Changing perspective

When I started in animal welfare, I started where most people start (and where most people stay) -- in rescue.

Rescue was great - -you got to spend a lot of time with dogs, foster, and see them off into their forever homes. 

But rescue just wasn't for me. I found it frustrating that with so many animals in our shelter that I couldn't help.  It felt like the move Ground Hog day, no matter how many dogs I rescued, there were still more....and there appeared to be no end in sight.

So I focused my efforts more toward advocacy and working with cities about laws. My thinking was that if I could get just one breed ban repealed, or stop one from happening, or if I could convince one city to no pass mandatory spay/neuter, I could save hundreds, or thousands of dogs -- which I could never do with rescue.

While I still believe this to be the case, I think I've created an interesting bridge between my two schools of thought. Several years ago, after facing the reality that the city of Kansas City was never going to effectively run their animal shelter, we (among other people) pushed for them to privatize its operation. They did, and the move proved to save literally thousands of animal lives.

Then, when the selected vendor was proving to not be worked out, we, along with this time MANY others, pushed for them to change vendors. 

This time, I became part of a group that assembled to bid on the shelter contract...and we won.

Now, as we work through the transition in taking over the shelter, it's common for me to think about what big break through can take this still high-kill shelter, and turn it into a no kill shelter.  But this post, from Seth Godin, definitely created a different perspective. In the post, he comments that waiting for the breakthrough moment almost never happens:

"Of course, it almost never happens that way. Products and services succeed one person at a time, as the word slowly spreads. Customers defect one person at a time, as hearts are broken and people are disappointed. Doors open, sure, but not all at once. One at a time.

One at a time is a little anticlimactic and difficult to get in a froth over, but one at a time is how we win and how we lose."

Of course, getting this shelter to No Kill is going to happen one at a time. One adoption at a time. One owner at a time who comes into the shelter who we help to keep their dog instead of surrendering. One potential adopter at a time that we could deny adoption but instead, help them to learn what they need to learn to become a responsilbe pet owner. One pet shipped to rescue at a time. One person we convince to adopt vs buy at a time. One person at a time that we convince to spay or neuter that otherwise wouldn't have. 

And each "one at a time" will add up to a whole lot of lives saved. 

It's hard for me to change my perspective....but I'm getting there.  This doesn't mean that I don't still think advocacy is important -- I very much still do. And still think it can help save hundreds, if not thousands of lives at a time.  But getting to no kill is not going to be a breakthrough -- it's going ot happen one pet, and one adopter at a time.

Comments

[H. Houlahan]

Those of us of A Certain Age, who grew up on SNL, are known to earn things "The hard way ... one quarter at a time."

[Sue]

I never went the "rescue" route. I always believed that if I wanted to create real and lasting change, I need to make change from the inside - within the shelters and organizations that have the control and/or have the *actual animals*. That's why I have taken the jobs that I've taken, jobs that seemed impossible and jobs that took a toll on me physically and emotionally.

It is one thing to argue for change at an organization, it is quite another to be a part of the solution by rolling up your sleeves when the opportunity for change presents itself ... stepping into the role.

I offer you my strongest support for taking on the challenge by diving into the toughest job. It will be the hardest thing you have ever done yet ultimately the most rewarding.

Call me any time ;)

[Anne]

I found this post to be really refreshing
As a staff person at a shelter that is slowly but surely moving towards significant reduction in killing, all we get day in and day out is the criticism from a local No-Kill shelter that the solution is so easy we should be able to change literally overnight. It's easy to be on the outside looking in, but much different being on the inside making the change happen. Change (even change that is desired) is not easy and not quick

Looking forward to hearing more about this new venture

[Mary]

Have you read "Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell?

One at a time is how change starts... keep it up and you may hit a tipping point.

[Amy]

Congratulations. I hope this blog will still continue even though I realize you have a busy path in front of you.

[Brent]

Amy -- the plan is to keep the blog going. And hopefully sharing some of our experiences so that they can be a learning tool for others who are trying to create similar changes in their own communities.

[Crystal]

You are a force for good, Brent. We're fortunate to have you in KC. I'm repeatedly inspired by your words and your example. Thanks for all you do - Crystal (Leavenworth County Humane Society)

[Cheryl Jewhurst]

Brent, you wrote this December 9th. Since then I've seen an article being circulated that the KC City Shelter was overrun with animals after only the first week of trying to go No Kill.

I was told that the shelter is receiving support from the "national" no kill organization and was wondering if you could up date us about how it's going there now, a month later?

I really liked this post you wrote. Very thoughtful and one that bears reading repeatedly whenever one feels frustrated at the slowness with which change comes. These animals are dying by the thousands every day and it's little wonder that we pull out our hair in frustration because it doesn't have to be that way.

[Brent]

Cheryl,

We're certainly not getting financial support from any national organizations. Moral support maybe, but not financial or other tangible resources. I'll be posting a few updates in the coming days -- but our numbers for December (a month of co-management) were very good, but we entered 2012 (with Jan 1 being our first full day in full management) WAY beyond capacity for the shelter. We sent out a plea for help and receive an overwhelming support from the public. It's been an amazing transition an while we're nowhere near where we WANT to be, we're in much better shape than the animals were before we got there. Again, more tangible numbers to come.