It's unreasonable to think that we can provide veterinary care for sick or injured animals that enter our shelter.
It's unreasonable provide free or low cost spay/neuters to all low-income pet owners.
It's unreasonable to provide training for dogs and cats in shelters that show themselves to have behavioral issues.
It's unreasonable to create pet retention programs that can help new pet owners to overcome basic behavioral issues.
It's unreasonable to spend resources on shelter enrichment programs for cats.
It's unreasonable to think that a compassionate animal control, that focuses on working with pet owners for good outcomes vs the traditional catch and kill philosophy, can effectively help animals AND still maintain good public safety.
It's unreasonable for shelters to hold off-site adoptions nearly every day in high-traffic areas.
It's unreasonable for shelters to buy retail space in high-traffic shopping malls to increase exposure for homeless animals.
It's unreasonable to think that feral cats should have the right to live vs being captured and killed.
It's unreasonable to think that 'pit bull' type dogs are adoptable.
It's unreasonable to think that the animal welfare community can impact politicians views on animal welfare policy.
It's unreasonable to think legislators would pass an ordinance that would promote No Kill initiatives in your city.
It is unreasonable to think that by doing all of the things above, you can save every healthy and treatable animal in your city.
It's unreasonable to think we can save them all, in spite of the common belief that there are too many animals and not enough homes.
Fortunately, the animal welfare community is filled with unreasonable people -- the type of people who will take an "unreasonable" point of view and make it a reality....and pave the way for others to follow. These unreasonable people exist from across North America -- from Berkeley, CA to Tompkins County, NY. From Calgary to Austin. And a huge number of places in between. It is because of the unreasonable among us that we realize we can save all of the homeless pets in this country. And I thank those people for leading and showing the way.
There is something more that is unreasonable.
In spite of proven case studies that entire communities can end the killing, have proven that they can dramatically increase adoptions through off-site adoptions, proven they can influence politics, proven they can provide help for behavioral issues, etc, it is unreasonable that people deny that it is happening.
It's unreasonable to say it's not possible, in spite of the evidence that it is.
It's unreasonable for people who say they love animal to not follow the proven successes of others and not do better.
The idea for this post is borrowed from a post by Seth Godin a few weeks ago. Godin, a brilliant business mind, is noted for his "unreasonable" ideas (and his success in achieving them). Godin is going to be a keynote speaker at the No Kill Conference in Washington DC in July. It's great to see so more great minds, even those outside the world of animal welfare who see the value, and success, of the No Kill Movement. I'm looking forward to seeing Seth at the conference....and for the continued success of the 'unreasonable" among us.
I agree and I'm glad to be counted among the unreasonable.
Posted by: Nokillhouston | February 28, 2011 at 01:35 PM
*LOVE* This post.
Posted by: Saving Pets | February 28, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Love this post as well! The local officials in San Antonio, TX need to read this OVER and Over again! Thank You!
Posted by: Kathy Bethards | February 28, 2011 at 07:34 PM
I've long been in the ranks of the unreasonable. I like the company I'm in.
Posted by: Jan | February 28, 2011 at 10:48 PM
Love it ! Yeppers, I am unreasonable have been for years. Past ambassador for the Queen of No Kill Linda Foro and the original "No Kill Conference" killed by Pet Savers Foundation of Northshore Animal League. Saddened by Richard Avanzino's sell out to the big same ole same ole groups that pretend to talk for us. Go No Kill,
Go Nathan ! Don't knock em dead !
Posted by: Clark | March 01, 2011 at 07:57 AM
I'd like to put a link to this post on my blog, "We Don't Rent Puppies", at http://calsidyrose-wedontrentpuppies.blogspot.com/. Please let me know if this okay!
Thanks, Catherine Bruhn (via Facebook) or Calsidyrose, via Blogspot.
Posted by: Cathi Bruhn | March 01, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Any time Cathi you are welcome to link over.
Thanks to all of you unreasonable readers who are making a difference in your communities.
Posted by: Brent | March 01, 2011 at 08:22 AM
If that's all unreasonable, then count me in the unreasonable gang.
Posted by: Jennmartinelli | March 01, 2011 at 09:13 AM
LOVE this - posted it on FB with credit. I need to keep a reference to it to remind me to be unreasonable and radical in other parts of my life as well as animal welfare.
Posted by: Roberta Beach | March 05, 2011 at 09:23 PM