How many times can we look away, how many times can we pretend that isn’t happening or I can’t really make a difference. The HVSPCA is not putting on those spots and we are not part of the ASPCA and by the way you can make a difference. We are an independent organization and the sole OrangeCountySPCA that must raise its own funding from dollar one to dollar 260 thousand with no help from the ASPCA or any governmental body.
The images are real and we see them almost every day, not on TV but in our OrangeCounty shelter. It’s my intent to show the “after” image sparing you, the public, the “before” images that we try to forget. I don’t think we need to show the dog that’s been beaten or the cat that was doused with gasoline and almost set on fire. I think we need to show them after the weeks and sometimes months of help, when they are ready for adoption. I need your input here, show the images we turn away from or the happy faces they become? – e-mail hvspca and let me know what you think (put blog in the subject).
Our job is the most grueling and most gratifying endeavor I’ve ever had the pleasure to participate in. Our passion is predicated on the good we can do and the knowledge we have your support. I once read a poem where the author postulated a person going mad when he could hear all the suffering in the world – I think I’ve come across some of these people. I plan on not joining them.
Unfortunately, this is not a zero sum reality where the bad is balanced by an equal amount of good. When one animal is suffering in silence, there is no balance created by other animals enjoying life as they should. Therefore, we cannot be finished until that last animal is saved from cruelty, regardless of all the other happy faces. And we cannot wait until they come to our door. So, as an SPCA we have begun to fulfill our proactive mission to prevent cruelty through investigation, rescue, arrest and prosecution. We will not depend on municipals to enforce nor prosecuting bodies to prevent cruelty. Look, most police departments do not understand abuse laws, have never been trained in State laws relating to animal cruelty and therefore usually do a poor job preventing cruelty, although with possible good intentions. We are going to change all that! This is less bravado and more of bringing the right tools to the table along with different law enforcement capabilities and educational initiatives. We want and will develop police and prosecuting partners, but that’s another story and enough for now.
One very last thing…
Right now the situation in Haiti demands our attention and support as well as the animals of Haiti. To help the animals in Haiti think of supporting HSUS, PETA and IFAW. To help the animals in Orange County and the surrounding areas think of supporting the HVSPCA.
