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GIMME SHELTER ANYWHERE ELSE
Response to the Oregonian, February 6, 2007
"Gimme Shelter" published in the Oregonian Entertainment/Living section, February 6, 2007, touted Multnomah County Animal Services as a wonderful agency that does a successful job with a 'difficult' population despite the fact that it doesn't even have the advantage of a beautiful building. Press facilitated agency propaganda is no substitute for the facts. The facts can be obtained from the agency's own records.
FACT: Michael Oswald's failures can be gleaned from his own writings. In a report to his "rescue partners" on 8/18/03, Michael Oswald wrote: " MCAS reduced its dog euthanasia rate this past year (FY 2002-2003) from 23% to 18% and we are on track to save even more lives in 2004." In 2006, that rate has gone up by fifty percent from 18% to 27%. Do you call a dramatically increased death rate "success"? The only "change" since 2003 has been Michael Oswald's ascendancy to the position of Animal Control Director.
FACT: Look at those figures again more closely. The actual rates of killing are far higher when one considers the pool over which the agency is actually responsible for and has control over: unredeemed animals. One might hopefully believe from the 27% dog kill rate that the figures for 2006 mean that about 1 out of 4 dogs in MCAS's charge was killed. That is simply false. The 27% rate includes as part of its base all owner redeemed dogs, dogs who were never within the "pool" of animals whose lives MCAS could end or save. Their owners redeemed them on their own. The best way to judge an agency's performance is how they manage, market and adopt out the dogs left in their care. As an example, lets look at the Tompkins County Animal Control Authority in New York State. The Tompkins County Animal Control Authority also took in a 'difficult' population, including dogs deemed aggressive, strays, dogs of people who no longer wanted them, dogs that scratched or bit, dogs of every conceivable history and temperament. Yet, in 2003, 93 percent of all the dogs taken in passed the agency's temperament test. Only three were returned for aggression proving that temperament testing done with integrity and honesty can protect public safety without wholesale killing. That is what the Multnomah County Citizens' 2000 Task Force recommended and wanted. They were ignored.
FACT: Over the past three years within the pool of dogs over whom Michael Oswald has had disposition control, the frequency of killing has nearly doubled; the rate of adoptions has dropped by nearly 50%. MCAS now kills nearly 60% of all dogs over which it has life or death authority, and finds new homes for only about 25%. In all of FY 2005, MCAS adopted out only 812 dogs.
FACT: MULTNOMAH COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S COVERT PIT BULL EXTERMINATION PROGRAM: At least 85% of dogs labeled "pit" or "pit bull mix" are killed automatically within days of entering the MCAS "shelter." MCAS runs a secretive covert pit bull ban. Pit bulls and pit bull types are killed en masse at MCAS because Michael Oswald, without government or citizens' approval, has instituted on his own a secretive countywide pit bull ban. He does this by arbitrarily and grossly manipulating temperament testing standards. The separate and unequal standards Michael Oswald has applied to pit bulls and pit bull types has nothing to do with public safety or poor temperament. It simply permits breed prejudice to translate into government sponsored mass killing. All is well that is hidden well.
FACT: When Mr. Oswald states :"Just because we have a 'difficult' population to place doesn't mean we throw up our arms" he means he resorts more and more to falsely labeling animals unadoptable"/difficult to facilitate needless killing. Read the records. Intentionally keeping numbers low means one need not look for resources. In fact, there are very few outreaches, very few rescue organizations that do work consistently with MCAS, and there is very little engagement with the community. Again, read the records. Ask an expert. Experts have reviewed the agency's records at citizens request. Read the reports. Government should also engage outside independent review.
FACT: For appearances sake, Mr. Oswald does periodically host progressive workshops then fails to internalize or implement their programs. The workshops serve as propaganda distractions only. We have been through the San Francisco SPCA, ShelterWorks, and most recently Open Paws at the end of January 2007. Days after the end of an agency sponsored Open Paws workshop (Open Paws is an organization dedicated to reducing shelter stress and improving the emotional and social lives of shelter animals), animals were still being killed at MCAS for the same old reasons: agency induced stress, too old, too scared, not perfect enough, "barked" at the kennel door, "afraid of strangers", killed a nursing mama dog for "failing" the temperament test, then killed her puppies as "too young to survive without mom", one sorry excuse after another to justify inaction.
Here is just one example among many. A young dog with kennel cough (an index of stress) was ordered put to death.These are the agency notes for February 2, 2007,: " tried to interact with dog-dog growled and retreated to the back of kennel- I could not coax dog to come to me and he would not come forward -- he was also breaking with kennel cough-ER 1/31/07." Actually 'he' was a female but the point is that year after year nothing changes except the ever escalating death rate and falling adoption rates. Dogs are killed with the label "treatable/manageable" followed by either inaction, no rescue sought, or the explicit statement "no rescue permitted." How can one forbid rescue when an animal is treatable/manageable? After taking out many of the agency's "unadoptables" and successfully rehoming them, I can tell you they were not "unadoptable."
HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE THESE FACTS?
For some the Oregonian is the only source the public will ever read. That leaves the public unaware and trusting of an agency that doesn't merit trust. I talk to them after their animal has been killed, when it is too late to withdraw that trust.
Most of all accurate information is necessary for progress, in order to plan appropriate intervention programs. That will never happen as long as Multnomah County government eschews standards of accountability. It will never happen when the press spins a pretty story out of failure by not fact checking.
Sincerely,
Gail O'Connell-Babcock,Ph.D.
Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog
16004 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road, Box 508
Sherwood, OR 97140
Telephone: (503) 625-4563; Fax: (503) 925-8299
For more information go to: www.mcasstopthekilling.com
For copies of agency public records call the us at the telephone number listed above. You may also call the agency but they will delay records receipt then starve you out with costs.
Response to the Oregonian, February 6, 2007
"Gimme Shelter" published in the Oregonian Entertainment/Living section, February 6, 2007, touted Multnomah County Animal Services as a wonderful agency that does a successful job with a 'difficult' population despite the fact that it doesn't even have the advantage of a beautiful building. Press facilitated agency propaganda is no substitute for the facts. The facts can be obtained from the agency's own records.
FACT: Michael Oswald's failures can be gleaned from his own writings. In a report to his "rescue partners" on 8/18/03, Michael Oswald wrote: " MCAS reduced its dog euthanasia rate this past year (FY 2002-2003) from 23% to 18% and we are on track to save even more lives in 2004." In 2006, that rate has gone up by fifty percent from 18% to 27%. Do you call a dramatically increased death rate "success"? The only "change" since 2003 has been Michael Oswald's ascendancy to the position of Animal Control Director.
FACT: Look at those figures again more closely. The actual rates of killing are far higher when one considers the pool over which the agency is actually responsible for and has control over: unredeemed animals. One might hopefully believe from the 27% dog kill rate that the figures for 2006 mean that about 1 out of 4 dogs in MCAS's charge was killed. That is simply false. The 27% rate includes as part of its base all owner redeemed dogs, dogs who were never within the "pool" of animals whose lives MCAS could end or save. Their owners redeemed them on their own. The best way to judge an agency's performance is how they manage, market and adopt out the dogs left in their care. As an example, lets look at the Tompkins County Animal Control Authority in New York State. The Tompkins County Animal Control Authority also took in a 'difficult' population, including dogs deemed aggressive, strays, dogs of people who no longer wanted them, dogs that scratched or bit, dogs of every conceivable history and temperament. Yet, in 2003, 93 percent of all the dogs taken in passed the agency's temperament test. Only three were returned for aggression proving that temperament testing done with integrity and honesty can protect public safety without wholesale killing. That is what the Multnomah County Citizens' 2000 Task Force recommended and wanted. They were ignored.
FACT: Over the past three years within the pool of dogs over whom Michael Oswald has had disposition control, the frequency of killing has nearly doubled; the rate of adoptions has dropped by nearly 50%. MCAS now kills nearly 60% of all dogs over which it has life or death authority, and finds new homes for only about 25%. In all of FY 2005, MCAS adopted out only 812 dogs.
FACT: MULTNOMAH COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S COVERT PIT BULL EXTERMINATION PROGRAM: At least 85% of dogs labeled "pit" or "pit bull mix" are killed automatically within days of entering the MCAS "shelter." MCAS runs a secretive covert pit bull ban. Pit bulls and pit bull types are killed en masse at MCAS because Michael Oswald, without government or citizens' approval, has instituted on his own a secretive countywide pit bull ban. He does this by arbitrarily and grossly manipulating temperament testing standards. The separate and unequal standards Michael Oswald has applied to pit bulls and pit bull types has nothing to do with public safety or poor temperament. It simply permits breed prejudice to translate into government sponsored mass killing. All is well that is hidden well.
FACT: When Mr. Oswald states :"Just because we have a 'difficult' population to place doesn't mean we throw up our arms" he means he resorts more and more to falsely labeling animals unadoptable"/difficult to facilitate needless killing. Read the records. Intentionally keeping numbers low means one need not look for resources. In fact, there are very few outreaches, very few rescue organizations that do work consistently with MCAS, and there is very little engagement with the community. Again, read the records. Ask an expert. Experts have reviewed the agency's records at citizens request. Read the reports. Government should also engage outside independent review.
FACT: For appearances sake, Mr. Oswald does periodically host progressive workshops then fails to internalize or implement their programs. The workshops serve as propaganda distractions only. We have been through the San Francisco SPCA, ShelterWorks, and most recently Open Paws at the end of January 2007. Days after the end of an agency sponsored Open Paws workshop (Open Paws is an organization dedicated to reducing shelter stress and improving the emotional and social lives of shelter animals), animals were still being killed at MCAS for the same old reasons: agency induced stress, too old, too scared, not perfect enough, "barked" at the kennel door, "afraid of strangers", killed a nursing mama dog for "failing" the temperament test, then killed her puppies as "too young to survive without mom", one sorry excuse after another to justify inaction.
Here is just one example among many. A young dog with kennel cough (an index of stress) was ordered put to death.These are the agency notes for February 2, 2007,: " tried to interact with dog-dog growled and retreated to the back of kennel- I could not coax dog to come to me and he would not come forward -- he was also breaking with kennel cough-ER 1/31/07." Actually 'he' was a female but the point is that year after year nothing changes except the ever escalating death rate and falling adoption rates. Dogs are killed with the label "treatable/manageable" followed by either inaction, no rescue sought, or the explicit statement "no rescue permitted." How can one forbid rescue when an animal is treatable/manageable? After taking out many of the agency's "unadoptables" and successfully rehoming them, I can tell you they were not "unadoptable."
HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE THESE FACTS?
For some the Oregonian is the only source the public will ever read. That leaves the public unaware and trusting of an agency that doesn't merit trust. I talk to them after their animal has been killed, when it is too late to withdraw that trust.
Most of all accurate information is necessary for progress, in order to plan appropriate intervention programs. That will never happen as long as Multnomah County government eschews standards of accountability. It will never happen when the press spins a pretty story out of failure by not fact checking.
Sincerely,
Gail O'Connell-Babcock,Ph.D.
Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog
16004 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road, Box 508
Sherwood, OR 97140
Telephone: (503) 625-4563; Fax: (503) 925-8299
For more information go to: www.mcasstopthekilling.com
For copies of agency public records call the us at the telephone number listed above. You may also call the agency but they will delay records receipt then starve you out with costs.
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