Keeping it in proportion

The snow is finally out of the woods ... at least in the little corner of the valley where we go hiking every morning. It should seem like easier going to lose the soft spring snow ... but in its place are slippery slopes of soggy leaves and of course the mud.
Today is the first day for the new sheltering contractor for HRM. Admitedly, I don't live in the city, but I've been paying attention to this story because what happens in HRM has a way of rippling out around the province. Does that mean that I think that private contractors will all start sheltering for AC's in Nova Scotia? Not any more than they already are ( The subject of how there are no one size fits all AC arrangements anywhere in NS is a very interesting topic that deserves its own post on another day )
Why am I concerned? Whats the big deal? Haven't I always been preaching that municipalities should be responsible for their own sheltering arrangements? Why yes I have .... but switching one contractor for another is not the solution. Particularly when the new kid on the block is a private business... because in NS, private businesses who perform contract services for government are not handcuffed by anything under the Freedom of Information Act.
Just as importantly, I still believe that the only way municipalities will accept responsibility for providing the full meal deal of promoting responsible pet ownership through programs and education is if they actually are physically engaged in the process.
Exchanging one contractor for another is just politics. Its not about lifesaving. If it was ... would a small facility staffed and supported by some controversial "experience" have been selected over the vastly improved Metro Shelter?
Its not about common sense .... when restaurants, bars and schools all understand that the only reason to install carpet is the short term goal of meeting a deadline.
Its not about choosing a better location ... when both bidders are located in the same industrial park.
Its definitely not about No Kill. Its poor logic to assume that local rescues will be able to absorb the animals who's 'time is up" And yes, before the keyboards catch on fire, I do realize that there are plans to alter the animals before transferring them out. Kindly remember that most rescues are limited by their foster space and that Metro will now have new funding constraints that may limit the help it can offer.
Nope. Nowhere in the No Kill terminology does it suggest that communities revert to referring to shelters as "Pounds".
At the end of the day, one can't blame the contractor for going for the brass ring. Nathan Winograd said " One of the fundamental downsides of bureaucracies is their focus on self-preservation at the expense of their mission" Until the animal loving community is prepared to educate their councillors about No Kill, innocent animals will continue to die.
Politicians need to be taught that:

• saving animals saves money. Programs such as TNR, low cost spay neuter, free training workshops and yes ..., off leash parks ... result in fewer impounded animals
• No Kill programs protect people. Promoting responsible dog ownership and TNR reduces nuisance complaints and improves public safety. And Saves Money.
• Pet retention assistance is cheaper in the long run than the cost of impounding a series of animals from the same individual

What time is it? Its time to decide whether this is No Kill Day or April Fools.

The evils of government are directly proportional to the tolerance of the people. - Frank Kent