This is Geno, our rescued Maine Coon Cat. Two little neighborhood girls showed up at our door with him last March 30. They said they had found him in their yard and that their Mom had called around to try to find someone to take him, but the vet's were too expensive and the shelters turned him down because he was obviously sick. They knew we loved cats and had a bunch of them so they thought maybe we could help. We took him in with the intention of just getting him healthy again and then we were going to give him to the CT Humane Society. We already had 6 rescued cats, plus our rescue dog, Louie and really didn't need another one.
Luckily for Geno, and for us, we fell ass over teakettle in love with this big galoot. But I almost entrusted him to the CT Humane Society, thinking that I was doing a good, responsible, caring thing...imagining he would find a good home with a loving family. And then I started volunteering there and found out that if I had given him up, more often than not, I would have sent him to his death.
George Gombossy, the Ctwatchdog has published two more articles about what is really going on at CHS. The first one, Inside View At Connecticut Humane Society: Former Finance Assistant Details Needless Killing of Animals and Other Impacts of Staffing Shortage gives hard numbers and a chilling look behind the scenes of what many employees and volunteers suspected was going on. I was there this summer and even I was stupefied by the very courageous Bridget Karchere's report.
What has really upset me this morning though is the realization, after reading this article, that if any of my darling furry family members had had the misfortune to come under the CT Humane Society's "care", none of them would have survived to be adopted by Peter and I. That's right 0. They ALL would have been euthanized because none of them were perfect when we adopted them. I don't know about you, but I can't imagine my life without these funny, loving,amazing balls of fur in it.
The second of Gombossy's articles is disturbing from a business, ethical, moral, donor and HUMAN standpoint, Connecticut Humane Society Firing More Union Supporters, Not Enough Staff Left to Properly Care for Animals, Workers Claim.I challenge you to read this article and not be outraged by it, especially in a facility that has the word "HUMANE" in it's TITLE. I understand that some people will be skeptical, I was myself, until I volunteered there. These employees and volunteers are speaking the truth. And they are doing it at great personal expense. Mr. Johnston is already threatening libel suits and he is well known for following through on his litigation threats. That's part of culture of fear that permeates CHS. Even I have thought twice and three times about attaching making my opinions public and attaching my name. But then, I look at the furry faces that surround me every day and then I think of the animals I met at CHS, the ones that are now gone, prematurely, needlessly and I know I can't let this go.
What I am asking of you, of anyone who reads this blog, is to send just one email or Facebook or Twitter message to one other person and tell them what's going on at the Connecticut Humane Society. And, if you are particularly outraged about this, take another minute and send an email to a news outlet, to the Governor, to your State Legislator, or to the Attorney General and make sure that this story doesn't get buried or forgotten about. Here are some links:
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