In August of 2004, a group of animal welfare industry leaders from across the nation convened at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California for the purpose of building bridges across varying philosophies, developing relationships and creating goals focused on significantly reducing the euthanasia of healthy and treatable companion animals in the United States.  Through hard work, lively discussion and brainstorming, a common vision for the future was adopted.  More information on Asilomar can be found at www.AsilomarAccords.org.

Fort Wayne animal Care and Control has long been a leader in the area of government based animal services.  However, our community as a whole is not a front runner in the fight against pet overpopulation and in preventing the euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals.  Healthy animals are dying in our community!  What do the leading communities have that Fort Wayne does not?  In our country, the stream of animals into shelters is generally being slowed by coalition building by private non-profit agencies who are teaming with municipal organizations to provide the services that tax based dollars do not generally fund.  In Fort Wayne , our shelter has been a victim of it’s own community successes.  We live and work in a silo of one large, one small shelter and little or no animal group activity to address overpopulation outside our rescue groups.  Without participation outside the government environment, we have little hope of stemming the incoming tide of unwanted animals.  Pro-active programming found in other communities in Indiana include high volume/ low cost spay neuter, trap neuter release (TNR), and increased animal transfer programs.  Are those the right programming for Fort Wayne ?  In 2007 and 2008 our agency will team with the ACSPCA to see if a coalition approach can spur some interest in this community to save lives.


Archives
2008 corrected coalition report.pdf

2007 corrected coalition report.pdf