The Nov. 3 Politics & The Nation article “Animal shelters ‘in crisis’ in Southeast in aftermath of back-to-back hurricanes” was a solemn reminder that many community animal facilities across the country are overcrowded and strapped for resources. Pet lovers should keep this in mind when donating to animal charities.
Contributing to local pet shelters often has a bigger impact in helping homeless cats and dogs than giving to larger, well-known national animal groups. The Humane Society of the United States, for example, gives only 1 percent of its $160 million budget to local pet shelters as financial grants. Meanwhile, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides only 2 percent of its budget. And neither is associated with local SPCAs or humane societies.
This isn’t to say national organizations don’t do anything good for animals. These entities simply have different priorities than local pet shelters. Donors should take that into account.
Edwin Sayres, Sarasota, Florida
The writer is former president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.