Over the past few years, I have spoken with several animal shelters who have higher euthanasia rates and believe becoming nokill (90% live outcome rate or higher) was impossible.  It has always been frustrating trying to explain to them how nokill works and that they need to shift their focus from anti-euthanasia to pro-live outcome.  It seems to be the same thing, but the shift in thinking and implementing programs with that mindset is the difference between a successful nokill shelter and one that probably will not be successful.

I recently read a wonderful blog post (Good intentions, but the wrong focus) from Mr. Toellner’s KC Dog Blog about this and it just hit home.  Below is an excerpt from him – I encourage you to read it and use it to change the thought process of the leaders at your local shelters:

“The focus should not be on ending euthanasia — it should be on saving them all.

It’s a subtle difference, but important. From my experience, the focus of “ending euthanasia” sets up a mindset of looking for space at the shelter to put more animals when they come in. “We can’t kill them, so we have to find somewhere to put them”. Inevitably, the result is overcrowding, lack of space, etc. Exactly what Genessee County is experiencing here.

However, when the focus in on saving them it, changes the mindset entirely. Instead of focusing on where to put the animals, the focus becomes: How do I get more adopted?  How do I move more to rescue?  How do I get them treated? What foster home can they stay in while they get better? How do we get more out humanely and alive?

It’s a subtle difference, but an important one. And in my experience, focusing on saving a lot of lives is far more effective as a strategy than focusing on how to just not euthanize them.”

I finally got to meet my niece this past weekend.  We shall be great friends. 🙂

And now for something not nonprofit or animal welfare related:  My newest obsession.

Mission:  Our mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

This wonderful organization is where you will find me working the usual 9-5 during the week.  I am working on their grants program as well as assisting the development and marketing departments as needed, with a focus on social media and integration of communication systems and databases.  Just like House of Blue Hope, the affect of providing children with the support and resources they need is astounding.  The BGCAA is creating a generation of successful leaders who will go on to do great things and I am proud to be part of that.

Website and donation page

These two beautiful people fell in love back in the early 70s and I am a product of that amazing love.  Yep, this is where my awesomeness comes from.  Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Mission:  SPARC is a no-kill animal shelter dedicated to rehabilitating and rehoming the homeless pets of Santa Paula, California.

SPARC (Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center) is one of the latest amazing shelters proving that nokill is achievable in any community.  SPARC is a unique partnership between public and private resources with a shared goal of creating a more humane, no-kill system for saving the homeless and abandoned animals of their community. When successful, the prototype can be recreated in other cities. In the long run, SPARC strives to show that smaller, local shelters can attract a larger volunteer and foster corps, make reclamation of lost pets easier for residents, and provide a more convenient location for license renewals and adoptions.  I am honored to be helping in a small capacity with their fund raising and some social media work and hope I will be able to visit their facility in California very soon!

Here is their website and donation page!

After several tests and vet visits, we believe we know what is happening inside this beautiful little lady.  She has a very powerful UTI, a high white blood cell count, pancreatitis, ibs (irritable bowel syndrome), and early kidney disease.   We are currently treating her for the UTI and ibs, and soon I will also be giving her daily fluids for her kidneys.  The UTI is really taking its toll on poor Lucy and she is no longer being herself.  The once social and affectionate girl is now hiding in the closet and not a huge fan of me at the moment (it’s probably not helping that I’m pilling her, either).  But I have high hopes that once we get rid of her UTI, she will be a happy kitty again.  Please keep her in your thoughts and I will update again once she is through her current series of drugs.

My views on places like sea world, zoos, circuses, and any other business that exploits intelligent life are no secret.  So you can imagine my pure joy in the release of the mainstream documentary, Blackfish.  I urge you to see this film.  I urge you to boycott these businesses.   Let’s be the generation that stops this madness.

Mission:

• To encourage all women, regardless of race, color, sexual identity, or vocal confidence to explore their singing abilities, realizing that many of us were initially afraid that we could not sing.
• To gain through mutual support the skills that are required to perform confidently and successfully.
• To bring the joy and healing that comes with singing.
• To sing songs by, for, or about women and songs that offer a vision of a just and peaceful world.
• To entertain and inspire a larger community by performing our music.

It’s a fun game – find Jenna!

Okay, confession time… I have been a choir singer for over 17 years.  An alto (and in a few instances, a tenor), actually.  I was in the school choirs starting when I was 12, went to choir camp all through middle school and high school, was in an elite choir in college and now I’m a proud member of Tapestry Singers here in Austin, TX.  This choir is the most uplifting, supporting, amazing group of talented women from all walks of life.  The power of music truly improves lives and that can be seen each week at rehearsal as well as at the numerous concerts performed each year.  Not only am I a member of this nonprofit, but I am their newly elected Funds Development Director on the board as well.  The next year will be a learning experience as I have not been on a board in a few years, but I look forward to putting my education and experience to work for Tapestry.  I invite you to learn more about Tapestry Singers and, if you are in the area, come to a concert and say “Hi”!

Website, donation page, and awesome upcoming event here in Austin!

****I work/volunteer for several amazing nonprofit organizations so the next few weeks I will be highlighting them and invite you to visit their websites to learn more!****

Mission:  The overall mission of Blue Hope is to raise funds, resources, social awareness, and provide other support for a variety of self-sustaining social development projects and programs, both domestically and abroad, in order to effectively fight social injustice at a grass-roots level. As of its founding, Blue Hope is primarily focusing on working with education, poverty, and children’s issues in Tanzania, East Africa and has done so by constructing and supporting a residential and educational facility and its outreach program.

House of Blue Hope is a small, but very impactful, nonprofit that is near and dear to my heart.  They currently operate a home in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where street children can live and support these kids on all levels so they can succeed in school.  I have been a volunteer and then a consultant for them since 2008 and was able to visit the House and meet the kids in 2009.  In a country where less than 15% of the population completes highschool, having an education is a true weapon to fight poverty and bring change not just for individual lives and families, but whole communities.  House of Blue Hope understands this and invests in the street children of Mabibo, a slum in Dar es Salaam, and these boys receive everything they need to be successful in school to have bright futures.  I love these kids and their thirst for knowledge, and am in regular contact with several of them.  One day I will return to visit them again and I look forward to hearing their stories of college and careers. 🙂

Website  (which I designed!) and  Donation Page