Incredibly, a helping hand is outsretched to CACC, and is rejected by CACC Executive Director Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm with the thinnest excuse, just as she has likewise done with volunteers and local rescuers.
The Washington Animal Rescue League
71 Oglethorpe Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20011
Shelter (202) 726-2556
Hospital (202) 726-2273
December 14, 2001
Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm
Executive Director
The Center for Animal Care and Control
11 Park Place
Suite 805
New York, NY 10007
Dear Mrs. Blohm,
It is with great hope and sincere objectives that I write to you in an effort to establish a beneficial relationship between The CACC and The Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL), a relationship that will ultimately better serve the animals. I have had numerous conversations with [the Manhattan Shelter Director] since September 11th about creating a program much like your arrangement with North Shore and other independent rescue agencies and have not yet been presented with an official answer. I hope that I can convince you the clear benefit such an arrangement would have to your organization and the animals in your care.
As you may know, The Washington Animal Rescue League is one of only two large adoption facilities in the country that also offers full service veterinary care to low-income families. Since its founding in 1914, The WARL has provided compassion and shelter to animals, while seeking responsible caring families for them. Approximately 800 animals are placed out of our facility each year; it is in this capacity that I hope that The WARL can be of service to The CACC.
Your organization reported taking in over 60,000 animals in 2000. We are aware that, like other animal control facilities, your resources are limited and undoubtedly, animnals are euthanized due to lack of space. Because of the luxuries afforded to us as an independent agency, more than half of our kennels are currently available and we are anxious to put those resources to work serving adoptable animals that would otherwise be euthanized. The WARL is in the position to make immediate pickups from your shelter and place those animals up for adoption upon their arrival at our facility. In addition, The WARL would spay/neuter, vaccinate, test, and treat all animals as necessary upon receipt, saving The CACC the cost of those treatments and procedures. A similar relationship currently in place with Baltimore, and several relationships in the works with The District of Columbia Animal Control and other local agencies, has proven successful, especially for the animals.
Mrs. Blohm, here is an opportunity to make a monumental difference in the lives of the animals and those of us who care for them. It is my ultimate goal and earnest desire that all private and municipal animal shelters will work together to develop programs much like the one proposed. Every adoptable animal deserves the chance to be placed in a loving and caring home, and it is our responsibility to make that a reality. I anxiously await your response. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments prior to your decision.
Sincerely,
/s/ Scotlund Haisley
Executive Director
Attached for your review: WARL Adoption Application and Agreement [omitted]; WARL Adoption Policy available on www.warl.org.
Center for Animal Care and Control Inc.
11 Park Place
New York, New York 10007
Tel. 212-422-2059
Fax 212-442-2066
email: mhblohm@nycacc.org
Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm
Executive Director
Scotlund Haisley
Executive Director
The Washington Animal Rescue League
71 Oglethorpe Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20011
Dear Mr. Haisley:
I am in receipt of your December 14, 2001 letter regarding the establishment of a "rescue relationship" between the Center for Animals Care and Control ("CACC") and The Washington Animal Rescue League. I appreciate your continued interest in CACC.
CACC established a Placement Extension Team Program, aka the PET Program, in 2001 for the purpose of developing placement agreements with other individuals and organizations involved in the adoption of companion animals. CACC was very careful and deliberate in designing this program and irt is the only program under which we will partner with other organizations or indiividuals. To dare, CACC has limited participation in the PET Program to organizations within the metroipolitan area that both directly impact CACC and in turn are impacted by CACC.
I have been a vocal opponent to the shipping of animals from one region to another without proof that the animals are not displacing others in the receiving area. As such, I made some calls to colleagues in the Wasington D.C. area and have concluded that there are many animals in that region which could benefit from the services you offer to CACC. Therefore, while your offer is appreciated, I must decline participation in such an exchange.
I wish you and your staff of the Washington Animal Rescue League a happy, and fruitful New Year.
Respectfully,
/s/ Marilyn Haggerty-Blohm
Executive Director
SRAC NOTE: No doubt, the "colleagues" in the Washington DC area with whom Mrs. Blohm consulted were the Companion Animal staff (Martha C. Armstrong and Sally Fekety) at the Humane Socirty of the United States (HSUS), who shamelessly \and shamefully supported Mrs. Blohm in their 1998 paid evaluation of CACC. While HSUS has strong positions protecting wildlife, their position on companion animal overpopulkation has supported euthanasia as a practical solution. They have never embraced a "no kill" philosophy. Shame on them.
