Animal Rescue League overloaded with out-of-area strays
Posted on July 27, 2007 in Around the metro, Pets & Animals by DM
We adopted our newest dog, Bugs, from the Animal Rescue League (ARL) about four years ago. At that time we were told he had been found wandering in Union County, so they had no information on him. He is a great dog, but we did think it was odd that he had come from so far away. Now, according to WHO’s Friday news feed,
The Animal Rescue League in Des Moines says too many stray animals are coming in from other parts of the state. Space is tight at the shelter, and the problem worsens when strays from other counties are brought to the facility.
It is time for these other counties to take responsibility for their own strays, and establish either an animal control facility operated by the Sheriff’s Department or a contract with a private organization to provide the shelter service.
The ARL also needs to take some responsibility for their part in creating the problem - primarily, having set a precedent for accepting animals from out of the area, and in fact, naming their organization The Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Is it any wonder people from around the state think they can bring their strays here?
If I were the ARL Board, I would be thinking along these lines:
- Either re-name the organization to accurately reflect it’s Des Moines/Polk County/whatever geographic focus and then refuse to take animals from other areas; or
- Agree to provide services to other counties but require them to pony up for a shelter facility and overhead expenses so that ARL can come into those counties and operate satellite locations there; and
- Require those counties to provide resident and business mailing lists so the ARL can fund-raise in those counties.
Neither solution is perfect, but they are a starting point for discussion. Your comments are welcome!
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2 comments to “Animal Rescue League overloaded with out-of-area strays”
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Does anyone think the Animal Rescue League should be working more with the elderly and with local group homes for the aged? From looking at their website, I know that is part of their mission, but I wonder if they are doing enough on that line. I’ve read some reports about how caring for a pet can be beneficial to senior citizens, but I wasn’t sure if that would entirely resolve the current problems of the Animal Rescue League.
Great point, Joel - I too have heard that “pet therapy” is very effective. I’m sure the ARL is doing as much as they can with the budget and resources they have… which sadly are quite limited.