The Loss of An Adoption Place

In one of my blogs, a few months back, I commended a few Studio City retailers who were supportive of a dog rescue organization I volunteer for that holds adoptions every Saturday.  I have only been volunteering for this organization for a couple of years, but it has been setting up along Ventura Blvd. in Studio City for at least 15 years.  The adoption site was ideal for the parents of the young children who would be dropped off for a few hours each Saturday so they could sit with the dogs and get school credit for volunteering.  Moreover, the presence of the dogs at the same location for so many years was common knowledge, and people often arranged to come by to donate blankets, dog beds, food, and much needed money.

I would bet that many of you had driven by on a Saturday and noticed the red tents that were set up, or walked under them as you ventured on the boulevard.  I often arrived early to help put the tents up, set up the kennels, filter the water so it would be fresh for the dogs, and place blankets and chairs in each of the pens so the dogs would be comfortable, as would the volunteers who enjoyed having the little dogs curl up in their laps.  I enjoyed greeting the now familiar faces of individuals and families in the community who would bring their children by, eager to see the dogs.  Occasionally the dogs got yappy, but every effort was made to keep the noise level at a minimum so as not to disturb the neighbors and at the end of the day, the area was cleared.

Many homeless dogs, rescued from the shelters the very day they were to be euthanized, have found loving homes, due in large part to the adoption location.  There is a lot of foot traffic and ample parking in a back lot.  Recently, actress Jane Lynch adopted a puppy from the rescue, which had been surrendered to the pound.  Many a Saturday, someone would come by to see the dogs and then acknowledge that they were seeing shops in the area that they were not aware of before and go to check them out.  It was often a win-win for everyone.

On several occasions, police officers on a break came by to see the dogs, and I half-jokingly pointed to the ones that might look good riding around in their vehicles.  There was a good rapport with the bicycle cops who always welcomed us; the same was true of the managers of the stores who graciously welcomed us to set up the tents and kennels in front to promote dog adoptions.  Or so I thought at the time I wrote my article.

A couple of months ago, the owner of one of the stores I had earlier commended, which became the “new store” on the block about a year ago, the name of which we won't mention, came by and complained to the head of the organization that a dog pen was obstructing one of the store’s window displays.  She also suggested that we had no right to be on the street at all.  The pen was immediately moved away from her store, but there was no reason to leave the site where the organization had been for years and where hundreds of adoptions had taken place.  Obviously, the owner felt differently.

On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, the rescue organization was visited by a couple of police officers, but not to deliver good cheer.  Unfortunately, the person who objected told one of her employees to call the police to complain about the dog adoptions near her store and that the rescue did not have a permit to be on a public sidewalk.  The police said that, because a formal complaint was lodged, they had no alternative but to tell us to pack everything up or be issued a citation. 

Rescue organizations are non-profit and cannot afford to pay rent while at the same time pay the shelters’ rescue fees, the veterinary bills that often come when a rescue saves an animal that is or becomes ill, a boarding fee when no foster family is available, etc.  Many rescuers have full-time jobs that they can leave after eight hours.  But the unpaid, tedious, and often thankless job of rescue is 24/7 and entails reading countless emails that plead for just one more favorite shelter pet to be spared its life.  What a luxury it would be for the rescuers if they had money to rent a shop so they, their volunteers and the dogs would not be forced to endure the extreme summer heat or the winter cold. 

There is not a person I know involved in animal rescue, including myself, who would love nothing more than to NOT spend every waking moment trying to find homeless pets caring people to adopt them.  We would love it if pet owners were committed to their pets for a lifetime.  We would love it if the shelters simply had to accommodate stray pets until their owners came for them.  We would love it if someone with wealth would purchase enough land on which to develop a sanctuary where senior pets and those not likely to be adopted could live out their lives under the care of paid staff.  We would love it if everyone would donate to a reputable animal rescue organization any amount of money that could help pay the never-ending bills. 

I, personally, would love it if someone could explain why some people are so mean-spirited and bring unwarranted adversity to those who are just trying to do good. Shame on those who would complain that an animal rescue organization was taking up too much sidewalk space, which it was not, as it works endlessly to save the lives of innocent pets and place them into loving homes.  Is a dog adoption held one day a week for a few hours really infringing on your daily activities?  Really?  Unless and until you are willing to help resolve pet overpopulation, help our shelters become no-kill, help educate people about being responsible pet owners, help put an end to puppy mills and backyard breeders, and help promote adopting pets instead of buying them, then at least try to feign empathy and good will towards those who strive to make life better for others.

To those of you who have been supportive of the animal rescue organizations, who offer pet-friendly housing, who volunteer your time to help those less fortunate, and who lend your voices to the voiceless, thank you.  I wish you and yours a happy, healthy, and successful New Year!