A blog by spcaLA president, Madeline Bernstein

Feb 22, 2010

The Village Thanks You

spcaLA recently announced a pet food shortage as a casualty of the bleak economic climate and consequential  cutbacks in corporate donations across the board. This was particularly harsh as not only are there more animals to feed because of the increase in animal relinquishments (the poor economy again) but because spcaLA also feeds animals at other shelters from Bakersfield to San Diego. Imagine our distress when we feared we would  soon not have enough food to feed our own residents without having to use precious funds to purchase food. (We have not had to purchase food for the last 14 years!)

Then you stepped in. Undeterred by needs in Haiti, your own unemployment concerns, and your budget bottom lines - you sounded the horn and came to our doors in the rain with bags of food, litter and other supplies. Bag after bag, can after can you responded to this need and, I hope, will continue to so do. We are deeply grateful for this outpouring of support and its testament to the instant rewards of giving locally. It is only when we strengthen our local communities that we can become truly strong and able to help others.

On behalf of the thousands of animals that you have fed - I thank you.

Feb 2, 2010

How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?

The city of West Hollywood California is on the verge of banning dogs and cats from pet stores unless they come from shelters.
Imagine if this were done nationally. Shelters would have more outlets to place animals which would free up shelter space to allow more time to find homes for its residents. Potential parents would have more convenient locations to seek a new family member. Pet shops would have no reason to order pets from puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders. Consequently, pet overpopulation with its attending euthanasia rate could become a thing of the past. The message we could teach our children is that pets have value, they are neither Doritos ("we can always make more") nor are they disposable commodities with licenses to waste and to trash. Couple this notion with the idea of moving the supply of specific shelter animals to where they are in demand as demonstrated by the chihuahua air lifts - and voila - we put puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders out of business. There is no down side. Let's make it so!