This is not a sustainable situation, but it is one that we encounter almost everywhere we go: Incredible heroes (mostly middle-aged and older women) sacrificing everything to save the animals, and counties who count on them with no plan for what happens when they can no longer continue to rescue (or the rescue connections dry up).

I asked Leonika how we solve this, and she shook her head. She said

@OPENARMSAnimalShelter@Lawrencecountyhumanesociety-LouisaKY

After visiting nearly 80 shelters and rescues, I can tell a lot about a shelter just by walking through their kennels. At Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement, it's pretty peaceful in their kennel rooms....

One remarkable woman is fixing things in Simpson County Kentucky in more ways than one and proving that we can save (and spay/neuter) all of the animals even in a struggling rural southern county. @TheFixFoundation @SimpsonCountyAnimalShelter

HAWS leaves the judgment to others and focuses on helping animals and educating people. @HAWSHELP

So often, what it takes is somebody deciding to do something about it. Not waiting for their government to act, or for it to be easy, or until they have time/energy/money. It’s one person doing something to help. Meet one remarkable woman who has almost single-handedly been responsible for saving over 7000 lives. @LPFoster @CASAtransport.org

Private animal shelters often are built near public shelters to do the job that the tax-payer funded shelter is not. They literally rescue dogs from the public shelter. Why is more not expected from a government run shelter? Why do citizens pay for two shelters - one with their taxes and the other with their donations (and hearts)? And why, pray tell, do we allow this to go on?

Smart shelter practices that save every dog don't have to cost a lot of money, but if money is what is needed here is a model for how local volunteers can help a public shelter@savingcheathamanimals

Let's go to @CampJean and save some dogs!