"In response to recent media and internet attacks on Dr. Sara Pizano, Director of Miami-Dade Animal Services, the Board of Directors of the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has voted in SUPPORT of Dr. Sara Pizano."
From Jeanette Jordan, longtime animal activist and president of South Florida SPCA:
“Dr. Pizano’s leadership has led to countless improvements at Animal Services including dramatically increased adoptions, nationally recognized spay/neuter programs and the introduction of protocols that have resulted in more humane treatment of animals at the shelter.
“Assuming that the motives of those calling for Dr. Pizano’s removal are heartfelt, their rage is, at best, misplaced and fueled by lack of knowledge. Those of us on the frontlines of animal rescue know the real culprit is not Dr. Pizano, but an irresponsible public who do not spay/neuter their pets.
“I politely reached out to the organizers of the protest against Dr. Pizano through Facebook to see if there was any common ground with them that my organization could support,” stated Jordan. “Unfortunately, I was shot down. In fact, I felt threatened. I was told, in writing, that I was passive-aggressive, and condescending. I was told not to contact them again or ‘I would be shredded.' It is clear to us that the upcoming rally is being staged by individuals untroubled by facts and reality.”
This is me, Ellie, talking now. Shredded? Really? Can someone explain to me why it was necessary to treat someone who has spent decades rescuing farm animals in this town to be treated like that? Whether you agree with Pizano's way of handling the shelter or not, the nastiness that surrounds this issue is way over the line. What is, this, the 7th grade?
A lot of ASD critics either have a very short memory or didn't live here prior to the current management. Allow me to present some statistics from Herald stories in the pre-Pizano era, when the Public Works then the police department ran the shelter, which was a death factory, pure and simple.
From a 1995 story: "Dade County took in 23,668 dogs between Sept. 30, 1993, and Sept. 30, 1994. Only 3,041 found homes; 18,442 had to be killed (a process that statewide costs $20 million a year). Daily impoundments and surrenders outnumber adoptions and reclamations of lost dogs by 4-1.''
From the department's recent 5-year report: "Adoptions increased by 178% from FY 2004-2005 (3,002) to FY 2009-2010 (8,334). In addition to increased adoptions, more than sixty (60) Rescue Partners have contributed to the number of animals saved with 4,074 transfers in FY 09-10. The number of animals saved has increased from FY 2004-2005 (5,667) to FY 2009-2010 (13,942) which is the highest number in the history of the Department and an unprecedented accomplishment for any open admission public shelter. ''
Does this mean that there's an acceptable level of euthanasia now? Of course not, but anyone who thinks that the current management is just fine with the way things are is, as Jeanette Jordan said, "untroubled by facts or reality.'' And I, for one, really wonder what the agenda is among those who have gotten so vicious, spiteful and personal.
