Animal Welfare Professionals

None of the above. The current problems are lack of money and lack of access to pet resources, particularly veterinary care. There's a horrible vet shortage that's driving costs up for everyone and making it difficult to get care even if you can afford it. Most people are aware of the problems you mention or understand them once they become aware, but the average person does not have the money or resources to do anything about it. Educating people doesn't give them the funds or resources.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply!

It is surprising to me that you think so little of the power of marketing and education. Potentially, from working in the marketing industry, I have an over inflated sense of its power to create change, and change the actions and beliefs of a community (and subsequently change the dynamics of a government and an economy).  I have helped multiple luxury (meaning non-essential) product based businesses go from $100,000 businesses to multi-million dollar businesses. In my mind that means that there is an audience of people, and companies spending expendable income which could be donated or used to lobby and change the world for the better.

I understand that there are absolutely other avenues that need support (you mentioned the vet shortage and under funding) but in my experience education, marketing, and understanding are often essential parts of making change in a community. They often lead to tangible changes like more vets providing affordable pet care, or more people going into school to become vets, or communities building affordable programs for pet parents, etc. Maybe those issues are just the ones that need strategic marketing funding to back them.

None of the above. The current problems are lack of money and lack of access to pet resources, particularly veterinary care. There's a horrible vet shortage that's driving costs up for everyone and making it difficult to get care even if you can afford it. Most people are aware of the problems you mention or understand them once they become aware, but the average person does not have the money or resources to do anything about it. Educating people doesn't give them the funds or resources.

Education, awareness and funding all play an important role in improving animal welfare in my opinion.  We cannot sustainably "resource" our way out of the current problems without educating people about pet ownership responsibility and making them aware of the need for solutions and resources.  Animal advocacy is a never-ending and ever-changing responsibility.  

I remember as a young girl growing up in a rural community how dog ownership was viewed, dogs were mostly working animals who lived outside to roam or were chained.  They didn't have the comforts of a home or regular attention.  That view has changed in my community and I believe it is due to increased education about what dogs are and what their needs are and awareness of cruel practices and how we can and should improve the lives of dogs.  

We continually strive to educate people on the importance of spaying/neutering knowing that if we can educate one person,  it will eventually have a profound affect on our community.  

Who had heard of catios 10 years ago?  Now, through education and awareness, they are used to keep cats safely contained yet enjoying the outside world.  Who had thought about rolling fence tops 10 years ago?  Who had thought of microchips 20 years ago?  

Of course without resources, we cannot help where humans have failed or are lacking in their own resources when it comes to pets.  

Like everything else, there is not one cause to a problem and there is not one solution to fixing it.   We must be willing to utilize all the tools available.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply!

It is surprising to me that you think so little of the power of marketing and education. Potentially, from working in the marketing industry, I have an over inflated sense of its power to create change, and change the actions and beliefs of a community (and subsequently change the dynamics of a government and an economy).  I have helped multiple luxury (meaning non-essential) product based businesses go from $100,000 businesses to multi-million dollar businesses. In my mind that means that there is an audience of people, and companies spending expendable income which could be donated or used to lobby and change the world for the better.

I understand that there are absolutely other avenues that need support (you mentioned the vet shortage and under funding) but in my experience education, marketing, and understanding are often essential parts of making change in a community. They often lead to tangible changes like more vets providing affordable pet care, or more people going into school to become vets, or communities building affordable programs for pet parents, etc. Maybe those issues are just the ones that need strategic marketing funding to back them.

None of the above. The current problems are lack of money and lack of access to pet resources, particularly veterinary care. There's a horrible vet shortage that's driving costs up for everyone and making it difficult to get care even if you can afford it. Most people are aware of the problems you mention or understand them once they become aware, but the average person does not have the money or resources to do anything about it. Educating people doesn't give them the funds or resources.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply!

It is surprising to me that you think so little of the power of marketing and education. Potentially, from working in the marketing industry, I have an over inflated sense of its power to create change, and change the actions and beliefs of a community (and subsequently change the dynamics of a government and an economy).  I have helped multiple luxury (meaning non-essential) product based businesses go from $100,000 businesses to multi-million dollar businesses. In my mind that means that there is an audience of people, and companies spending expendable income which could be donated or used to lobby and change the world for the better.

I understand that there are absolutely other avenues that need support (you mentioned the vet shortage and under funding) but in my experience education, marketing, and understanding are often essential parts of making change in a community. They often lead to tangible changes like more vets providing affordable pet care, or more people going into school to become vets, or communities building affordable programs for pet parents, etc. Maybe those issues are just the ones that need strategic marketing funding to back them.

None of the above. The current problems are lack of money and lack of access to pet resources, particularly veterinary care. There's a horrible vet shortage that's driving costs up for everyone and making it difficult to get care even if you can afford it. Most people are aware of the problems you mention or understand them once they become aware, but the average person does not have the money or resources to do anything about it. Educating people doesn't give them the funds or resources.

It's surprising to me that you would respond in such a condescending way. Coming from marketing doesn't make you more knowledge than us about animal welfare or education. You asked a question, I gave you the answer based on what I see in our work every day. If you didn't like it, maybe think about why that is? Because I've been working in animal welfare for almost ten years and I work with animal welfare groups, shelters, and rescues all over the country. And we have seen time and time again that while education can certainly help, the main problem is lack of resources and money.

As for the vet shortage, more vets don't provide affordable pet care because they don't have the time or capacity.  (or the desire, because they have more full-cost patients than they can even handle) More people can't go to school to become vets because there aren't enough vet schools, and the ones we have are too expensive. Communities are full of affordable programs or the desire to build affordable programs to help pet parents ,but there's not enough funding for them.

So like I said, education is good, but the real problem right now is lack of money.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply!

It is surprising to me that you think so little of the power of marketing and education. Potentially, from working in the marketing industry, I have an over inflated sense of its power to create change, and change the actions and beliefs of a community (and subsequently change the dynamics of a government and an economy).  I have helped multiple luxury (meaning non-essential) product based businesses go from $100,000 businesses to multi-million dollar businesses. In my mind that means that there is an audience of people, and companies spending expendable income which could be donated or used to lobby and change the world for the better.

I understand that there are absolutely other avenues that need support (you mentioned the vet shortage and under funding) but in my experience education, marketing, and understanding are often essential parts of making change in a community. They often lead to tangible changes like more vets providing affordable pet care, or more people going into school to become vets, or communities building affordable programs for pet parents, etc. Maybe those issues are just the ones that need strategic marketing funding to back them.

None of the above. The current problems are lack of money and lack of access to pet resources, particularly veterinary care. There's a horrible vet shortage that's driving costs up for everyone and making it difficult to get care even if you can afford it. Most people are aware of the problems you mention or understand them once they become aware, but the average person does not have the money or resources to do anything about it. Educating people doesn't give them the funds or resources.

Shay, 

Amongst a crowded field . . .  people might change their behavior if they knew more about the benefit of having pets micro chipped so they could be reunited if lost.  I tend to look for the positive so information such as how many lives are saved could persuade people to donate time, money, or services. 

If all people knew that we are a safe and non-judgmental place to come for assistance and resources, animal welfare would continue to improve in our community!