“No kill is not achieved by the shelter alone but rather is an achievement of the community by working hand in hand with partner organizations. No kill animal services are rooted in transparency and integrity because every life matters and the killing isn’t hidden. Asking the community for assistance is fundamental to a no kill strategic plan.”
Lifesaving progress on the level necessary to end the killing of companion animals as soon as possible calls for accuracy in language, swiftness of action, setting aside misunderstandings of the past, forging relationships, compassion for all and integrity in all that we say and do.
When to soldier on through the difficulties, when to stand and fight and when to move on are all options to consider because we cannot let the challenges and obstacles related to ending the institutionalized killing of pets in animal shelters stop us from our calling of lifesaving leadership.
Animal services leadership needs activists pushing them to do better. It’s part of the process. It may not always feel comfortable, but I always reminded myself when I was a director that necessity is the mother of all invention and innovation.
The clock was ticking for thousands of pets every day who would breath their last breath before being lead to a room without windows. An urgency existed. I used my entrepreneurial background and quarter of a century in public services leadership and I got to work.
Knowing When to Support and When to Revolt: The Lifesaving Balance in Animal Services Leadership in animal services is no easy task. With lives on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Knowing when to support leadership and when to […]
Ending the Violence: Restoring Compassion in Animal Sheltering The word kill is a violent word. To be killed is even more violent. Yet for decades, many animal shelters have operated under the premise that killing pets is simply part of […]
“If you want to make everyone happy, sell ice cream, don’t be a leader” – Steve Jobs The Courage to Save Lives: Lessons from a Surprising Journey in Animal Services When I transitioned to animal services after 25 years in […]
The Importance of Accuracy in Animal Sheltering: Words Matter, Lives Matter For 30 years, I dedicated my public service career to professional excellence. When I transitioned from parks management to animal services, I thought my commitment to excellence would naturally […]
