Groups like Animal Advocates, Big Heart, Forgotten Felines, GVAC etc. survive on shoestring budgets. I guess so much time is spent working with animals that they don't really get publicity or appreciation for the work they do.

The Humane Society of the United States ( HSUS) took in $124 891 122 in 2005- with nearly $12 million spent on fundraising alone.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/3848.htm

PETA took in $27 296 369 in 2005, with just under $3 million spent on fundraising.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/4314.htm

Neither of these groups spend any money to run any system of shelters. All they do is to offer expertise or advice to tell other groups how to look after them, and to work for the elimination of the private ownership of pets. The problem is that caring for animals costs money, big money, which these group are not prepared to spend in this way. It’s much easier to leave the work to others and to just get rich.

These groups receive many multi-million dollar legacies, mainly from good people who really want to help animals in a meaningful way. The little groups, including many of them in this part of the world, survive on pittances and permanently have to beg and scramble for funding. Pub nights, bottle drives, garage sales and this type of event are great, but a more solid funding basis is needed by rescue groups.

Something is rotten in the state of animal welfare.

Jean Martin
Lantzville BC