Thank you for the thought-provoking article by Dr. Brestrup. I have long been of two minds regarding this issue, and this article has brought much clarity.

In my opinion, the solution remains simple but elusive.

First and foremost, public education as to the equality between animals' and humans' rights must be strengthened.

Secondly, free or very low cost spaying and neutering needs to be mandatory and accessible in all communities.

The tertiary and most immediate need is for the existing shelters to model their programs after the good rescue groups: fostering animals in comfortable, safe homes instead of wire prisons, and conducting thorough home investigations for potential adoptors.

The above mandates would certainly not be any more costly than running the current 'Alcatraz for Animals', as their current practises simply perpetuate the need for larger facilities with more staff and management needed to keep up with the rising demand. Perhaps they could take a multitude of lessons from good rescue centres, who operate with no budgets at all and provide the best of all services.