in line
with the No Kill Equation model of sheltering. And the results have been
dramatic.
In 2007,
? The Washoe County adoption rate increased 53% for dogs and 84% for cats
(compared to 2006), a higher increase than any other community in the nation.
? The Washoe County killing rate decreased by 51% for dogs and 52% for cats.
? The countywide save rate was 92% for dogs and 78% for cats despite a per
capita intake rate that is twice the national average.
In 2008, the agency increased dog and cat adoptions an additional 9% over 2007,
decreased the number of dogs and cats killed in Washoe County by an additional
10%, and increased the save rate for cats to 83%. So far this year, 86% of cats
are being saved. Nine out of ten dogs also continue to be saved.
Not surprisingly, public perception today stands in sharp contrast to what it
was. With the help of the Reno Gazette Journal, a community survey in January
2009 revealed that:
? 93% support the No Kill initiative;
? 95% gave the humane society positive ratings on adoption efforts and
results; and,
? 93% say NHS has a good or great public image.
Open-ended public comments were overwhelmingly positive and coalesced around
two major themes:
? ?We believe NHS does an excellent job for the citizens of Washoe County.?
? ?NHS does a great job of taking care of the animals in its care.?
That success can be every community?s success. And the only thing standing in
the way of it is the vision, commitment, and follow-through of its leadership.
Read ?How We Did It? by the Nevada Humane Society by clicking here. And make
their community?s success, yours.
http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/pdf/HowWeDidIt.pdf
--
Stormy Hope
www.carpoc.org
AKC Legislative Liaison, GSDCA
Sunshine Squad <showgsd.org/sunshine.html)
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