The Midland Humane Coalition

[westtexasmom]

We only need a few but I haven't heard any say 'yes' yet.

Well we will have our 501c soon and we are on board with this........I know we are not much and not everyone is keen on a pit bull rescue, but we are more than willing to help out and make this work.

I have followed the Austin No Kill Coalition and I think I have pretty good understanding of the basic facts on this. It can work, not over night, but it can work.

[westtexasmom]

Here is an interesting article........

http://www.thebark.com/content/no-kill-nation-0


The Austin No Kill Coalition has a facebook page for anyone who has facebook. I am sure others do too.........

[sherlockhomer]

Actually to make this work not ALL of them have to be involved. But it does look better as a community to come together and have the same goals and try to work together. It does not take away anything from the other rescues, their still functioning as always. And in some ways this may help them, with more money from grants and funding there is more help for spays and neuters and life saving surgeries. Think about the animals, and the good this can do for them. I really hope everyone looks beyond their own agendas. Some will I am sure, some may not.

Maybe you didn't hear Paul say, (not word for word) all rescue groups would quit taking in pets and adopting pets out and ALL pets will go through Animal Services. That is why I asked if the City of Midland would be involved in the operations (read euthanising) and he didn't want to answer that question. Maybe Paul needs to explain this better, but that is what he told me after the meeting and a few days before the meeting. Basically all rescue groups would work for Animal Services. Instead of all of us rescues doing our thing, he wants to channel EVERY pet through Animal Services.

[sherlockhomer]

Oh and BTW if you don't believe me Midge Erskine recorded the entire meeting. Get with her and watch it.

[westtexasmom]

Maybe you didn't hear Paul say, (not word for word) all rescue groups would quit taking in pets and adopting pets out and ALL pets will go through Animal Services. That is why I asked if the City of Midland would be involved in the operations (read euthanising) and he didn't want to answer that question. Maybe Paul needs to explain this better, but that is what he told me after the meeting and a few days before the meeting. Basically all rescue groups would work for Animal Services. Instead of all of us rescues doing our thing, he wants to channel EVERY pet through Animal Services.

Yes I missed that, I sure did not hear him say that.

Paul you need to clarify this.......my understanding was the rescues could still function as normal........they would just agree to take in the Coalition animals, say on a rotating basis or by breed maybe? Correct me if I am wrong, but that is what I understand about a Coalition. I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time. The Midland Humane Coalition would be its own non profit, (501c) which would contract with the city to take in adoptable animals........Paul??

Like Austin has a list everyday that goes out to the rescues' the rescues work together on who takes in what for that day. Maybe we are not heading in this direction, but seems like it would be a good one.......

I must have fallen asleep during some of the presentation............

[westtexasmom]

Oh and BTW if you don't believe me Midge Erskine recorded the entire meeting. Get with her and watch it.

It's ok I do miss understand things sometimes........

[last12know]

As an interested citizen, I don't see that one and only one place to adopt animals in a city this size is feasible. Yes, it would be wonderful to have a nice, inviting new place to go to see the available animals, but I heard at the meeting that the proposed facility would have space for a limited number of animals at any one time. What happens with all the other animals in foster or at other shelters waiting for a home? I can't imagine that the available and ready animals at the other shelters would be not eligible for placement at any time just because they did not happen to be at the one and only adoption facility at the time that a potential family was looking for a suitable pet. I an interested and excited about possibilities but I am well aware that this will take lots of time, communication and compromise. ok, just my two cents worth of opinion (stepping down off the soapbox)

[D Wolfe]

I did hear Paul say that, actually more than once, and I thought oh that will go over like a lead balloon but he also said that they wouldn't have to give up their identity etc so I'm still a little unclear.


I think this thing will be great for Midland I just think it sucks that it depends on multiple rescues getting along. Each has their own agenda and aren't willing to compromise that's why they were formed in the first place.

[westtexasmom]

I agree last12know, it will take some more working thru the details, details we have probably not even thought of yet. But I think its all things that can be worked thru.

DW, I should have paid better attention, because I did hear the part about not losing their identities, but totally missed the part of ALL animals being run the shelter. I think that is unrealistic, not all animals are dropped off at MAS. We get calls from people to see if we will take in an animal or from other shelters out of town.

I just can't imagine if I got a call from McCamey to take in a dog, that I would be required to run it thru MAS first ( i would, if Paul wanted me too, but why would he want me too?)...........this is a good point to work out ahead of time.

The sad fact of the matter is there are enough stray/dumped dogs to go around for everyone. The Midland Humane Coalition will be a God send in helping save some that might otherwise not make it thru the system.

Lots of things to work out still..............I do understand that.

[Paul O'Neill]

I did mention all of the animals coming through animal services, and my reason is that we have the best chance of reuniting them with their owners. The other reason is to allow all of the other groups to use their resources on the animals they would be getting from animal services. If every group in town continues to take in strays and use their resources on that they will not be able to help that much. I also said in the meeting that the animals that would be going out of animal services to the other groups to foster and treat would be vaccinated, micro-chipped, and spayed/neutered, which would save the groups the cost of having to do all of that. This whole plan is about making the most efficient use of our time and resources. Right now most of us are taking in strays, treating medical issues, adopting, trying to raise funds, trying to find good volunteer or paid help, etc. If Pet Solutions or WestTexasMom did not have to worry about stray animals and could focus on working and improving the animals they get from animal services, and then send those animals to the adoption facility I think all of our operations would be more efficient. There are a lot of small details to work out, and the first meeting was not about the final details. I was simply putting out some ideas that I had. It will take some work and some concessions from every group that participates. The Coalition would not be contracted to the city of midland in any way accept for the lease on the building. The staff at the adoption facility would be responsible for getting animals adopted and could be as active as they need to be to do it. We currently average 2.5 adoptions per day that we are open. Imagine if the adoption facility could double or triple that, how many animals could go from the foster homes through the facility and into new homes. I believe this can work, but I also know that it will take time and faith in each other to make it work. I am thinking ten years down the road and not just 2 or 3.

Paul

[westtexasmom]

I received an email from Animal Outreach and they are on board and have a form letter for anyone who wants it to send out to the the mayor and the city council.

Let me know if you want this form letter and have not received it yet.

westtexasmom01@gmail.com


Thanks Paul and yes it will take time and effort an eveyones part. And like I said sometimes I hear what I want to hear and not what was said.........I concede that.

[CristaBelle]

Perhaps I am misunderstanding - but it sounds as though the current rescues would basically be "foster homes" for MAS?

[D Wolfe]

CB, it wouldn't be for MAS it would be for the adoption shelter and only be part of it they would also be responsible for being a part of the coalition and adopting out from the adoption shelter. Paul mentioned that the rescues would foster animals not ready yet to be adopted or animals that have been too long at the shelter and need some 'home time' and then come back. MAS would house the animals that can't be adopted or are waiting of their owners.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[sherlockhomer]

Here's an idea and I'm serious so listen. How about an off site facility and NOT run all pets through Animal Services and have Midland SPCA or another group to be the lead agency. That is how it is for the Maddie's Fund. It just says Animal Services and the main rescue facilities have to be on board and there has to be A LEAD AGENCY. It doesn't say Animal Services has to be the lead agency. Any one of the rescues can be the lead agency. Paul just didn't want to give us that info and that option for some reason. But it's true.

And I'm not saying this to start a fight or hurt anybody's feelings. I just think everybody deserves to be informed and know the facts.

[westtexasmom]

http://www.maddiesfund.org/

That would be great Homer, but how many years have the "lead" agencies been here now and still no closer to this than before. Because you have said it yourself, there is no way to bring them all together to work together, or they would have done it by now. Right?