airwalk wrote:HappyChick wrote:mnp13 wrote:
However, do shelters really get paid to put animals down? Before I re-post this, I'd like that substantiated.
At our local shelter, the vet (shelter administrator) gets paid for her time to go out and check, vaccinate, euthanize the animals. Our shelter also sells the "bodies" to a research lab. They get $10 a piece for the dogs and I think $6 for the cats. Sad, but true.
You're right it is sad...but let me ask a question....would it be better for the body to be sold to somewhere that can serve a purpose or simply be cremated?
I believe that as long as the whole process is done with the intent of carrying out a necessary job, I have no problem with the bodies being used for scientific purposes. Better dead specimens to work on than live ones.
Our local shelter is run by the County, not our Humane Society. The question has come up more than once about the dollars and cents the County gets/pays to run the shelter. It has been pointed out in several conversations with employees/volunteers/Humane Society members that a dead animal makes the County some money while ones who are adopted out or go to rescue just cost the county money. The longer an animal is there the more money it costs the County. I don't mind the County using various means to make money to keep the place going, but when people (and yes there are county board members who think this way so I am told) want animals to hurry up and be euthanized instead of feeding them for more than 21 days, I've got a serious problem with the whole system. The county board member who is "in charge" of the shelter business told one ACO that all dogs who are there over 21 days should be euthanized immediately because "we aren't running a doggy motel out there." Thank goodness we are fortunate enough to have ACOs who will let a dog stay more than 21 days if there is room.
Diana, you know that it should always be about the animals, but money is a huge factor.
I do not agree with some things in that article because they are not true of many shelters, but I know they are true of some. I think it depends on the area of the country in which the shelter is located and who is running the shelter.