shel

Yes, but this is not how it is playing out in reality. There’s an organic glass ceiling - a pinch point if you will - built into rescue groups, at about 50 carers. That seems to be the rate at which growth in an informal group (one or two key players, plus a small core group) starts to naturally level out. Most probably because fifty is a lot of people to manage, and without a formal plan to start employing people, everyone is still working jobs. Now, yes some people who start rescue groups are out for world domination and that’s great. To be honest, they’re pretty easy to spot from the get-go. They’re going to push through to pain points of expanding their management team (delegating and formally classifying structure, board, roles, processes, accounting, fundraising and grievance procedures) and they’re going to look at revenue streams other than self-funding and beyond adoption fees. But this isn’t "most" pet rescuers by any measure. I think most people who want to rescue pets see a need, start rescuing themselves, recruit a few friends to expand their capacity, invest personal, reinvest fees from adoptions and be able to do more when they can, and less when they can’t. Which is also great. They keep control of their processes and their organisations, by staying in charge and doing it themselves, rather than formalising process. But you can't grow this way. Nor do they probably want the hassles of trying to. So if we’re looking at this purely from a capacity point of view, how much capacity does rescue currently have to save individual pets? The easiest place to start to find the answer is PetRescue. On their shelter pages they have a list of how many pets each rescue group has in care. While not totally complete, the numbers here are pretty representative of the general rescue situation. http://bit.ly/1S6iiXO (stats pulled in April) First, we know there are 795 members on PetRescue. About 75 shelters list on the site (including a handful of pounds). Excluding those, leaves us basically with what we would call 'rescue groups'. Let's assume that a rescue group with less than 5 pet listings are single person rescues - they’re not rescue 'groups' per sae, but individual foster carers working under their own personal or non-profit brand. Of the 720 rescue groups listing on PetRescue, 444 (or more than half) have less than 5 listings. 200 of those have no listings at all. Leaving about 280 rescue groups nationally with more than 5 listings. From these; - There are just 35 rescue groups nationally with foster carers with capacity/or are hosting 50 or more pets. - Just 8 have capacity/or are hosting more than 100 pets. This is extremely significant. There is no way 8 major rescue groups can solve the issue of pound killing nationally. Even with the support of 35 medium groups. Even allowing for pets who are with groups who either don't use PetRescue, or don't keep their listings current, and adding in those pets who are in care but not available yet, rescue groups are mostly pretty small. We need pounds to do the work of rehoming pets themselves. Rescue groups simply don't have the capacity to do all of this work - for - free on behalf of local councils. (And if you want to know why, click here: Super hero unicorns and sunflowers) x Shel

... details exactly why it is the policy. It came out of ten years of working on the issue from multiple angles and finding there was one major glaring issue that wasn't being addressed. Shel :)

Hey guys, Thanks for your feedback! The guidebooks have now been taken off PetRescue, so there seems to be no longer a dispute over ownership. I will keep this project moving forward. Educating the community about how to reform their local pound is too important a project to be discarded - I'm excited about the challenges ahead! There's not much else to say about the rest of the info on the thread, except to agree with a lot of it. I have probably chalk some of it up to personal inexperience; I was trying to create a movement - and in reality created an organisation. (The learning curve on grassroots ---> major charity in ten years is an unimaginably steep one!) For those who do support me - thank you from the bottom of my <3 ! x Shel :)

There was never an official announcement put out by them, but I left the organisation in November. Major corporate funding partnerships - which rescue groups likely couldn't access anyway - always allowed us to run a small, well-resourced charity. Animal care donations belong to rescue.

Thanks loads! Much appreciated! :)

Hey guys, My goldy boy has been diagnosed with idiopathic (no known cause) Horner's Syndrome http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/horners-syndrome-in-dogs/815 When I took him to the vet a few days ago, it didn't seem to be causing him any distress. He just looked like he'd had a stroke on one side of his face Today, as his bottom eyelid is drooping, his eye seems red and if not sore, irritated? (I suspect dust is collecting on the now visible wet surface of the bottom eyelid). The whites of his eye is now very red. The vet didn't suggest any supportive treatment, but I wonder if anyone has treated this condition flushing the eye or similar? Thanks! :)shel

Yeah - I'm going now. If anyone ever wants to chat about an issue with the site, I'm at [email protected].

"I can read post #25" Ok, well in the post, the 'video' being referred to - that's the campaign video from Chuffed. That's why I clarified the reason for the Chuffed campaign. Does that make sense? I'm going to try and address as many of the issues you detail as I can, so excuse me for quoting you in bit text; "...it is not about what happens once you press the button, it is about the placement." The placement is the same on every page. I don't believe someone who moves from the homepage, to an animal profile and back again is going to think the button does different things on different pages. Added to this above the donation button on every page is a blurb about why donating to PetRescue is a good thing. I really, honestly don't know how we could make it clearer than this, that donations go to PetRescue? Are you saying PetRescue going to make a spot so the rescues logo be somewhere near the beginning of the dogs advert? This is an excellent idea. Why demeaning to rescues and not see it as a site that helps rescues, and that rescues help the site? This is utterly absurd. I have no idea how, when we've literally spent ten years networking with rescue groups to design programs which meet their needs, how anyone could accuse us of not valuing them? I honestly don't believe anyone who has ever dealt with us, or spoken to me would feel that for a moment. As for groups who don't use us, don't want to use us, or find our services don't suit what they're trying to achieve - it's not a 'like it or bugger off' attitude to say run your group however you want. Surely we can all do our thing? We work hard to meet the needs of our members - but why would I work hard to appease those who don't want to be one? "I have found all responses to be evasive and not having the basic question answered.." This is honestly not my intention. However, I do feel like regardless of what I said, you were standing by to pull it to pieces. Have we ever spoken/met? Have you ever used our service? Is there a reason this feels so hostile? :)shel

"you dismissed anyone's question in relation to the obscurity of where the button is placed." No - I really didn't. I said (and I think Vix said?) that the button is in the side bar on every page. We don't believe it needs to be moved, as every single donor is directed to a page outlining what donating to us will be supporting. "I don't see how your new campaign had anything to do with this thread and find it funny that you have thrown that in though! " Can you see post #25? Or is it only visible to me?

I really don't know how I can address these 'concerns' any more comprehensively? I've detailed why we have to fundraise. And why I think our service is providing value. I've also given a run down on the ways we communicate with potential donors to do our best to make sure people are supporting us for the right reasons. No one is under any obligation whatsoever to be a member of PetRescue. I believe we've been made stronger as an industry by uniting under a single brand, but if any group wants to maintain total autonomy, then I wish you every success! I only want to work with rescuers who value their PetRescue membership, and are rooting for us to go from strength to strength. We take on board all the feedback we get, but we can only make the decisions we believe are the right ones. And please support our campaign! I want to make fixing the pounds a massive public issue in 2015! :)

(double post)

If you'd like to check out what we're up to, please see the link here: https://www.chuffed.org/project/petrescue-safe-and-sound-pounds * * * * * By Christmas, PetRescue will have helped find forever homes for more than 250,000 rescue pets, from over 750 rescue groups and shelters nationwide. Now just imagine how many more lives would be saved by next Christmas if PetRescue got the nation's 550+ pounds on board too! Currently only 1% of all council pounds are utilising PetRescue's free services to advertise their pets for adoption. We believe every pound pet deserves a public face - whether they are lost and needing to be reunited with their owner, or waiting for a new family. So, here's what we're going to do about it... In 2015, we're focusing our efforts on bringing all healthy and treatable pets online. We want to give all pounds the resources to effectively help animals throughout the impoundment journey and, in turn, give every pet the best chance of leaving through the front door into loving arms. * * * * * Our Safe and Sound Pounds project will run throughout 2015 and will focus on outreach and getting all pounds in Australia listing all of their available-for-adoption pets on PetRescue. A component of this is publishing the 'Pound Performance Guide', a free resource detailing how to create an effective program which harnesses the power of the community to make pounds a safe place for pets. Promoting and publicising this program will allow us to reach every pet lover with information on how to drive reform at their own local council pound. We're extremely excited at the potential to find every pet who needs it, a new forever family! We are completely transparent in what we do, and how our resources are used. The great news is, the community really do want pounds and shelters to save the lives of pets - and they want to help by adopting. It's a good news story.

Heya! If anyone ever has concerns about stuff like this, I'm always happy to hear from you. I've been on back-to-back maternity leave having my two girls, but am on deck now - [email protected]. I pop by DOL as often as I can, so am also happy to chat here (but I might not see it straight away). The layout being discussed is the side bar. We use this for our primary advertising and have headed it with a donation bar. We do this to make money. Yup! We use the space for advertisers and donations because it is prime real estate. A potential link to the profiles had never occurred to us. We've looked at many other revenue streams as we continue to grow - the obvious one being some kind of membership or the like. But seriously, we're not in the business of taking money from rescue groups - we don't want to charge you. We want you guys to set your adoption fees and keep the lot. We don't even charge the millions of visitors who come to the site. We don't sell a super successful product on the side. We're a revenue-free business model!! GENUIS! Except, TOTALLY NOT GENIUS. We've had to find ways to scrape revenue. Like with a donate button. And to be honest, I'm a bit sad to hear everyone leap to the conclusion that this is an effort to do you out of genuine donations. I don't want your donations. I want to run a healthy business doing good and on its own merit. If anyone in my team was told by a donor they'd donated to us in error they would have been horrified, just as I am. And it would have been sorted out. Something else happened - I can't tell you what as I don't know - but Jill, email me and I promise to do anything I can to sort it. Please - we want to be in the business of SAVING rescue groups money. We secure excellent tv adverts and radio play and calendars and national tv spots. If anyone has ever tried to get any of that stuff alone, you'll know it costs money - friggin stacks of the stuff. We bust balls to get PetRescue in every major place we can - so more people see your pets - more adopters come forward - more animals get placed - rescue groups get more revenue so they can take even more of a chunk out of the major players - and independent rescue grow and have an even greater standing in dictating policy in the animal welfare space - that 'rescue voices' get heard. That pets are made safe. By joining forces with you, we can secure the exposure levels of the major players. We want to be able to do cool stuff for you. If anyone feels our membership 'costs' more than it provides, then I'm really, truly sorry. We totally failed you. Not much more I can say

@Leema - I totes thought the same thing when I saw this stat quoted. Can't wait to see what you put together!!

Exactly. There are 2,389 unclaimed dogs. They killed 1,504 of them. This is a kill rate of 63% for unclaimed dogs. I don't know of any situation that could be used to justify the killing of practically 2 in every 3 unclaimed dogs. While less than 200 cat adoptions a year is pathetic. That's not even one a day.

Logan stats 2011/12 (Reference) Just 725 dogs and 349 cats made it out alive via rescue and direct from pound adoptions. Compared to 1,504 dogs and 2,101 cats who were killed.

Hi Jill, Thanks for this! I wonder if your internet browser is showing text as yellow - it is supposed to be green. Can you tell me which browser you are using? Re: Sorting In the members area, managing your lisings, you should see on the right hand menu you should be able sort by 'active', 'rehomed', 'on hold' or 'removed'. Also, there is an arrow at the top of each column that will allow you to sort according to name or date. Let me know if this helps? :)shel

@Plan B Yup - that issue has been logged :)

Hey guys, Sorry - wasn't aware of this thread so have only just had a chance to reply. If any of your issues are still outstanding, I'm here with the team now and will try to get you a response. Ready - go! :)shel

Peter Walsh was on the ABC spruiking this legislation this morning. Apparently it is about "responsible pet ownership"... holy hell.

When dealing with the kinds of bulk producers who have no qualms at all in killing discarded breeding dogs at the end of their ‘lifecycle’, why would we be driving to see abandoned dogs placed back in the hands of the farmers? At best, they'd be rehomed by the very same people who failed to place them in a suitable family in the first place; at worse they're back into the breeding system. No welfare focussed group would stand by while pets go back to the farms and shops.

^^^ Nope - this was from their campaign in 2009: http://www.rspcansw.org.au/ways_to_help/ca...yagoona_shelter

This is such a shame - it can be so risky for people to capture and contain a stray... and they're so much less likely to do so if they are treated rudely in return. The welfare of all our doggies suffer as a result

I posted this request on our Facebook page 'Australia Says No to Puppy Farms', expecting that we'd get maybe one or two case studies of people with pet shop problems... I am astounded. Did you buy your puppy from a pet shop? "I bought my puppy from a pet shop, it had mange and a broken tail..." "I was given a puppy that wouldnt sell, I am happy to talk to your reporter about it - she had many problems in her life due to bad breeding etc" "I bought my pup from a pet store. They lied about his age and he was extremely sick for a long time from day one. Cost me a lot of money to get him healthy again. Happy to share my story." "I bought a puppy from a pet shop around 10 years ago. He was a mini Fox terrier, so teeny weeny, kept in the same cage as a puppy 4 times his size. After a week or so he started to get sick. Turns out he was malnourished, dehydrated and had a skin disease....all 3 of which my vet assured me couldn't have happened in the week i had had him....it must have come from the petshop or the 'breeder'. He stayed at the vet for around 2 weeks, had several blood transfusions, a tube put in to help him feed, and eventually had to be put to sleep. It cost me a lot of money, and it cost my poor puppy an awful lot more. I have never and will never buy from a pet shop again!" "About 15 years ago, before we knew any better, we bought a 7 week Australian Silky Terrier. She had a umbilicial hernia and by the age of 3 was competely blind due to cataracts caused by a genetic issue. Even after $3000 of eye surgery her vision was extremely limited. Although sold as a purebred she never developed to anything which resembled the breed, more likely she was a cross with an even smaller terrier." "I bought one from a pet shop- she is forfeit and I love her bit very very Timid. The pet shop ha rescued her from another pet shop which had gone bankrupt- I'm happy to be interview. Please contact me." "Our dog was a pets paradise pup. he was sold as an incorrect breed, life long health problems and about 800 bucks of extra add on products for the pet shop. happy to be interviewed!" "I bought my blue heeler from a pet shop 8 years ago. At 5 he started going blind, he has agenetic disease rad, retinal atrophy disorder and is now completely blind with cataracts also. 5 months ago his leg broke and they found a tumour, he had it removed to slow down the cancer. He has fibroblastic osteosarchomo, an aggressive bone cancer and has a limited time to live. I couldn't physically love him more but its been really hard and happy to share my story. Sold as a pure bred heeler. Please contact me." "I bought my dog from a pet shop/wholesaler 10 years ago. Within 24 hours she was on deaths door at the vet where I was to take her for desexing (part of the price). She was in hospital for over a week with drips etc and she nearly didnt make it only after 7 days did the vet say she had turned the corner. The shop had to pay for treatment which would have been a substantial amount as it was within 48hours of purchase. I didnt know about backyard breeders, puppy farms etc - I do now. Never again. Lucy is a gorgeous beagle and I love her to bits. I called her lucy (lucia) or lucky lucy. Happy to tell my story." "I bought my pug x jack russel from a pet shop before I knew puppy mills even existed. He was constantly itchy, his hair started falling out and I eventually found out he had mites. The poor thing had to have skin scrapings done and was on medication for a while. A few months later he began limping and the vet said he had a problem with his back hip. Apparently it was a birth defect and everytime he walked it felt like shards of glass scraping his bones ;) He also has a severe underbite and his tongue is always poking out. One of his eyes is a bit turned out to the side. I'm just so glad he came to a good family who paid the thousands of dollars to have him health. He's the most beautiful little dog in the world and I love him so much! Puppy farms are AWFUL! He is still constantly itchy from a general skin condition and has had hot spots too. So many vet trips! I swear I was at the vet once a week at one stage." "I bought my lucy-lou from a pet shop (went in to get chook pellets) and came out with a terrified, mangey flat / curly coat retriever. She broke my heart sitting behind the horrible glass wall and when I asked to have a hold of her, she froze! I sat on the floor with her for half an hour in the pet shop and decided there and then that she had to come home with me for lots of TLC. She is now a beutiful gentle girl, but is still timid thanks to her experience of the pet shop. As one stage we weren't even sure if she knew how to wag her tail. The assistants had not idea!!! What can I say I have more passion for my pets than people!" Houston - we have a problem!

This is a really awesome concept for research; the impact of the attitudes and behaviours of shelter animal handlers, on the behaviour (and therefore outcomes) of shelter dogs. They mentioned you were about half way through collecting your data - you must have learned a lot (and been having a blast) getting to work so closely with shelters in your state? And it's great that shelter staff are willing to sit down and discuss their feelings and concerns with you - what you learn could really have huge impacts for pets. Great interview too! :D :)shel