In my house, animals rule.
Quite literally. Our dogs rule the roost; and we’ll never change that.
And so my wife and I were horrified by the following tale of neglect and inhuman cruelty to those who cannot speak for themselves. Read the following and tell me you don’t feel disgusted and a little ashamed to be part of the human race.
A report describing “horrific” animal cruelty at the SPCA of Niagara – the American side – shelter was released today by the SPCA Serving Erie County. “Horrific” barely scratches the surface, though….
Animals that are not adopted within a certain period have to be put down. That is an indisputable reality in animal shelters. But another reality is this: animals deserve to be treated with love and respect, as do all living things. A routine evaluation of the Erie County SPCA uncovered a den of incompetence and cowardice. One that ignores the basic rules of civilized society.
“Animals were given a shot, which I’m sure hurt, and that caused them to throw up…and then they couldn’t move,” said Barbara S. Carr, who conducted the three-week investigation.
“They were injected directly into the heart. This is excruciatingly painful,” she said, fighting back tears as she described the conditions to reporters.
The 115-page report stated there were no standard operating procedures for animal care, sanitation or euthanasia, and that some pets were euthanized in an especially cruel manner.
Especially cruel? Fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan kills his victims in the same manner. I’m not trying to be flippant; it’s true. These creatures were fully aware of their pain. Can you imagine enduring such agony?
“Clearly the governing and management of the shelter needs to be greatly improved,” said Carr, executive director of the SPCA Serving Erie County. “There is blame to go everyplace.” Hell of an understatement, right?
Carr confirmed allegations by staff members that nearly 600 cats and dogs, some of them healthy, had been euthanized since Oct. 1.
She struggled to hold back tears when describing how some were killed with “heart sticks,” an intercardiac injection she said was banned in some states.
Pets are generally euthanized intravenously, Carr said.
Executive Director John A. Faso was not aware of proper euthanization practices, Carr said, and presided over a disorganized operation that created a “chaotic environment. “There is no sense of structure at the NCSPCA,” her report stated. The board is “admittedly dysfunctional,” the report stated, and “should consider a complete restructure.”
Carr said it was difficult to prove whether SPCA officials were incompetent or negligent in their handling of the animals.
“I didn’t feel any evil people when I went in there,” she said, adding that some staff members “want to do the right thing.”
She felt “no evil”? How is that remotely possible? I wish I knew what to say about all of this…
I have no words that do this situation justice. I can’t fathom the agony these animals felt. Ironically, this tale of cruelty should fill me with
compassion, but it makes me angry beyond belief.
I hate feeling this way. I may write The Book of Terrible, but I want to feel joy at being a part of this wonderful world, not shame and rage.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Hook, there are just no words to express how truly horrific this is…Wow…Oh my god…All these people should go to jail for cruelty to animals. If these people are not put on trial and sent to jail for cruelty to animals, then there truly is no justice in this world at all. There are no words for how awful this makes me feel…wow…This is horrific beyond belief!
It surely is…
I grew up on farms, and having a wide variety of animals from farm animals to wild ones were common for me. I do understand the concept of having to put down animals. Even though it break my heart, I understand it.
Animals that need to be put down should be put down in a manner that is not painful. If it is painful, that is just cruel.
And so should some owners.
My sister and her family were moving to England this past summer, and she offered the family cat to a whole slew of people. Everyone said no. This cat is a very temperamental cat, but it was mucho loved by my sister. And because no one wanted it, they shrugged their shoulders and wanted to give it to the humane society. This in my opinion is rubbish. You don’t put down a pet because they are an inconvenience to your plans. That is almost as bad as these people you are speaking of who have put down animals in a painful manner.
We definitely need to re-evaluate or standards for animal care in North America. Thanks for your input, Woman.
And then look at the alarming rate of child abuse and how many die each year. They go hand in hand….so sad…
Great post Hook!
Glad you’re pleased, Susie. Thanks for the input and visits.
This is truly tragic. There is no getting around that. I’m glad they’ve uncovered this and will do something about it. I spent a summer as a vet tech and assisted on several intravenous euthanasia’s there is simply no excuse for any other method than this exceeding simple and humane procedure.
If ignorance of the law is no excuse, then ignorance of best practices shouldn’t be either.
Exactly. Thanks you, Gillian – for everything.
The same applies here with regards to being put down after a certian periiod of time. Of the methods I have no idea, but would like to hope it is in a humane (since when is killing sonething humane?) manner such as Gillian wrote of. I’m sure the people that worked in said shelter were all good people and are as against animal cruelty as the rest of us, but by not pushing to have regulations or procedures changed means they are as bad the procedure itself. Ignorance and cowardice are pretty powerful things in the wrong hands.
We are, as I type, in the process of ‘saving’ a dog from a friend of ours so it didn’t have to go to the pound (shelter), where it faces an almost certain death sentence.
Of the whole ‘our dogs rule the house’ thing, it is as bad as letting the kids rule the house. I don’t like this, and as cute as your pets are, i prefer my dogs to be bigger than purse size (boxer, labs etc)
I had no hand in selecting our “little angels”. I just paid for them!
Hi – I would like to differentiate that there are times when euthanasia is absolutely humane in reply to your comment “since when is killing something humane?” I don’t believe they apply, ever to healthy animals, however, who are simply in need of a home. But, when I worked in the emergency vet hospital, I saw too many owners who selfishly ignored the pain and anguish of their animal rather than give them the relief from their suffering they deserved.
As a human, we can self-select to receive treatment or not. Animals do not have that privilege of self-determination once we make them our pets.
…humane not human (typo uggh!)
As usual, you provide a balanced, intelligent voice to the discussion, Gillian, Thank you.
As civilized as we might think we are, humans are still mammals. There are those who participate in our civilized society and there are those who delight in others’ pain. Unfortunately, those who enjoy inflicting pain on others are not susceptible to teachings that assert hurting others is wrong. However, we need to keep trying.
There aren’t many people that don’t know what animal cruelty is, so I hope these heartless neanderthals are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
I hope so too, but it’s already been publicly stated that their actions were not actually illegal, so who knows wehat will happen now?
Disgusted and heartbroken. I have my 3 furr-kids that are treated just like anyone elses children. They definitely rule our roost as well. Disgusted of the treatment to other animals that occur on a daily basis that is overlooked or just ignored. I agree the laws and consequences should be more serious for abusers. Even if it’s your job, most normal people would know what was going on was wrong, yet they went along with it killing, 600 animals in less than 4 months… REALLY ? Thanks for posting, Hook, and bringing attention to this. Someone has to speak for our furr-kids.
More than happy to do so.
Not what one would expect from a society dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals, is it? I think all staff of these places should be thoroughly ‘vetted’ before employment. How dreadful to think this goes on in this day and age!
The world can be a terrible place, unfortunately.
Truly sad, some ppl have no heart.
Very true, Jennifer. I just hope justice is done; although that may be too much to ask.
I once worked for a vet in college, and we sometimes had to put old or sick animals to sleep. I would hold the pet, gently stroke it, and whisper to it in a calm voice. Sometimes the owner’ss would be present, and sometimes they wouldn’t. The shot the animals recieved was in a leg, was painless, and stopped their heart in a few seconds. They just seemed to go to sleep. I didn’t stay in the job long. Even under good conditions, it was just too sad.
I can certainly understand that. That role would be heartwrenching to fill.
>I may write The Book of Terrible, but I want to feel joy at being a part of this wonderful world, not shame and rage.
- Shame and rage in this form is fine, Hook, because your posts remind us what NOT to be like.
All blogs and every post cannot be, and should not be, all sunshine and roses. We need the clouds and the thorns as well.
By bringing to the fore the flip side of humankind, you are essentially making us hold up a mirror to ourselves. If we like what we see, yaay! But if we don’t? Time to do something about it.
Be proud of dishing out the dirt. It is a dirty job alright, and you’re doing a fine job of it.
Kate
P.S.: I’m doggone crazy, too!
Thanks for boosting my spirits, Kate! I think you’re crazy in a good way!
I’m a cat person myself and started tearing up just reading through this. Not too long ago a local SPCA chapter was shut down for investigation for exactly these types of cruelties. I cannot fathom how people can act so heartlessly to defenseless beings liked that! It totally enrages me too!
I think this enrages every sane person who hears of it.
This really is terrible. I have two rescued pets myself and I hate to think about something like this happening to them. I think the best thing we can do is to encourage the people we know to be responsible pet owners and keep as many animals as possible from going to shelters in the first place.
Well said, my longtime friend! People need to treat animals as they do people. Then again, we need to treat them better, don’t we?