Today marks the one year anniversary of the killing of Oreo despite offers to save her by a No Kill shelter. Sadly, we cannot bring Oreo back. But we can lessen the futility of Oreo’s death if we learn from it, and alter our society in such a way as to prevent it from ever happening again.
Oreo’s plight was not an isolated case. Every year in New York State, roughly 25,000 animals are killed in shelters despite offers to save them by rescue groups. In fact, 71% of rescue groups reported that their local shelter has turned them away and then killed the very animals they offered to save.
I am hopeful that the New Year will see legislation passed that accomplishes the goal of ending that continuing needless tragedy. We’ve done it in California. We’ve done it in Delaware. We can do it in New York.