CASE STUDY 1
When residents of an east Asian city with one of the greatest
human population densities in the world established an
animal welfare organisation, it presented a number of
difficulties for the individuals involved. The scarcity of space
created a very serious problem for anyone intending
to establish a physical shelter for stray, abandoned
and abused animals.
In the past a number of animal rescue groups had devoted
substantial enthusiasm and financial resources to opening
shelters, but the number of unwanted animals dumped at
their doors overwhelmed the shelters within weeks. In a
society where fundraising is underdeveloped, the scale of
the stray animal problem soon led to financial difficulties
for the shelters. This in turn led to a dramatic fall in the
standard of care. Poor rates of rehoming in the city left
many animals spending their entire lives in ‘no-kill’ shelters
that failed to provide adequate food, space, heating and
veterinary care. In many instances, shelter staff and
volunteers were left traumatised by the conditions in
which they were working.
The new organisation focused on creating a foster network
of dedicated volunteers to take abandoned dogs and cats
into their homes temporarily. For its part, the organisation
agreed to support the animals, paying for all medical
bills, vaccinations and neutering, until long-term homes
were found.
In the first year the organisation built up a network of more
than 40 foster homes with the goal to reach 100 within the
second year. The animals are rehomed via the internet, and
the network has the potential to house a far greater number
of animals than a shelter ever could. The animals are all
homed in appropriate conditions and the scheme has far
lower overheads and administrative costs than a shelter.
The new organisation has become a success in a city where
many similar projects have failed