I am talking today about the overpopulated kennels belonging to Animal Protection Associations, and the problems associated with quite a good number of people that resort to these facilities.

It is common knowledge (or maybe not) that the vast majority of the kennels belonging to Animal Protection Associations are solely supported by donations from the associates and from a few sponsoring companies. The operation of these kennels depends practically on voluntary service.

As a result, a great number of the expenses incurred and the reason for the chronic money shortage are due to the kennels management (acceptance of animals in need independently of the financial resources). Regrettably those that contribute the most to this situation aren’t the persons that abandon the animals, but a great number of those that help them. Have you got it? No? I’ll explain:
 
How many times a person finds an abandoned animal in the middle of the night and decides to take it to the closest kennel where it won’t be slaughtered, in other words, the kennel of that Association...

There is nothing wrong with this doing so far, it would be even praiseworthy if... and here is the question, the person that takes the animal volunteers to sponsor it; in other words, if the person offers to contribute with a given amount of money to cover feeding and treatment until the animal is adopted.

That’s why what would have been a good deed turns into a problem. I was a volunteer in an association for many years and I rarely saw anyone taking an animal to the kennel and help to provide for its feeding and care.
People simply leave the dogs at the kennel, and leave forever, happy with the idea of having done their duty, never thinking that the dog will be another burden of responsibility for an association, which financial means are already debilitated. 

That person takes the dog/cat to the kennel because he/she can’t keep the animal at home, which is understandable, and the correct thing to do, but he/she should bear in mind that by adding another animal to the kennels’ population without any financial compensation, he/she will be stretching out the kennels weak resources and thus reducing the welfare of the other animals of the kennel.

The aim of these Associations is to help the animals in need, but the Associations are managed by people like us, people who have families, jobs, and who spend most of their free time helping the animals. They are not professionals paid to do a job!

Is this state of affairs right? In my personal opinion, NO! Those who don't have the means could help otherwise, with work for instance. But they should not contribute to the deficit increase of the Associations’ accounts.

Solidarity is everything that is needed. A good deed involves a sacrifice on our part; otherwise the merit will be scarce.

If you need to go on a diet in the summer to burn the little “spare tires” how about helping an association with cleaning the kennels?  It is healthy, it is funny and the animals will thank you profusely. If you can’t have an animal at home why not sponsoring one of the kennel, providing it with love and food? You don't have the time but you have financial means, so help with a donation. Every contribution, no matter how small, is always welcomed and it can be deducted from your income taxes.

Get information from an Animal Protection Association in your residence area. Ask them what they need and how you can help. The animals will be grateful and so will the Associations!


Vasco Valente
Hospital Veterinario Principal