Introduction: Below is a comment on this page of the Westberry story (opens new page). I really don’t want to over-egg the story but there are a number of comments amongst many that need highlighting because they may prevent this happening again. Ruth’s comment is supported by a number of other comments which remarked on the culpability of other people who supplied Julianne Westberry with cats.
By Ruth (a visitor to the site) commenting on the Julianne Westberry tragedy
Friends of Harnett Animal Shelter, In light of recent incidents in which numerous deceased cats were found at a local rescue, I am compelled to express my concerns. This statement concerns not only your organization, but the numerous other shelters organizers involved in transporting cats to Julianne Westberry. I realize there are numerous shelter animals with limited options.
The available fosters/rescues and animal advocacy groups are minimal compared to the need. Oftentimes, time is limited and there is an urgency to get animals out of high kill shelters as quickly as possible. As I am sure you realize, the need is ongoing and there is a desperation to save as many lives as possible.
Unfortunately, I believe that this urgency has had tragic results for many homeless animals and my concern is that this does not happen again. There were many red flags that went unheeded.
First of all, JW insisted on meeting in a public location. Transporters did not deliver to the home. When a rescue does not welcome a home visit, people should be very cautious.
Secondly, with the number of cats in shelters in SC, why did this woman obtain cats from NC, TN, and other out of state locations? That is clearly a red flag. SC shelters are overwhelmed with homeless cats. Why are you continuing to send NC cats to rescues in SC? Clearly, their own shelters are full and overflowing.
Let me get to the point, you actively collect money from your supporters to pull and transport pets to various out of state rescues. How many of these rescues have you personally inspected before transporting these animals?
It is one thing to be fooled by unscrupulous rescue organizations, but quite another to ignore obvious red flags. When you collect money from the public to pull and transport these animals, you must be held to a higher standard. People who pledge and support your organization trust that you are taking these animals out of danger to a safe environment, not sending them on to a life of pure torture.
As an animal advocate, I plead with you, you must do better. The safety and health of these loving animals rests in your hands. If you cannot ensure their safety, do not “rescue” them. I hope that in the future you will proceed with caution and investigate before dropping off animals to “rescue organizations”. They should be able to provide vet references as well as be open to showing you where the animals are living until adoption.
Harnett Friends….I plead with you….don’t let this happen again. These precious animals depend on you and me…we cannot let them down.
Please show where the HAWC Spay and Neuter $20 or less spay and neuter program has been shared proactively and posted on Friends Of Harnett Page. In fact for a very long time it was not found anywhere on the page at all. It might possibly be listed somewhere on the about page at this time. But not encouraged on the main page. Only one application out of hundreds on my desk has Friends Of Harnett listed in the “where did you hear about us” section. Most applicants have heard about our program from the local newspaper and our own website/facebook page. One would think that a group who wants to see less litters in the shelter so there would be less to pull would be screaming spay and neuter for $20 or less from the rooftops. Instead, we are bombarded with cries of “it’s not working.” and “your plan is a failure.”
Please clarify as to when Friends of Harnett was participating our events or raising money for our organization. One cannot make that claim merely because one of their volunteers decided on their own to attend an event or fundraiser.
Please do elaborate on your accusation that I “want to see animals killed on a weekly basis to prove a point.” It is quite disturbing when volunteers and friends of a rescue (crossposting, transport….whatever the group calls itself nowadays) organization label and attack all those who question what is happening to the animals and have beliefs that rescue should be safe and responsible with protective measures in place. Who travel the web yelling “you want them all to die”.
No, Harnett Animal Welfare Coalition will not work with rescue and organizations who embrace members who repeatedly attack its founder, who refuse to directly answer simple questions (and delete them) by the public on their own page concerning practices, and whose members and friends travel the internet to pounce on those who ask or discuss elsewhere.
For those who are interested in the “bash page” (which those who support/volunteer with FOH wants removed and are more concerned with WHO is behind the page than what is actually on it), can be found below…. where currently Harnett Rescue’s roles in the JW tragedy are being shared with the public.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Real-and-Revealed-Profiling-Harnett-Animal-Rescue/779389895422483?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark
This article isn’t bashing but the page Lori set up on Facebook is bashing FOH and our members.
This is not particularly relevant but free speech is protected here 😉 It is the First Article of the PoC Constitution!
Hi Shell. Thanks for taking the time to write a full comment. Excellent comment. Any future comments you make will be published immediately.
Thanks Juli. Any future comments you make will be published immediately. The article was a comment. I converted it into an article. She is entitled to her opinion and her article is well written and thought out. Everyone is entitled to their views. I don’t see this article as “bashing”. It is comment.
Ruth, I agree with your assessments completely. There were many many cats from Harnett Shelter which looked like they went to JW. Others are looking at those photos also and are finding more evidence to show it was going on for a very long time. No one will every know the true numbers as so much is done in secret. It makes me sick to think how many others are out there suffering due to poor methods and ethics.