Agenda - 09-19-2006-7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orange County Animal Services Sheltering Practices and Philosophies 1.3 Animal Enrichment Programs The HSUS believes that htaman companionship, like food, water, and shelter, is an essential need of dogs, cats, and other companion animals and that they suffer when deprived of it. Therefore, The HSUS is strongly opposed to long-term housing of companion animals in institutional settings because such conditions may deprive animals of adequate human attention. Limited-admission shelters that keep animals for long periods of time should take steps to meet this fundamental need through special enrichment programs, well regulated and monitored fostering arrangements, or other means. The HSUS believes that every dog, cat and other domesticated companion animal deserves -and ultimately belongs in - a lifelong home with attentive, responsible caregivers. Policies Regarding Dangerous, Distressed, Diseased, or Injured Animals The HSUS believes that euthanasia is the only acceptable option for certain animals and that limited-admission shelters, like all shelters, should institute policies to ensure that the suffering of these animals is ended through euthanasia when appropriate. The HSUS believes that animals who clearly present a potential hazard to animals and/or humans because of disease or severe aggression should be euthanized.. Those animals who develop aggressive tendencies or suffer from severe psychological distress during prolonged confinement in a sheltering facility should also be euthanized. The HSUS further believes that animals suffering from serious injuries or painful terminal illnesses should be euthanized. Fund-Raising and Public Relations Practices Organizations that choose not to euthanize animals, like all organizations, should strive to be forthright with the public. The HSUS strongly believes that it is unethical for alimited-admission shelter to advertise that it "does not kill animals" without also acknowledging publicly that the shelter does not accept every animal brought to it. Moreover, alimited-admission organization's fund-raising solicitations should acknowledge that the shelter's ability to choose not to euthanize homeless animals depends in part upon the existence of animal shelters that do so. To fail to be forthright about the realities of pet overpopulation is to create in the public's mind the false and harmful perception that every animal shelter could choose to end companion animal euthanasia without disastrous animal suffering resulting from that decision. 9/97 Copyright ©1999 The Humane Society of the United States. All Right Reserved. (1) This HSUS document was transcribed from a printed original in August 2006 by the Orange County Animal Services Department, with permission.. An updated version is not yet available, but is in process by, The Humane Socieiy of the United States.