Raven29
Registered: December 2014
City/Town/Province: Madison
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Dogs and cats by the millions are euthanized each year, 2.7 million to be exact. This means that every 11 seconds a dog is humanely euthanized (The Humane Society of The United States). This astounding number is only relatable to dogs and cats; it does not include other species. Horses, cows, tigers, bears, lions, and jaguars are all animals that can be found being kept as pets in the United States. More often than not, people cannot care for these creatures, especially if the creatures are wild and not native to the U.S.. Animals end up being abused, malnourished, or even abandoned. This is where nonprofit organizations for animals come into play. A nonprofit organization, according to Princeton, is "an organization chartered for other than profit-making activities" (Wordnet Search). Animal shelters and sanctuaries are a prime example of nonprofit organizations. The purpose behind a shelter or sanctuary is to provide a temporary or permanent home for animals that need it. Nonprofit organizations benefiting animals in need, due to abuse or abandonment, are vital to the survival of animals all across the country.
The history behind humane animal organizations is one that originates mainly in the United States. Public nuisances wandering the streets would be captured and stored in warehouses. These animals are nuisances to the public eye and are to be disposed. This is the historical goal of humane organizations, to quickly get rid of the pets wandering the streets. Now, the values and goals of the organizations seem to change accordingly. To truly understand their purpose, research must go back to the time in which dog "pounds" are first created. (Miller)
A small facility to keep wandering pets is a "pound". Present day shelters and sanctuaries originate from these pounds. Pounds in small colonial towns serve as a place to store livestock wandering from its pasture. For example, more often than not a farmer might would find his lost horse here. Only because the animals in pounds have the best care, and livestock holds its value, most farmers would come to find a lost animal. The poundkeeper always requires a fee to get the said animal back. As this system develops over time, pounds would begin to accept in homeless dogs and cats. Sadly, because these animals hold no purpose or value they are now put to sleep. (Miller)
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is an organization that holds many ties to the history of nonprofit animal organizations. Originating in 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the first official welfare organization for animals. Yet, dogs and cats are not the main focus here. Stemming off of pounds in colonial times, the main focus was on horses, a form of livestock. However, the main goal of this society in 1866 is not the humane treatment and care of animals. In this time, the focus is more so toward public safety. The first nonprofit organization to focus on the humane treatment of animals would be The Woman's Branch of the Pennsylvania SPCA. (Miller)
Creating a nonprofit organization is something that requires a lot of hard work, time, and dedication. When trying to benefit animals through an organization, a community is brought together with passion and emotion. This creates an outlet for the community that does not exist before. People will come together and create a voice for the voiceless. This helps protect animals and advocate for them (Petfinder). As Gandhi once said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." (Gandhi)
Some people fail to recognize the amount of time that goes into running a nonprofit organization. Large amounts of time will be required for a successful nonprofit organization. Many people understand that animals require lots of time, but fail to recognize the time that comes with the running of an organization itself. The financial aspect will require an immense amount of time in order to keep the nonprofit organization going. Along with finances, the planning of the organization will also need time devoted to it. If there is no set plan, the organization could fall apart quickly. The management of the nonprofit itself will also be subject to a great deal of time spent (Petfinder).
In a nonprofit organization, one will find that there are many people involved. While the passion for animals from one person may ignite a group of people to work towards one goal, that said one person cannot be responsible for everything. Every single job or position at the nonprofit will need a person devoted to it. There is the possibility that some may have 90% of the focus on the animals. While there is nothing wrong with that, other tasks cannot be neglected. Management, fundraising, and publicizing are three things that will also require people's dedication. When the staff of a nonprofit organization works as a team, it is ensured that success will be yielded. (Petfinder)
A question that many ask, how do nonprofit organizations acquire funds? Well, while there are many methods available regarding on how they bring in revenue, nonprofits usually stick to the same methods. New methods come along every year, but they do not always prove successful. This is why organizations usually stick to five basic methods: fundraising, charitable contributions, government funding, and ongoing and episodic funding. These methods have proved the most successful in bringing in decent amounts of revenue. (Fritz)
Fundraising is one of the most popular methods in which nonprofit animal organizations use to acquire funds. In regards to fundraising, there are two very important methods used. The first would be planned giving. Almost all well established nonprofit organizations have systems set up which allows for a donor to give at any time, as long as it is planned. It could be during the donor's lifetime, while he or she is receiving a steady income. Or the donor could give a larger sum of money at the end of his or her life. The second method would be the capital campaign. This method of fundraising is one that takes place over a time span of a year or more. In cases when the organization is working toward one set goal, this method is helpful. An example could be that the organization wants to expand or better its facilities. If that is the nonprofit's goal, then the use of capital campaign fundraising could be helpful. (Fritz)
While it may seem as though nonprofits gain funds mainly from fundraising, the government does play a role as well. All three levels of government, local, state, and federal give money in some type of way. Examples are prevalent everywhere throughout society. Grants given by the levels of government are responsible for many animal welfare programs in communities across the country. A lot of animal control services thrive off of the funds acquired from local and federal grants. (Fritz)
The two methods mentioned above do provide a great source of money, but they cannot be held accountable for all funds. Ongoing and episodic funding are also methods commonly used by nonprofit animal organizations. Ongoing funding is gained by something that remains constant. An example of this is when the organization owns a store or has a particular service. Zoos and even some animal shelters have merchandise that they sell. This is an example of ongoing funding. The store can continuously bring in a source of money. On the contrary, episodic funding is not as consistent as the former. These funds are brought in by random grants or even corporate events. Once acquired, the money can be used for solely one purpose or can benefit the whole nonprofit. (Fritz)
There are thousands of nonprofit animal organizations across the country. Some people may wonder the reasoning behind having so many. Well, the reason is well justified. A majority of nonprofits hold expertise in one certain field or species. Some facilities may hold tigers and bears, while others may only hold a certain breed of dog. This guarantees that the animals that are in that facility are receiving the special care that they need to survive. (History)
Tigers and bears are not exactly a typical cat or dog. These mammals require special attention and care. The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado is a home to a variety of creatures and is one of the most successful nonprofit animal organizations in the United States. Founded in 1980, The Wild Animal Sanctuary is a licensed zoological facility that houses over 290 different species, that number includes, but is not limited to, tigers, bears, lions, and other wild species. In the past, The Wild Animal Sanctuary responded to over 1,000 rescue calls and proved to be a successful rescue organization, benefiting the lives of numerous animals. (History)
Dogs are one of the most common pets across the United States. A large number of rescues in the country are dedicated to man's best friend. While all dogs may seem the same, there are differences in breeds. A prime example of a specific nonprofit animal rescue is the Greyhound Adoption League in Texas. Originating in May of 2001, this rescue strictly rescues Greyhounds, a breed of dog. This rescue organization proved extremely successful in its past years of operation. Since its opening in 2001, over 2,250 Greyhounds have been rescued and placed up for adoption. (About Us)
There are two main groups of species: domesticated and undomesticated. There are also two main types of nonprofit organizations: animal shelters and sanctuaries. These two nonprofit organizations have similarities but also have differences. Both of these organizations do have a main interest in the care of the animals; this is what makes them similar. (Watson)
If a person is interested in adopting a dog, cat, or smaller species of animal, they might go to an animal shelter. Animal shelters evolved from dog pounds that were established in colonial times. An animal shelter is a place that gives animals without homes a place of residence. The ultimate goal of an animal shelter is for the animal to find a forever home. Sadly, this does not always happen. In turn, some animals end up having to be put to sleep. That is why nonprofit organizations are so important. The more shelters there are; the more places for animals to live are available. (Watson)
Tigers and lions are not exactly the average pet, yet they somehow have found themselves being domesticated over the past few years. Many non native species to the United States are now a common sight for rescue organizations. A normal animal shelter is not qualified to house these creatures, so they are usually sent to special organizations called sanctuaries. Sanctuaries are an organization where animals come to live long term. Usually wild animals end up in organizations such as these. Here animals are not trying to find homes. They take up a permanent residence at the sanctuary and do not have to be moved again. A sanctuary can be judged by its facility. If the animals appear as though they are happy then the facility is a success. (What is a Sanctuary)
While there are different types of nonprofit organizations for animals, almost all of them have unified goals or missions. Nonprofit organizations have the main goal of providing a safe place for animals to reside. Yet, they also have other goals that they want to reach and achieve. A mission statement is the vision behind the nonprofit organization. To have a successful nonprofit, both goals and mission statements are vital. (Goals and Strategies)
Setting goals is a helpful way to obtain success. A main goal of many nonprofit shelters is to alleviate the euthanasia of helpless animals. The euthanasia of animals is common in many small shelters that are not nonprofit and also do not have the funds required to sustain them. A common goal of all nonprofit organizations for animals is to provide as a shelter for pets or other animals that have been neglected. Forms of neglect are different; it may be abandonment or even physical abuse. Another goal is to improve the education that people receive regarding the humane rights for animals. This could be information about different types of abuse, or even laws abiding abuse towards animals. It could also be information that teaches people how to humanely care for animals. (Goals and Strategies)
Every nonprofit has something to drive its set of goals. This would usually be a mission statement of some sorts. Mission statements are what reveal the purpose behind nonprofits. Many nonprofit organizations have similar mission statements. A prime example of a mission statement can be found from Miranda's Rescue, "To rescue abandoned, abused and injured animals whether large or small; rehabilitate them, have them vaccinated, spayed or neutered; and find them loving adoptive homes." (Miranda's Mission Statement) This is what Miranda's Rescue hopes to accomplish. The mission statement helps put the goals in place to reach wanted accomplishments.
Animals that reside in shelters or sanctuaries are all there for a reason. Owners may have done something intentional to lead them to the nonprofit organization. Sadly, sometimes animals are abused and this results in them residing in a shelter. Other times animals are given up by choice or abandoned. Both of these circumstances can cause animals to be put into nonprofit organizations, and they are both just as common as the other. (Information on Animal Cruelty)
Abuse is something that almost every pet owner has committed, whether it be intentional or unintentional. There are three main types of abuse. The first would be unintentional abuse. These abusers are the most common of the three. Unintentional abuse is when the owner does not realize what they are doing is wrong. An example of this form of abuse could be when an owner yells at a pet to intimidate them. Another example is when an owner keeps an animal locked in a small confined space for hours at a time. Sue Holland, a woman who has 19 years of experience in the field of animal abuse says “Dogs are pack animals and they want to be with other dogs or people that they consider as part of their pack.” (Moore, Sue) She goes on to say “And when you do that, leave the dog alone that is, that is the worst form of neglect and punishment.” (Moore, Sue) The next biggest group of abusers are the people who do it on purpose but only for a small time span. This is intentional abuse. An example is that a group of kids may throw rocks at a baby bird's nest. Another example is that a group of kids may harm a stray cat from their neighborhood. The final group of people who harm animals is worse than the former. These people are the ones who harm animals intentionally because it makes them feel good and or powerful. This form of abuse is known as cruel intention. People who abuse animals with cruel intention usually are trying to prove a point somehow. An example of this is that a husband may hurt the family dog to prove to his wife that he could do the same to her. (Information on Animal Cruelty)
Abandonment of pets is something that occurs often in the United States. Sometimes, the upkeep of an animal becomes too much for the owner. This causes them to abandon their pet. People will sometimes abandon or surrender an animal because it is the only option. There is usually a viable reason as to why the owner cannot keep the animal anymore. It may be because the owner has unknown allergies to the pet. People will also plan poorly for their pet and do not know of the responsibilities that come with having an animal. This causes more pets to go into shelters. Sadly, owners commonly will lose interest in their pets as well. At other times pet owners are simply just too lazy to care for the animal and decide to leave it behind. (Donaldson)
Often the greatest challenge of the animal welfare movement is to remind people of the things they already know to be true-that to mistreat any animal is beneath us, that cruelty of any kind is dishonorable and inexcusable, and that we all have duties of kindness and self-restraint in the treatment of our fellow creatures. (Pacelle)
Since the establishment of the first ASPCA in 1866, great strides of improvement have occurred in the world of animal welfare. This is mainly thanks to the work of nonprofit organizations across the United States. Whether it be from a sanctuary or an animal shelter, success stories have made their way into news stories, newspapers, and web articles. These nonprofit organizations have proved themselves as a benefit to animals and are necessary to the survival of some. (The Humane Society of the United States)
Over 100 dogs were found in deplorable conditions in Pender County, North Carolina. The woman who claims ownership of these pets operates a system known as a "puppy mill". This is where people breed dogs only based off of profit. A local purchased a puppy from the woman and later files a complaint that the dog is getting sick. The sheriff's office conduct a search of the property. There on site, dogs are found living in small chicken coops. The pathways are full of fecal matter and other forms of filth. Besides living in completely disgusting conditions, the dogs are also found to have multiple untreated conditions, such as: upper respiratory problems. A local animal shelter located in Guilford County is on the front lines to help and assist with these mistreated animals. The SPCA of Wake County and the North Carolina Veterinary Association also assists in rescue. Without the help of these nonprofit organizations, these animals would not have survived. Pat McCRory, our state's Governor, has even rescued one of the dogs from the puppy mill. (More than 100 Dogs, Other Animals Rescued from N.C. Puppy Mill)
Horses are what ignited the start of the first established humane society back in 1866. In 2012, one man is guilty of severe abuse towards horses. This man is Jackie McConnell, a popular horse trainer. The abuse case is so serious that Jackie receives three years of probation and $75,000 dollars in fines. He is also forced out of the horse show business. McConnell's forms of abuse are nothing short of cruel. Videos convey him hitting horses in the face violently. There is also footage of McConnell applying burning chemicals to the horses feet to get them to complete certain tasks. Abuse would have continued unknowingly without the help of the Humane Society of the United States. Now, the rescued horses have the opportunity to live a normal life. This is all thanks to the help of a nonprofit organization. (Improving Welfare for Wild, Companion and Working Equines in 2012)
Emilie Storch is a woman who is native to Rockingham county and lives close to home. On the spur of a moment, she rescues a blind horse; which she names Flurry. Emilie develops a strong relationship with the young horse; and when Flurry unexpectedly dies one day, she decides to start a nonprofit organization in her honor. Flurry's Hope is a rescue that takes in only blind horses and provides them with permanent or temporary homes. Throughout her experience of starting her organization, Emilie documents everything that happens. Emilie writes a children's book about herself, and her horses. Not only does Emilie create a popular children’s book, but she begins to work with children that are disabled as well. She teaches many that it is not what is on the outside that counts, like blindness, but the heart within.(Brown)
Without the work of nonprofit organizations, many animals would be left to fend for themselves. Animals are at the hand of many who abuse their power over helpless creatures. Like Immanuel Kant says, "We can judge a man by his treatment of animals." (Kant) We, as humans, are responsible for making sure that the voiceless receive the care the animals deserve. Nonprofit organizations which benefit animals are a crucial component to our society.
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