Since I haven't read any of Nathan Winograd's books, and don't know when I'll have time to do so, I wanted to ask blog readers to share their opinions of him via the Comments section below.
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Winograd looks good on paper, but I have never visited any of the shelters he claims to have assisted.
I should confess that, since Winograd is hated by PETA and Wayne Pacelle (PETA has dedicated a lot of Web site space to vilifying him), I am already leaning towards a favorable view of him.
23 comments:
Its 3 years since he wrote his first book, Redemption, and when/where its tried, it works!
Sorry, I have to cheat as I won't make the time to sit and read the book soon, so here is short of it,
"When I argue that pet overpopulation is a myth, I'm not saying that we can all go home," he said. "And I'm not saying that there aren't certain people who are irresponsible with their animals. And I'm not saying that there aren't a lot of animals entering shelters. Again, I'm not saying that it wouldn't be better if there were fewer of them being impounded. But it does mean that the problem is not insurmountable and it does mean that we can do something short of killing for all savable animals today."
There is probably nothing Winograd could say that would more inflame the shelter and humane society establishment than calling pet overpopulation a myth. But Winograd doesn't just stop there. In "Redemption," Winograd lays the lion's share of the blame for shelter deaths not on pet owners and communities, but on the management, staff, and boards of directors of the shelters themselves.
"If a community is still killing the majority of shelter animals, it is because the local SPCA, humane society, or animal control shelter has fundamentally failed in its mission," he writes. "And this failure is nothing more than a failure of leadership. The buck stops with the shelter's director."
http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-10-02/living/17263755_1_animal-shelters-pet-overpopulation-pet-food-manufacturers-association
HSUS/PETA hate Winograd...remember those two want them killed!! If you want them all gone then you do not want to save them (look at the low numbers of rescuers allowed in Dallas!! Robertson used to be in Dallas, left, went to Houston where they called him a BUTCHER....before he was in Dallas the first time he was in St Louis and before that was with API? which is now BORN FREE (Skip's wife is on that board) none of them believe in trying to save them!!
Do your research.....its all out there....they want them all GONE
Nathan Winograd shows what is wrong with the current shelter-think and shelter killing of healthy, adoptable animals, and how to stop the killing. He understands that shelters don't need to kill feral cats. He displays a logical thought process when it comes to the animals' welfare. He shows how large national "animal" orgs are failling the animals while ultimately serving themselves. From time to time, he also helps expose local animal shelters when they have an overriding drive to kill. He gives credit where credit is due. He is optimistic, and has an unshakable faith in human beings.
FP, your instincts are serving you well. However, I'm not sure that the local groups (MAC, CFL, THLN, etc. are all that fond of Nathan, either. There is a real misunderstanding of what "No-Kill" (capital letters) is.
Nathan's concepts are excellent. THEY WORK! He has the mind of a genius when it comes to this subject. However, on a personal basis, he can be a bit of an SOB. So, you need to be thick-skinned, and able to engage in heated conversation. (Kind of like some handling seminars I've been to) He doesn't suffer fools well, and is very opinionated. And he considers himself to be "right"...but you know what, it's not hubris if you really are. He knows his stuff, and is probably the foremost expert on real No-Kill. Leadership at the shelter is going to be THE most critical piece of correcting the problems, and Nathan has actually done the interviewing and candidate selection for some cities. Who knows...maybe Dallas is a big enough carrot that he, himself, would consider coming on to initiate the process, but he's probably not affordable. But, his being involved in the selection process would be priceless. And I sure would be on board with anyone Nathan would recommend. After two tours with K-Rob, with Mary Suhm's limitless and supreme support, I think a change in thinking is needed...desperately.
That being said, he was VERY successful in the shelters in which he worked personally. Those shelters implementing the 10 steps, are also enjoying great success. And even shelters that don't realize they are implementing those steps as "No-Kill" (Plano, for example) have instinctively found that those same principles have the same effect. I'm not sure if you have been to the website for the No-Kill Advocacy Center, but the stepping stones are all there...and they are simple. But they require commitment, and they require leadership that doesn't simply fall back on the "easy" solution of killing.
http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/nokillequation.html
From here, you can explore more the center's policies. There is documentation to some of the success stories of shelters from around the country, and how they implemented these policies, and why they worked. The link here simply provides the 10 critical foundation pieces to achieve No-Kill success. They are simple, but not easy, steps. No-Kill requires work, and dedication, and problem solving. Of course, remembering "NO-Kill" is NOT zero-kill...(Operation Kindness model) it is the abolition of killing any healthy, adoptable animals. It is not warehousing, it is not limited to private shelters. True No-Kill is just as, and MUST BE, effective in an open-admission shelter. Again, I hold Plano up as a shining example. But Carrollton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, are ALL making huge strides in becoming No-Kill, without even knowing that their policies are the key components of No-Kill advocacy.
Just my thoughts. And what can it hurt to have Winograd come in and "talk"? Yes, it will cost money, he doesn't do this for free. But we gave HSUS $50,000 for advice that hasn't taken us anywhere... Why not at least listen to him? The advice can't be any worse than we've experienced. Now or Never....right?
(And by the way, just as an "aside"...when we dealt with the council in 2008 during the ordinance fiasco, we had managers from successful No-Kill shelters from around the country which we had spoken with, who offered to call any council person at any time, and share with them how they achieved their successes. Oddly enough, none were ever contacted by the city. But that was Elba's baby, and she was not going to let anything stop it.) Most of us involved in that fight, will have an active involvement in insuring she never sees a commissioner's seat.... ;)
http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/nokillequation.html
Visit the site. This page contains the 10 required steps to achieving true "No-Kill" (capitalized letters). Simple, but not easy, steps. They require dedication, commitment, and the refusal to kill healthy animals. And to be creative and think "outside" the box, and to "use" and work "WITH" your community instead of abusing it.
Shelters that implement these steps, even if they aren't aware they are "No-Kill", are beginning to enjoy the success of "No-Kill", i.e. Plano, Carrollton, Lewisville, Flower Mound..and I'm sure there's others locally...
Nathan is brilliant. He's also a tough cookie, can be an SOB, and considers himself to be "right". You need to be able to take criticism, and have a fairly thick skin. It's worth it. If you listen.
He has come in and been part of the hiring evaluation process in other cities, and I'm sure would come to Dallas, if invited, and paid (he doesn't do this for free...)and help find a good leader for the shelter, and to advise that iut should be a stand alone department able to use their own collected funds, BUT, we've already spent $50,000 for advice that has taken us nowhere. So, now or never, right?
And what can it hurt to listen to him? Who knows, if we can pay him enough, he may come himself and clean things up. And I'd damn sure be okay with anyone he suggested the city hire, if he was not willing to do it himself. (which I highly doubt...but never say never...)
The no-kill advocacy center has all the information there. Nathan can put an exclamation mark on it, IF we can get him to come to Dallas to speak.
I have an issue with Winograd's unshakable faith in humans and we won't know if what he preaches really works until it gets a broader "try" in the real world BUT what he preaches usually makes more logical sense that what I read just about anywhere else. I haven't read as much of his works as I'd like but I like most of what I've read.
I'm a huge fan of his "get pets returned home" as a first step in reducing the numbers of animals in shelters. We've known that was an element for decades that would substantially reduce the public burden and it makes great sense.
I rather like what No Kill Nation posted a bit ago too:
"NKN QUOTE OF THE DAY...They may call you “divisive.” They may accuse you of “bash and trash.” They may say you are “harming the cause.” They may libel you as “hoarders in disguise.” But the No Kill movement’s success is your success. You are doing it without their millions, without their media reach, without their political power and you are doing it in spite of them—in spite of HSUS’ cowardly neutrality, in spite of the ASPCA’s opposition, in spite of Best Friends putting one arm around you and stabbing you in the back with the other. You are succeeding and the animals increasingly going out the front door in the loving arms of families, instead of out the back in body bags, are a living testament to your ideals... Nathan Winograd, from his recent BLOG "Redemption Turns 3"
"If you haven't read it yet you REALLY should. One of Nathan's best works...Steve
"Redemption Turns 3 ... http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=4041"
Most of all, I like that Winograd takes on the radical animal rights activists head on and challenges the nonsensical directly.
Nathan is awesome. Period.
Was I too over the top in my post last night? It posted last night, and is now not here. If so sorry. I guess I'll just echo the last comments.
Rosebud, I never delete any comments, so I can only think there was a Blogger glitch. Please repost if you have time.
Winograd's only goal is to stop the killing in shelters. PETA's own shelter kills 97% of the animals that they take in. HSUS has no shelter, and gives very little money to shelters to save lives i.e. about 1% of the hundreds of millions donated each year. So, it stands to reason that these 2 orgs would be against someone who fights for animals lives and doesn't haven't any qualms about making the public aware which organizations do not.
Because Winograd is willing to "take a bullet" and speak up for animals, he is labeled "divisive". If divisive means a willingness to openly and uncompromisingly take stand on an issue that will save animals’ lives; to speak out for the voiceless even when it is unpopular with the other humane organizations, financial backers, friends or potential alliances; or to speak the truth when others are afraid or unwilling, then I aspire to that divisive label as well. I would be in the company of some extraordinary people.
If you have not read Redemption, it should be at the top of your To Do list. This book changed my entire way of thinking about sheltering.
I just read that Louisville was talking trying no kill. The council members were enthusiastic, the only person against it was....the HSUS head in Kentucky....council was appalled they were just SURE she would LIKE IT.....of COURSE NOT, HSUS wants them DEAD just as PETA does....
Two glitches, actually. When my first post didn't go through, I did a second one...which did post last night, but disappeared this morning, and now they are BOTH there. Oh well. Thanks, FP!
All very interesting reading above. I love love love the quote of "If divisive means...." Thank you No Kill Houston. I must go get his book and read some of it before the September No Kill workshop in Austin! Totally agree with him that it starts with shelter Directors!
If you don't have time to read the book - you can now watch the movie! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUY5vRj1Nns
You might want to start off researching what Winograd's program did to the Philly shelter. He handpicked the staff there, bragged on them, and then when he learned the shelter was on the verge of cruelty charges, condemned them. Start off with the City's audit of his program:
http://www.philadelphiacontroller.org/page.asp?id=340
Here's a few sites that can give you loads of research.
http://www.petpaccorruption.com/
http://friendsofbestfriends.blogspot.com/
http://nokillnowaynottomorrownottoday.blogspot.com/
And this blog has more about him that you will ever want to know - www.workingtohelpanimalstodaytomorrow.blogspot.com
@ Did My Research: I've already visited some of these sites. I hope you are not just reading them and taking the contents at face value; it's equally important to research their authors.
There are plenty of people, groups and city governments who are pushing their own agendas via blogs and social networking. At least one of your sources is guilty.
Feline, of course I did my research and you are soooo wrong. None are "guilty" except in the minds of those who follow Winograd. Research what is said, not the authors. Find the truth that way.
How are things in Oregon?
I have an idea, run over to Florida and pick up some of those 222 that were "saved" from Puerto Rico and brought in Parvo...bring them to the shelter in Dallas and let them kill all the rest.
OH if there is a pet over population, why did some rescue bring in 222 dogs from out of the country to take to New York/New Jersey?
I see that MSN causes NO PETS! South Carolina is hauling shelter dogs to Wisconsin. Who says MSN won't cause NO PETS?
Recently I had time to look at more of "Did My Research's" recommended blogs. This one is nothing more than a We Hate Winograd site:
http://workingtohelpanimalstodaytomorrow.blogspot.com/
When you see the name Ardena Perry mentioned in posts, you might want to do a bit of research on her. I'm beginning to suspect a "Did My Research" connection.
Sorry, I shall go look, sorry to be so long getting this.
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