Comments on: Nathan Winograd on King County shelters

By: Arie van der Hoeven

Arie van der Hoeven — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:10:48 +0000

I just noticed the “Bill Gates should give” comment above. I wonder if the poster realizes that the investigations into KCAC began when a Microsoft employee (not me) tried to save the life of a kitten that hadn’t been eating for several weeks that then died in foster after seeing private vets. I tried to help as well. The KCAC officer had to manage the shelter alone due to staffing policies at the time. I’m not sure I would blame the person, but the situation was awful. (There are two officers on duty recently - yay!)

I’ve also tried to reach out to KCAC management as a Microsoft employee and not been received well - as in our mails were not returned. I’m fairly active charing a yearly charity golf tournament at Microsoft for example.

I’d be happy to help sponsor some funding if we can meet the standards of the Gates foundation or other similar groups. Unfortunately with the current situation that is not likely, but with a private take over it might be possible if the group is well organized. I say that, but at the same time I hesitate to blame KCAC employees, there are organizational and leadership issues here that put everyone in a tight spot.

BTW, as most folks know I don’t blog anonymously - so feel free to Google me. :)

By: Lis

Lis — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:15:40 +0000

Aw, dang! :)

By: Sally

Sally — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:07:25 +0000

Hee hee hee!!!

Let me rephrase. Only animals that are a danger to humans, or that are suffering from illnesses that cannot be treated, are euthanized at this shelter.

Not any other interpretation that might cut down on troll overpopulation.

By: Lis

Lis — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:21:49 +0000

only the sick and vicious are now euthanized.

There must be something wrong with me, or this innocent statement wouldn’t have had the effect it did. I should not be thinking “the possibilities are beyond counting.”

By: Sally

Sally — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:51:09 +0000

Excuse me, that should read “an open admissions, animal control” shelter. They are, however, now publicly calling themselves a no kill shelter - only the sick and vicious are now euthanized.

See http://www.caspca.org/MissionVision.htm

They are terrific.

By: Sally

Sally — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:48:26 +0000

Well, “get real”, from what I’ve seen of Winograd, his successes are exceeded only by the willingness of his detractors to distort his record.

His shelter in Charlottesville, an open-admissions, no-kill shelter, was at 92% live exit a year ago and is still in the high 80’s - WITHOUT huge budget increases, without warehousing animals, and with the support of the community. It’s a FABULOUS shelter and a HUGE success.

Personally, while he is not perfect, I think his work has done more to change how we save animals nationally than any but a bare handful of people. He’s up there with Avanzino, the Duffields, and the Sauls.

By: slt

slt — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:49:43 +0000

“I find the man disgusting myself and the worst thing to happen to the humane movement in the last fifty years.”

Well do tell what is the *best* thing to happen to the humane movement in the last 50 years?

By: It's Not Real

It's Not Real — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:25:16 +0000

Speaking of Winograd, I feel the tale is now being told. His failures are more than his claim of successes. Rancho Cucamonga that only handles about 5000 animals a year can’t make it work even though their budget has jumped from $770,000 a year to over $2 million. If you can’t make it work with that few animals, it is not a feasible program. And another question, if he indeed saw this horror, why didn’t he do something right then? He walked away from these animals in need and all he did was criticize. Same in Philly. Rather than trying to see where the problem was, he could only use the lame excuse that they weren’t committed enough. I find the man disgusting myself and the worst thing to happen to the humane movement in the last fifty years.

By: The OTHER Pat

The OTHER Pat — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:11:59 +0000

At this point, I’ve pretty much got “get real” set on “ignore”.

I mean, get REAL! LOL!

By: Christie Keith

Christie Keith — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:18:21 +0000

Says the person who came to our site, hid his identity, lied, accused us of being liars, and when confronted with evidence supporting what we were saying, resorted to personal insults.

Who did you learn that from?