...and I think you are as saddened by this type of situation as I am. I hope you understand that since most of the work I do, is with abandoned animals and ferals, I am well aware of what you are trying to say. What I see and deal with most often is the fallout of laziness and thoughtlessness (odd looking word?!) The man who dumped these kittens, never intended to take them to a shelter, so that point is moot.

There's no way I can even attempt to convince you that the SPCA should stop sheltering, because what I really want to see immediately is an overhaul, a reform, the SPCA getting back to it's foundation. I think the SPCA should focus on investigating cruelty, responding to and acting on the publics calls for help in cases of neglect and abuse, public education on spay/neuter, low cost spay/neuter programs (which I could use badly) and using their power to bring about stronger anti-cruelty laws (their motto is Protection Against Cruelty to Animals).

I think the SPCA should get out of animal control. The money for this service should come from the tax payers, not the donators. During the Community Consultation, the independent panel recommended that "the Society should seriously consider getting out of animal control as contracts expire and put additional resources into prevention of cruelty, education and advocacy - the foundation of its mission." This would decrease the crushing load of animals in shelters.

In the short term, I'd like to see the SPCA interview people who want to dump their pets, and educate them on what is going to happen to their dog or cat in the shelter environment. Every person who comes in to hand an animal off, needs to be educated about shelter life (I did volunteer for the SPCA for a few years, so I'm not just flapping my lips here). They need a tour of the cages and runs and the euthanizing facilities and the garbage. Life doesn't come without consequences, and yet most people who dump their animals off at the shelter, just walk out the door, without much of a second thought.

The SPCA needs to spay/neuter every single animal prior to adoption. Period. No way around that one, every other small rescue group does it, in spite of tiny (or zero) budgets. So how about that for a start? If you want to email me, feel free. I did welcome you to do that long time ago, but since you didn't, I thought you may just be posting to start something on the board. I wonder why you didn't email me, if you really just wanted to convince me of the error of my thinking, or be convinced of yours?

Since you noted that three kittens are still missing, you're probably concerned about their welfare, so I'll keep you updated if I find any of them. Unfortunately, I did trap a young cat, about 7 months old out there. This poor cat obviously used to be tame, but is really scared right now. Sad thing that makes me wonder, is that the cat is black, and I heard a rumour from one of the local kids, before I found this cat, that black cats were being dumped at the cemetery for fun?? Sigh....