This bothers me so much I can hardly deal with it. I understand completely that there are too many cats and not all of them can live long, happy lives in homes of their own. So hard choices must be made.

But two points...

First, it follows, then, that a real animal welfare organization would make education and spay/neuter one of their highest priorities. If it’s not one of the highest priorities, confidence in the organization will be undermined in anyone who does the math.

Second, anyone in ‘animal welfare’ who can kill WITHOUT EXPLORING OPTIONS defiles life. To do it for money is the ultimate degradation. I believe it changes people. They may not see it themselves but others see it in them. They’ll say it was too sick or “I had no choice”.... But if animals are killed who could have been treated and if options are not explored, that’s simply trading life for money. It betrays the animal’s trust and donors’ trust.

I’ve heard people who leave an animal say, “call me if you have to put it down”. I’ve heard volunteers offer to help. I’ve heard private rescue groups offer to take animals. I’ve heard people offer to sponsor an animal’s treatment... these are the kind of options open to an animal welfare organization that cares enough to explore them. But they have been ignored.

I want to be realistic; there is a job here that needs to be done by somebody. When an ignorant or callous person dumps a sick pet, something has to be done. But where there is heart and integrity, that “something” should be education and care for the abandoned sick pet. In an animal welfare organization, shouldn’t those should be the highest priorities?

If the MAJORITY of an animal welfare organization’s money is not going to those priorities – to the animals – then that, in my eyes, is a perversion of priorities.