by Barbara Fairbanks

Watching television programs like the National Geographic Channel's "Dogtown" never fails to bring me to tears.  These folks out in the desert Southwest are giving a second chance to dogs that no one else wants.  Dogs whose behavioral or physical problems make them impossible to adopt out are evaluated, treated, and rehabilitated.  If they still cannot be adopted, they will live out their lives in Dogtown, being euthanized only when they are in too much pain or discomfort to enjoy life. The mother organization, Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS), has the same type of program for cats, horses, rabbits, pigs, and domestic birds.  There is even a licensed wildlife rehabilitation program to help injured wild animals return to lives of freedom.  BFAS sits on 33,000 acres and has an annual budget of over thirty million dollars.  

At the end of every Dogtown episode, with my eyes full of tears, I try to figure out how to justify a move to Utah so I can be a part of that great effort.  About the time I've mentally packed my bags, I think about leaving the Humane Society of Northeast Texas (HSNTX) behind to follow my dreams.  About that time, rational thought starts creeping back in, and the reasons I continue my passionate support of an organization that is unable to use the "no kill" label all line themselves back out. 

Dogtown takes select animals from animal shelters in the surrounding area, and it does wonderful work. However, it cannot take all of the animals from those shelters or it would quickly be out of room. The
shelters still have to conduct euthanasia on animals that are not adopted out or taken to Dogtown. Limited admission facilities like Dogtown do great things, but they should not be held in higher esteem than the facilities that are stuck with the unfortunate chore of euthanizing animals on a daily basis because they receive more animals than they are able to place out.

As our organization gets closer to a capital building campaign, I am becoming acutely aware of the number of grants, donations, and public funding sources that are restricted to only "no kill shelters".  It is sad that there are still so many people that do not understand that because of animal overpopulation, the same number of animals are going to be euthanized no matter who has to do it.  Animals that "no kill" organizations cannot or will not accept are essentially pushed to open admission facilities like the HSNTX which work hard to help and adopt or place as many animals as possible but simply cannot do it without euthanasia at this point in time.  In many areas, these excess animals are euthanized in municipality-run shelters that may make little or no effort to adopt animals out or to ensure the most humane conditions possible. 

I am passionate about working to help more of our community here in Northeast Texas to adopt an enlightened attitude that supports a non-profit, open admission organization such as the HSNTX. In my mind, it is imperative that the facilities that have to euthanize animals have the funding for committed, compassionate staff, for animal evaluation and rehabilitation programs, for educational neuter/spay outreach programs, for volunteer programs, for community education and outreach programs, and for in-house veterinary care.  The new HSNTX building, complete in its conceptual design phase now, will enable the HSNTX to build on the many services it now provides in a very limited space.  It will only become a reality with sufficient funding, however.

If you have the same internal reaction to programs like Dogtown that I do, please make every effort after that lump in the throat subsides to bring an element of rational thought into the picture and to support all of the groups that help homeless animals and promote neuter/spay, including those that have the burden of having to euthanize the ones that cannot be placed out.  To have a part in achieving the HSNTX vision to one day end euthanasia of adoptable animals in Northeast Texas, please come by our facility at 303 Enterprise in Longview, call us at 903-297-2170, or visit our website at www.hsntx.org.  There are many ways and levels in which you can become involved, and we will be happy to help you find your niche.

Barbara Fairbanks is Vice-President of the Humane Society of Northeast Texas Board of Directors.