Closing Ranks?

Thank you, Bett.

The No Kill concept should be our goal. But in view of the chaos at BARC and the general ignorance of our city leaders and their advisors, I would be willing to listen to what HSPCA or HHS shelter managers have to say--people with full knowledge of the problems hand, despite of our different ways of handling them. I am certain that they are closer to our way of thinking (revulsion at the wholesale killing) than Fusco or Mayor White.

As in war, great battes are won by means of tactical victories. If we focus on our first strategic goal, which is getting a good bureau chief (Bonnie Ford, many say would be the best candidate) hired, we will be in a better position to push for No Kill. Shelving (not abandoning) the ideal momentarily is a small price to pay.

While I wasn't endorsing any specific shelter managers for a committee, we cannot constitute a credible committee without some of them. Realistically, a pro-animal Advisory Committee should have some flexibility or it is doomed to be dismissed as a bunch of "extremists" (you know it). Even committed animal advocates who lose sleep over the wholesale slaughter of dogs and cats, are skeptical about the viability of No Kill. Yet we all hope for it and need to educate ourselves about ways to achieve it. 

Meanwhile, faced with a much stronger force of politicos and their minions who would not even slow down to avoid hitting a cat or a dog, I think our differences are best kept among ourselves. We should stand united. With Fusco gone, an Animal Advisory Committee in place, and a bureau chief we can trust, the road toward the No Kill goal will be more practicable than it ever was in Houston. Right now we have nothing but Fusco, while the animals continue to be abused on the way to the euthanasia room.

We can do it, but we cannot stumble over our own philosopical differences. Not at this critical junction. Thank you for all you do. -- Dolores