Sunday afternoon
Dear Memphis officials,
I sat in church today and listened to the sermon, about Lazarus being raised from the dead. My minister put a new spin on this familiar story for us today. He said, 'In raising Lazarus, Jesus was willing to get into trouble to fight death.' He challenged us to take the risk to fight death wherever we find it, and be ready to get into trouble along the way. Well, this isn't much of a risk, but I feel moved to write to you today.
I'm very saddened and angered to know that animals surrendered to Memphis Animal Services are not given more of a chance to find new homes. The Akita dog surrendered to you on April 9th and walked directly to the killing room is a horrible example of an animal not given a chance. He was in your custody for 39 seconds while the decision was made to kill him. Given even a little time, a rescue group could have been found that was eager to work with and rehome this dog . For me there is no excuse for him to have been summarily executed, as I have to say he was.
Animal rescuers, like myself, who believe in the No Kill Equation want you to know that this solution to animal killing is not theoretical anymore. It is a proven method that requires no additional money or staffing, just a willingness to think and act in new ways where animal sheltering is concerned. Here is a brief summary of the No Kill Philosophy, which I urge you....no, I beg you to read and be willing to implement. http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/pdf/nokillprimer.pdf
Unlike Lazarus, we cannot raise this Akita from the dead, but we can use the occasion of his death to fight for change. I write to you as a representative of the No-Kill Nation, anxiously awaiting changes that will make the Memphis Animal Shelter truly a 'shelter' for animals.
Sincerely,
Donna Bloomer
volunteer animal rescuer
Wilmington, NC