Thank You to Metro Animal Services Staff

There has been a lot of media coverage about the recent flooding at MAS. Some of it very positive and some negative. Having spent the last two days at the makeshift shelt at the fairgrounds and performing cleanup at the shelter itself, I just wanted to pause a moment and comment on the negative. First, MAS in general sometimes gets a bad wrap because they do have to euthanize animals on occasion. This is never because that is the staff's choice. Everyone at Metro is there because they care. I can assure you it isn't for the glory, glamour or wealth. When the flood hit, there were less than 20 people to evacuate hundreds of animals. That included a cow, goats, feral and vicious critters and terrified cats. In the very act of trying to save lives, some were lost (literally - a few are still not accounted for). However, having been in the trenches so to speak, I can tell you it is a miracle it wasn't a lot worse. For an organization that is always under-funded and under-staffed, they did an amazing job at controlling the chaos. Everyone reading this blog loves animals or you wouldn't be reading. NONE of those animals would have had a chance without the MAS staff. Remember what it is - it is a place where unwanted, neglected, abandoned and abused animals end up. If we human animals did a better job, there wouldn't be nearly as great a need for the services MAS provides. Anyone who really wants to make a difference in an animal's life, I encourage you to not think it, but do it. The need for supplies and volunteers will not stop when the clean-up is over. In fact, the amount of veterinary care alone may skyrocket - the animals' health in general will be worsened just due to the conditions of being stressed, crowded, and swimming in muck. There will always be animals looking for homes. People are full of opinion, but sometimes short on action. Do what you can, when you can. Then form an opinion.