From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November 2000--


Letters

Rochester

On page 8 of the Septem-ber 200 edition of ANIMAL PEOPLE, you
erroneously attributed to me the statement, "When you look for donations,
you look for the most politically correct way to go. And it's not
politically correct to kill animals." That was actually said by Tom
Shannon of Rochester Animal Control, when he was asked by Alan Morrell of
the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle about the decision of the Humane Society
of Rochester & Monroe County not to renew our long-term contract with the
city to do animal control. Shannon was among the few Roch-ester Animal
Services staff kept by the city when they began operating animal control on
July 1, 2000.
I did make the statement regarding the expenditure of "time and
energy doing things that are not part of our mission." The decision not to
renew the animal control contract was carefully considered by our staff and
board. We determined that we can continue to do the positive, proactive
things for the animals and people of the City of Rochester without bearing
the burden of maintaining the city's animal shelter or enforcing the city's
animal control and nuisance laws.
The Humane Society of Rochester & Monroe County entered into a new
contract with the city to continue providing veterinary care to animals
impounded at their shelter. We also plan to continue transferring animals
from the city shelter for medical care and adoption. We will continue to
maintain a web site for Rochester Animal Control and link it to our own.
And we will remain active participants in the regional animal fighting task
force we established nearly two years ago to combat the proliferation of
pit bulls for fighting purposes.
--Jim Tedford
Executive Director
Humane Society of Rochester
& Monroe County
P.O. Box 299
Fairport, NY 14450
Telephone: 716-223-1330
Fax: 716-425-4183


No-Kill

I have been wanting to tell you how impressed I am with how ANIMAL
PEOPLE handles no-kill issues. I hope the day comes when your attitude and
perspective is shared by all involved in animal concerns.
--Darlene Larsen
New London, Minnesota
<glarson@midstate.tds.net>

Our attitude and perspective, in summary, are that yes, no-kill
policies are practicable for high-volume adoption facilities and/or quality
care-for-life facilities for unadoptable animals, but preferably in a
working partnership with animal control; and yes, no-kill animal control
can be achieved, but only after sufficient neutering is done to reduce dog
and cat reproduction to self-replacement at whatever level the community
can absorb as pets and accept as street animals. This will be few in
developed nations; more in nations where street animals are still
essential to refuse disposal and rodent control.


Mufulira SPCA

We are listed in the World Animal Net directory as operating an animal
shelter in Zambia. We are in fact renovating the shelter, and will reopen
it as soon as possible. Badly dilapidated and heavily vandalized, it has
not operated for more than 10 years. Located beside a busy highway, the
main building has rooms for surgery, reception, a kitchen, storage, and
toilets, plus 42 kennels and expansion space.
We are now trying to raise $25,000 in U.S. funds in order to obtain
hot water, an electric stove, refrigerator and deep freezer, vaccines
and veterinary supplies, and an ambulance.
--Ernest M. Chakanga
President/SPCA Director
Zambian Society of Vegetarians
P.O. Box 40728
Mufulira, Zambia
Fax: 260-2-410211

This letter is to introduce Ernest Chakanga, who has ex-pressed
an interest in revitalizing the Mufulira SPCA, has conducted a general
clean-up of the property, and has approached Janice Turner, the custodian
of the SPCA assets, and I for assistance. We have been in communication
with the National Council of the SPCA in South Africa, who are very
supportive of the idea, and are prepared to help with policy guidance,
operational manuals, and educational materials. It is intended that a
board of trustees will be formed on which Mrs. Turner and I have expressed
willingness to serve. A constitution is currently being drawn up.
To raise funds, Ernest is selling second-hand clothing and other items.
--Steve Thompson
Managing Director
African Explosives Ltd.
Mufulira, Zambia


Clinic for Israel

Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI) has been raising funds
to purchase and ship a much needed spay/neuter clinic to Israel to provide
these essential operations at low cost all over the country and do
much-needed educational work. Recently, we received a $20,000 matching
grant for this purpose. If Animal People readers will help us match this
grant, we can ship the clinic and get started on a major country-wide
educational effort, in schools as well as in the media, to promote
spaying and neutering.
--Nina Natelson
Director, CHAI
P.O. Box 3341
Alexandria, VA 22302
Telephone: 703-658-9650
Fax: 703-941-6132
<chai_us@compuserve.com>
<www.chai-online.org>


Corfu

I would like to call your readers' attention to animal poisoning,
a problem for which Greece is notorious. Here on the island of Corfu we
are dependent on tourism. During the tourist season, ending each October,
poisoning decreases so as not to make a bad impression on visitors. But
as soon as the last charter flight leaves, hundreds of animals lose their
lives in this cruel and inhumane manner.
--Marjorie Pandi
Corfu, Greece
<m-pandi@otenet.gr>



70% fixed

Thanks for the mention of Help in Suffering in your September 2000
edition. We were particularly interested in the editorial, "Introducing a
Different Needle." We had noticed in our Animal Birth Control program that
rapid breeding continued to occur unless we could cover a high percentage
of the dogs in a particular area. Although we had not heard before of 70%
being the number of dogs or cats requiring sterilization to stabilize a
population, it had become obvious from our records that such is the case.
We also liked your wry editorial comment about putting care ahead
of purity, and fully support your sentiments.
--Christine Townend
Help In Suffering Sanctuary
Maharani Farm
Durgapura, Jaipur
Rajasthan, India
<hisjpr@datainfosys.net>


Sadhu Vaswani

This letter comes to you with good wishes and warm greetings from
Sadhu Vaswani Mission. Named after Sadhu Vaswani, a prophet of reverence
for all life, the Mission has undertaken since 1986 to initiate awareness
that reverence for all forms of life alone can lead to world peace. Our
founder believed that every animal has the right to live. His birthday,
November 25, is observed by countless people worldwide as an International
Meatless Day and Animal Rights Day.
We invite your readers to join us in expressing shared commitment
to this noble cause.
--(Miss) Gulshan G. Dudani
Convener, Meatless Day
Sadhu Vaswani Mission
10 Sadhu Vaswani Road
Pune 411 001, India
Telephone: 91-212-623847
Fax: 91-212-6122406
<jvaswani@vsnl.net>


Correction

On page 21 of the Sept-ember edition of ANIMAL PEOPLE we reported
that a Fremont County, Colorado jury on August 2 found dog breeder Eugenia
Swim, 63, not guilty of neglecting 16 adult dogs and 34 puppies. Swim
was actually charged with neglecting only 34 total dogs: the 16 adults
plus 18 puppies.