What does it mean when a rescue is asked to sign an Animal Welfare Agreement between their rescue and an animal shelter they “pull” (save cats and dogs) from? This question has come up since Greenville County Animal Care Services (GCACS) in Upstate South Carolina has asked the organizations who rescue from their facility to sign a Humane Discourse and Conduct in Animal Welfare Agreement.
The screenshot leaves the print too small to read clearly for this article, but the content of the agreement is listed below.
“We the individuals and organizations in conjunction with Greenville County Animal Care reject and condemn verbal abuse, threats, harassment, and other acts of violence directed against animal welfare personnel and volunteers. As rescue partners, we call on every animal welfare group to join us in actively promoting compassion and respect, not just for animals, but for those people who work tirelessly on their behalf. By signing this agreement, we the individuals and organization will not engage in attacks on fellow individuals, organizations or agencies in any manner as they do not further the cause of animal welfare. We, along with Animal Care and its approved rescue group partners, when discussing differences of policy or opinion, agree to do so in a manner that is neither denigrating nor abusive. Different groups can have (and voice) differences of opinion but need to display those differences in a respectful way.”
The Greenville shelter (not to be confused with the Greenville Humane Society) has often been the subject of controversy. In other words, they do good things and they do bad things. Those who follow their pet rescue page on Facebook, as well as the volunteers who promote the animals (and do an excellent job of it), know you can be both “for” and “against” the shelter at the same time.
What concerns me, and the cause for this article is those in rescue who have taken the time to consult an attorney have been told NOT to sign this agreement. It really raises some red flags on the part of the shelter.
For one, I know rescues see a lot of what goes on behind the scenes at a shelter. Any shelter. If abuse or neglect or if policies are being broken, this new Animal Welfare Agreement would prohibit the rescue from reporting it.
Shelter Director Shelley Simmons says we all have to work together for the welfare of the dogs and cats at their facility. But how is it helping when rescues are being told they shouldn’t sign the agreement? I also wonder whether this would prohibit rescues who save sick or injured animals from posting photos on their wall, as in a way that would be negative publicity for the shelter.
Is this contract even legal? Wouldn’t it be easier to not do anything wrong that rescues would feel the need to report on? This new contract isn’t saving lives. I fear it will costs them.Has anyone had any issues with Greenville lately? Please feel free to sound off in the comment section of this article (Facebook comment section is faster, as comments from Facebook don’t have to be approved before being posted).
Has anyone had any issues with Greenville lately? Please feel free to sound off in the comment section of this article (Facebook comment section is faster, as comments from Facebook don’t have to be approved before being posted).
Elisa
In my TNR rescue group, pregnant and even near term cats undergo abortion and are spayed. No ill affects to date after 8 years. Some members have a difficult time with that. However, TNR is all about eliminating numbers.
I was one of a few who had a very pregnant cat about to be spayed, but she went into labor minutes before and delivered 4 kits at our headquarters. No one advocates the killing of thriving newborn kittens; but, abortion is necessary. After socializing the kits, 3 of them were adopted out to loving homes.
if this place has had problems in the past & THEN they write THIS thing up it is clearly an attempt to silence others BEFORE they can bring charges against them. if im not mistaken, in binding contracts BOTH people/entities need to sign it & it has to be stamped/notarized with BOTH signees present or it cant be used against u. what probably happens is THEY confront u over signing the document & THEY say there could b problems, but if there is breach of faith, contract, or illegal activities on the part of the shelter then its void. i could b wrong on that, but thats what i remember of contractual agreements. its purposefully vague so it can SEEM to encompass more than it does. all it really is is about vulgar language being used when describing the shelter &/or its practices. it SEEMS like its more but its not, & THAT is how they get u.
Well, I don’t believe that I would sign a contract like this as it is worded. My gut tells me that their goal is to, somehow, stifle whistle blowers.
I don’t find this thing truly legal.
PoC isn’t involved in any way except to get the issues out in the open. People are interpreting the contract in different perspectives on the heels of very few cats on the shelter page plus cats who may not be feral being released back where they were found. Rescues are also seeing things they can’t report on if they signed the contract.
Thanks Beth. The agreement then appears to be an attempt at censoring people and stifling dissent. Not good.
I am in rescue and deal with this shelter if you say anything negative towards their policies or the way they do things either on FB or meetings with the county administrator they get mad. They also have gotten nasty with rescues for having a diff in opinions. I was told I was threatening staff before by just clearly stating that I was going to have to set up a meeting with the county administrator. How is that deemed a threat?