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Show The Salt Lake Tribune SUNDAY Sunday, ber 7, 1997 CONTROVERSY In Utah Battle Brews Over Abandoned Pets’ Fate SPCA Unleashes Passion for Pets SAN FRANCISCO — Fred bar- reled down the animal shelter’s dog run, earsflying, eyesa little wild. Smashinginto a pair of human legs, the pit bull mix few weeks ago, we adopted out Mousie, a cat who was 20 LOs stopped. Flung himself at the years old and missing teeth SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Crueltyto Animals is a marvel of pet pas- crouching form of behaviorist Ivan Balabanov. Clamped strong jaws on tanned forearm. One smooth flip later, Fred and coat.” Buster is another good example. One year and 4 months old, the black Labrador mix sion. With a $10.6 million annual found himself cradled in the trainer's arms, momentarily doc- has behavior problems. He’s a bit hyperactive, sweet but ex- budget, largely from donations, it has 81,000 members, ile. Ready, through behaviormodification sessions like this citable. A recent arrival from the 2,115 volunteers and 152 paid one, to try being good. Angling for a sausage treat and a home. For city’s Department of Animal staff members and is in the herein the land of legendary tol- middle of an expansion plan. erance, where fewthings are believed to be beyond salvation, even somepit bulls get a second smelling than anyshelter for Care and Control, he has been receiving in-depth training. Good mannersarejust around Its corridors are sweeter- the corner. homeless humans. Its charges chance. “no-kill” shelter in what some hope will become America’s first “no-kill” city. But you needn't go far from the San Francisco Societyfor the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — hopes, is a good home. ing poor. The veterinary staff performs an average of 36 spay and neuter operations every morning, seven days a week. Female cats are spayed for free, Anyone who brings in a adoption incentives,” said Gene Takagi, director of the malecat for neuteringgets $5. The SPCA provides medical care for the animals of San Francisco's homeless commu- where a $15 million abandoned- nity, runs a vocational program for prospective groom- pet palace is under construction, complete with skylights and kitty condos — for controversy to be- ers and has launched a behavior division to analyze and train cats and dogs gin. From the pages of the nation’s pet publications to the cages of the country’s shelters and sanctuaries, a battle is brewing over Shelter directors from across the country and other nations visit the facility at quarterly “Mission Possible” what to do with America’s aban- clinics to learn how to emulate doned cats and dogs, and it is bringing outthe animal in the ani- the organization’s successes. In fiscal year 1996-97, the mal-welfare movement. The focus is the so-called no- SPCA placed morethan 4,640 cats and dogs in new homes. That's up from 4,442 in 1993, the year before the agency signed the adoption pact with the city. “Most of the animals we get are the old and uglies,” said kill philosophy, viewed bypracti- tioners as the natural outcomeof a love for animals. If a stray crea- ture can be healed, heeled and adopted — no matter the cost and effort — that animal should not be killed, they say. San Francisco SPCA President Richard Avanzino. “We In fact, most no-kill shelters do kill animals: creaturesin such ex- haven't had puppies in seven years. We have the equivalent of the juvenile who’s in trou- cruciating pain thatlife is a cruel- er option than death, and those so aggressive that they present a public-safety hazard. But a warof words is escalating over a third group — stray cats and dogs with treatable ailments and noplace to go, animals that are killed in this country by the ble with the authorities, who's 17 and looking for someone to give him another chance... A millions. “Buster has a number of would rather refer to such shelters as “limited-access”’ and their traditional counterparts as “open-door” shelters. This namingis more than splitting hairs. No-kill opponents argue thatshelters like Avanzino’s do euthanize animals. They also turn away animals, relegating them tocity animal-control agencies where they most certainly will die — by someone else's between twoof the nation’s leading shelter operators — Caras and Richard Avanzino, president of the San Francisco SPCA and the most vocal proponent of the no- kill philosophy. Caras and his supporters scoff that no-kill shelters are smoke and mirrors. At best, such shelters are an impossibility, they say; at worst, a marketing ploy that casts no-kill operations as the good guys and everyone else in the wrenching animal-control business as nothing short of assassins. The dispute has become so heated that the Humane Society of the United States is poised to make a major policy statement questioning the no-kill concept and will devote the upcoming edition of its bimonthly magazine to and his programs describe him in terms of unabashed wonderment. “‘He’s an icon,” said animalactivist Foro. Eventhose who slam Ayan- COUNTRYLIVING It helps that San Francisco is only 47 square miles and has a population of less than 800,000. It helps that the city has wateron three sides, mak- | has nearly triple the resources handling about one- third the strays. Andit helps that Avanzino can turn animals away and that Carl Friedman, director tant part of the social lives of of the municipal Department 19th-century women. More than a chance to quilt, these gatherings provided forumsfor oral commu- of Animal Care and Control, must take them in and possibly euthanize them nication and outlets for creative self-expression. Charity projects and fund-raising quilts allowed womento participate actively in That someoneeise, they argue. tions. Volunteers stay away, and prospective owners slink from shelters that admit to euthanasia. After all, if they adopt Rocky in the cage on the right, what's going to happen to Sylvester onthe left? “There are hurt feelings throughout the nation,” said Madeline Bernstein, president of SPCA LA, whose shelter is the biggest in the county and euthanizes when thereis no other option. “We should not be turning the consumer against organizations that do this ‘disgusting function,’ this heartache, by also calling them killers.” their communities. Quiltings have been documented as far back as the 18th century, but popularity peaked in the United States during the third quarter of the 19th century. After decades of steady interest, quilting as a mainstream activity began a slow decline. Thetradition never vanished completely, but assumed the form of sewing cir- cles in local churches and community clubs, Some quilting groups in action today have been meeting continu- jects, including creating baby quilts for local hospitals, sewing Bicentennial — artisans from medical-instruction dolls for children whoareill and quilting place across the country were inspired mats for charity organizations to reclaim America’s lost arts. “Today’s quilting groups represent continuity and shared experi- ence between women’slivesin the 19th century and our own,” said Patricia J. Keller, a curator and doctoral candidate in the History of American Civilization at the University of Delaware. ‘Coming together to quilt, talk and share from the heart was important to 19th-century women and can be therapeutic for women dealing with the pressures of the 20th century.” Quilting bees generally meet once or twice a monthto quilt, allowing members to trade ideas and techniquesandto catch up on each other’slives. Quilting groups also organize other eventsincluding exhibitions of their work, holi- day bazaars, lectures by quilt-historians and demonstrations by instructors. Onestrong link between quilt- ing groups of yesterday and today is a dedication to charity work. The membersofthe Staten Island Quilters Guild, of the New York City borough of Staten Island, for example, involve themselves in a number of ongoing charity pro- that bring meals to the homebound. Sometimes a quilting group's projects are international in scope, such as the Olympic Games Quilt Project organized by the Georgia Quilt Council, an organization made up of quilters from aroundthe nation. It is impossible to fit today’s quilters into one catchall catego- ry. “Quilt guilds are a microcosm of society at large,” said Susan Louis, president of the Empire Quilters’ Guild in New YorkCity, whose members represent many ethnic and socioeconomic groups and hail from thefive boroughsof New York City, as well as neighboring states, and even Europe. The imageofa quilting group in the heartof a bustling metropolis may seem incongruous to some. but it makes perfect sense to Lou- is, “There's something about quilting that goes beyond where you live,” Louis said. “Our mem- bers come from all walksoflife, but they’re ali as crazy about quilts as I am.” ously since the early part of the 20th century. The most significant boom in quilting groups has occurred in the past 20 years. In the years following the crafts re- Pe — PLAY, ONEBIG VICTORY Paleo mo ogist Ann Bldercleans yutry being lees. he fossl its On the Trail: Dispatches From The Sesquicentennial This interactive CD-ROM includesfull historical accounts of the original Mormontrek, dozens of breathtaking photos from the Vie NL\4 er No one knows how many animal-welfare organizations oper- 1997 re-enactment, original ate in the United States, but most music, sights and sounds from thetrail, audio storytelling, his- fall into two broad categories. There are government-run shelters like Snyder's, which must take in every stray that comes their way, uphold laws and collect menacing or dead animals. These torical resources, and hun- dreds of pioneer-related Salt LakeTribunearticles. facilities also put animals up for | On The Trail CD-ROM Available for Win 95 PCsonly. profit shelters run by groupslike the SPCA and Humane Society Some also have done the job of animal control through city contracts. Lately, though, many are a and ia Also available at the Tribstore, 143 South Main, on the Mezzanine. Walk in orcall (801) 237-2086 50stars 1 Buy yours the THbstore 1418 Min, Mezzaniive Level By joining together,said writer Marie Proeller, today’s quilters are continuing America’s great quilting heritage and they are also experiencing a piece of history. Quilting bees were an impor- of, for example, SPCA LA while HORtc issue forus, It's unfortunate that In Avanzino's words, it has meant “saving all the adoptable animals since 1994." At that time, the city and SPCA entered into a 1987 in communities all across the United States. in. It helps that the SPCA here we're dividing into warring pee i actuul aneiter? neighborhood news, the practice of quilting is alive and well in ing it harder for animals from surrounding areas to wander | ing," said John Snyder, director they should besaving, notkilling, arounda quilt frame and sharing vival of the 1970s — a phenomenon that manyattributeto the interest generated by the COMING TO AHEAD of animal services for Florida's saying no to such duties, arguing Although the term “quilting bee” may conjure up visions of Victorian women gathered BY CHRISTOPHER SMITH. ME SALT LAKE TRIBUNE JENSEN. Down haley papers vi supermarket tabled clippings ot ut sightings (sample heaine: Alachua County. “This is a major euthanize thousandseach year. Thentherearethe private, non- Plenty of Americans Still Crazy for Quilts awe Saturday, February 7, 1997 WITHDINOSKULL BRINGING NEW INSIGHT, RESEARCH ON UTAHS JURASSIC ILWELIS.. the dilemma. Shelters calling themselves nokill “are only able to do this because someoneelse doesthekill- adoption, but lack of resources and pet oversupply force themto PHOTO BY TRENT NELSON zino for pushing a philosophy they deem indefensible look at his accomplishments with gets bad press and fewer dona- No-kill opponents SALT LAKE CITY — Elvis impersonator between innings at a Buzz baseball game. food, a dog bed, a leash and coilar. We've thrown in the whole kit and kaboodle.”’ Those who admire Avanzino hand. on the label. of a particularly public skirmish We're putting in six months of free medical, one year free unique adoption pact to guaran- saving animals’lives — few agree recent newsletter. “But alas, as things are today, it is more hoax than fact.” Caras’ declaration is evidence SPCA’s division of medical and behavior rehabilitation. “Free training is included. cats and dogsthat it describes as “healthy and of reasonably good temperament.” But while most laud the goal — tee homes for all San Francisco “No-kill is a goal, a hope, a dream,” Roger A. Caras, president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, wrote in his organization's So, the SPCA receive better health care than manyofthe city’s work- So do manyferal cats, geriatric dogs and homeless newborn kittens lousy with ringworm. 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