Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
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On the Blog Post Will The BOC Listen To The People
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On the Blog Post Pet Overpopulation
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
5:26 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
To most, "unadoptable" means an animal who is hopelessly sick or severely injured. Or in the case of vicious or aggressive would cause a public safety risk. This is what many of these shelters expect people to believe, that they are meeting the definition of true euthanasia when they deem an animal "unadoptable'".
As a result, they are using the labeling of 'unadoptable" to justify the killing. Why do animal shelters continue the killing? It's either due to a lack of innovation, leadership, and adaptability -- which certainly no one wants to believe about themselves or their management skills -- and/or denial due to fear, grief, and shame that they've been killing pets unnecessarily. There is another way , but how many have to die before those with the authority to make those changes either understand or care.
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On the Blog Post Pet Overpopulation
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
5:25 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The killing of animals at animal control facilities has long been used as a means of animal control.
Euphemisms have long since been used to justify the killings, terms like "putting them to sleep", euthanasia, and of course, "humane death." The newest one is "unadoptable".
And what exactly does that mean? Is a cat with an upper respiratory , "unadoptable"? Is a cat that is scared in the shelter, "unadoptable."? Is a a dog that is scared, "unadoptable."?
By putting these labels on animals they ignore people who want to save these animals that someone else failed in the past. It is much easier to kill them than treat them or find them a rescue or loving home. After all they must have a "manageable capacity" in the shelter they run.
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On the Blog Post Pet Overpopulation
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
10:46 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
ReplyThe above numbers and percentages are for animals only listed as "available for adoption". The animals not available for adoption were not factored into the equation, if they had been the percentages would be even higher.
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On the article County Responds to Criticism of Animal Shelter, New Director
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
10:21 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
ReplyHere are his numbers from 2008-2012 , provided by the St.Jo Mo Department of Health , Mr. Smith's former boss.
Animals Reclaimed 2706, Animals Adopted 3490, Animals Rescued 144, Animals Euthanized 9658.
The percentages are as follows: 15.8% Reclaimed, 20.41% Adopted, 6.44% DOA,.843 % Rescued and 56.48% Euthanized. The stats no not lie. Over a five year period almost 57% of the animals at the St. Joesph Mo shelter were euthanized. Only 144 were rescued during that time period.
There is NOTHING acceptable about the above numbers. More than HALF of the animals that came into the shelter during that time period were put down. Very sad for the animals. After the killing of 30 animals this week, Douglas County is headed in the same direction.
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On the article Controversy Rages Over New Animal Shelter Director
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
10:19 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
ReplyHere are his numbers from 2008-2012 , provided by the St.Jo Mo Department of Health , Mr. Smith's former boss.
Animals Reclaimed 2706, Animals Adopted 3490, Animals Rescued 144, Animals Euthanized 9658.
The percentages are as follows: 15.8% Reclaimed, 20.41% Adopted, 6.44% DOA,.843 % Rescued and 56.48% Euthanized. The stats no not lie. Over a five year period almost 57% of the animals at the St. Joesph Mo shelter were euthanized. Only 144 were rescued during that time period.
There is NOTHING acceptable about the above numbers. More than HALF of the animals that came into the shelter during that time period were put down. Very sad for the animals. After the killing of 30 animals this week, Douglas County is headed in the same direction.
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On the Blog Post Pet Overpopulation
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
10:14 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
ReplyHere are his numbers from 2008-2012 , provided by the St.Jo Mo Department of Health , Mr. Smith's former boss.
Animals Reclaimed 2706, Animals Adopted 3490, Animals Rescued 144, Animals Euthanized 9658.
The percentages are as follows: 15.8% Reclaimed, 20.41% Adopted, 6.44% DOA,.843 % Rescued and 56.48% Euthanized. The stats no not lie. Over a five year period almost 57% of the animals at the St. Joesph Mo shelter were euthanized. Only 144 were rescued during that time period.
There is NOTHING acceptable about the above numbers. More than HALF of the animals that came into the shelter during that time period were put down. Very sad for the animals. After the killing of 30 animals this week, Douglas County is headed in the same direction.
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On the article Photo Gallery: Residents Protest Animal Control Director
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
4:58 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
ReplyThe numbers were not made up but were provided by filing an open records request with Mr. Smith's previous employer. You can contact them at Director of Health,
City of St. Joseph Health Department,904 S. Tenth Street, St. Joseph, MO 64503.I am sure they will be able to provide you with the same information.
Here are his numbers from 2008-2012 , provided by the St.Jo Mo Department of Health , Mr. Smith's former boss.
Animals Reclaimed 2706, Animals Adopted 3490, Animals Rescued 144, Animals Euthanized 9658.
The percentages are as follows: 15.8% Reclaimed, 20.41% Adopted, 6.44% DOA,.843 % Rescued and 56.48% Euthanized. The stats no not lie. Over a five year period almost 57% of the animals at the St. Joesph Mo shelter were euthanized. Only 144 were rescued during that time period.
There is NOTHING acceptable about the above numbers. More than HALF of the animals that came into the shelter during that time period were put down. Very sad for the animals. After the killing of 30 animals this week, Douglas County is headed in the same direction.
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On the article Photo Gallery: Residents Protest Animal Control Director
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
4:50 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
ReplyYou will not find an article about the numbers from 2008-2012 for Mr. Smith. These records were obtained by filing an open records request with the Director of Health,
City of St. Joseph Health Department, 904 S. Tenth Street, St. Joseph, MO 64503.These numbers are not made up they were sent by his previous boss in St. Joseph Mo.
Here is a link to the information that was provided.https://www.dropbox.com/s/5h2dj4cq9qnm7rc/Shelter%20Statistics%20By%20Year.pdf?m
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On the article Photo Gallery: Residents Protest Animal Control Director
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
10:48 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
ReplyIn less than a weeks time 30 animals have been killed at Douglas County Animal Control. This is the slowest part of the season. What will happen when kitten and puppy season hit. What will the numbers be at that point and time. The facts speak for themselves.
Mr. Smiths records or stats from St. Jo MO were horrific. Lets look at from 2008-2012 . He was the manager during that point and time. He was in charge of making the decisions for euthanasia. These numbers are unacceptable. Feel free to support these numbers if you will.. I refuse because the animals of Douglas County deserve better, the citizens of Douglas County deserve better.
Here are his numbers ..provided by the St.Jo Mo Department of Health , Mr. Smith's former boss.Animals Reclaimed 2706, Animals Adopted 3490, Animals Rescued 144, Animals Euthanized 9658.
The percentages are as follows: 15.8% Reclaimed, 20.41% Adopted, 6.44% DOA,.843 % Rescued and 56.48% Euthanized. The stats no not lie. Over a five year period almost 57% of the animals at the St. Joesph Mo shelter were euthanized. Only 144 were rescued during that time period.
There is NOTHING acceptable about the above numbers. More than HALF of the animals that came into the shelter during that time period were put down. Very sad for the animals. After the killing of 30 animals this week, Douglas County is headed in the same direction. Pathetic.
Tammy Rakestraw Pyrdum
12:37 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
How truly unprofessional and appalling that the new DCAC shelter volunteer coordinator, who is representing Douglas County, spends her time insulting people on both the Patch and Facebook. What kind of image is that putting forth for both the shelter and Douglas County? Someone really needs to take a look at what her actions are doing to their Public Relations with the community as a whole . These actions are very counterproductive to any type positive community relations..
Perhaps CYD, HOPE in Douglas County, Cindy Smith (Volunteer Coordinator) would be better served to spend time trying to network, promote and find homes and rescues for the animals at DCAC. Since there were 30 killed last week, looks like the homeless and abandoned animals of DCAC need help to make it out alive.