Irony at Cabela's

[Slinger]

Did a little Christmas shopping at the Cabela's store that was built dangerously close to my house. After making my purchases I asked the clerk if they had any gift boxes to wrap my purchase in. She directed me to the "Bear's Den" where I could pick up a box. While standing in line I noticed a sign, "Free Gift Wrapping". Another smaller sign read it was provided by the Calumet Region Humane Society. "How ironic" I thought, the Humane Society, one of the largest anti-hunting groups, providing free gift wrapping at Cabela's.

By the way, donations were gladly accepted.

 

[Cougfan2]

I guess our money spends as well as anybody else's. You should have asked if they could direct you to the Baby Fur Seal taxidermy mounts.

 

[bensdad]

Somebody feel free to come in and put me in my place, but I'm pretty sure there's a big difference between the "Humane Society" and the Humane Society of the United States.

There's a "Humane Society" in most large communities. These places take care of lost dogs, sell unwanted critters, take in surrendered critters, stuff like that. The HSUS is a massive (five x bigger than PETA) animal rights organization. IIRC, the two are not connected.

 

[Cougfan2]

Bensdad Thanks for the clarification, I honestly wasn't aware that they weren't connected.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

yeah, the 'humane society' just sounds nicer then the 'dog pound'. course round here its all the SPCA and its contected to the national orginization. glad you helped out the mutts (and got presents wraped, a twofer!) 'cause they always need it.

 

[Slinger]

Bensdad,

I stand corrected. When I got home from the store I did a search on Humane Society, not Humane Society Calumet Region. Upon inspection of the Calumet Region site I could find nothing linking them to the Humane Society of the United States.

My appologies for not researching more thouroughly before posting. Wipping egg of face now.

Slinger

 

[strat81]

Yup, most (all?) of the local Humane Societies have no ties to the one on the national level that routinely calls for bans on hunting.

If you like feeling sad, visit a local Human Society, dog pound, or animal shelter. I'm not much of an animal lover, but it still kills me when I can't take all of them home.

 

[akodo]

I believe local governments began calling the dog pound the 'humane society' first, and the 'humane society of the United States' specifically chose a deceptive name

 

[Gifted]

The HSUS franchises the name, basically. We have The Humane Society of Missouri here in this area, but they're totally unrelated to the Humane Society in Jeff City, or such. Most are pretty much independent.

If you want to help, go volunteer. They'll take dog walkers and foster care. walking the poor things helps them keep their sanity longer, which gives them a better chance of getting adopted, and foster care expands the number of animals they have by reducing the amount of kennel space needed. I think most of the animals we euthanize have either a medical condition, behavior problems, or--until recently(we might be changing this policy)--are "pit bulls" and such.

Some gov money does require that some animals be euthanized, but I'm not familiar with that. They do have no kill shelters about, though whether any claim the title of "humane society" or not I don't know.

I do believe that it's a lot more humane than leaving them on the streets though.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Let me get this in quickly before the mods lock this up for NOT being about guns. In Maricopa County Arizona the local Sheriff volunteered to take over operating the pound by using inmates on work release to run the pound. They get out of jail for awhile and do a trememdous service to the community and animals----all for a greatly reduced expenditure by the county. That is called "putting a bite on crime"!

 

[Deavis]

Dang, I didn't see that. And I gift wrapped the rifle I bought by myself tonight. Sigh... That's okay, I like that paper. Goof service fromt he two guys that were behind the counter tonight as well. Surpised and pleased.

 

[Chipperman]

Same thing applies to your local SPCA vs the ASPCA.

 

[armoredman]

The Maricopa County experiment is working VERY well, and I hope it goes wider. All of our animals are rescued animals. Animal/Gun pics to keep this gun related....









One puppy even starred in his own firearm advertising pictures...





And yes, our local Humane Society is not connected, but unfortunately they DO have a "no guns" sign up.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Wonderful Posters!

 

[Nolo]

My mother used to be the president of our local Humane Society. They are not affiliated with the National Humane Society in any way, shape or form. We had an organization affiliated with the HSUS, but that was the Animal Welfare League. It even sounded slimy.

 

[nerfsrule2]

I have rescued a few animals from the Humane Society in my time. Most of them are good people that care about the wellbeing of pets. That is where I picked up my last cat; she is very smart. I thought her how to reload my S&W MP-15T in .223, and my Glock model 23. in 40 cal. But she still has a tough time with my Python.(Can't seem to get her paws used to opening the cylinder) .

 

[bluestarlizzard]

many humane societies/spca's act as a locations version of a dog pound. they get governament funds, but they MUST have space to take in new animals and even if they have the space, they, due to governmental reasons, have to put down dogs that are unadoptable due to health or behavior. which is why most cannot be completley no kill shelters. our local SPCA has gotten the numbers down drastically (they now only euthanise those animals that they HAVE too) because of foster programs and deals with a couple local boarding kennels (like the one i work at) to house exsese population. they have also gotten involved with breed rescues and a program driving hounds up north (were they are more likely to be adopted) to help increase the adoption rate. the biggest over population happens in spring when kittens are born, the little puppies recevied at christmas start turning into big dogs and breeders of pitbulls for fighting start 'getting rid of' dogs that won't fight.
so, yeah, your time, effort and money are always welcome.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Local Humane Society

Glad some of your local Humane Societies are run by people w/their heads on right. This, unfortunately, ain't always the case. Mine has a form for dog adoption which includes a question like, "For what purpose(s) do you intend to use this dog? Check all that apply." And then there are 6 or 7 things to check, including "pet," "watchdog," etc, etc. The last choice is "hunting."

Last time I was there dog shopping, I filled out the form, checked off "pet" and "hunting." The lady behind the desk read the form, and suddenly her eyes got wide, her voice got quavery, and she began voicing objections to my having a dog which got odder and odder. Finally it became clear to me: She was a virulent anti-hunter, and no way in heck was I going to get one of her precious doggies.

I've had dogs, hunted 'em, neighbors have dogs, hunting is "normal" in my area, but not, apparently, at my local Humane Society. I've stopped putting money in their donation boxes.

FWIW, they were happy to let me have a cat. I haven't reported to them that Rajah is sudden death on mice in the house, likewise on careless shrews and chipmunks in the backyard.

 

[Gifted]

You should have talked to her supervisor. Lady needs her head straightened out.

 

[worthirt_99]

Calumet Region Humane Society

I know this is off the subject, but I bought my first cat from there

 

[Smokey Joe]

Mebbe I should have.

Gifted--Perhaps you're right, I should have taken the matter to the next level. At the time I just wanted to get the heck out of there. And the scuttlebutt--thought I admit I haven't pursued the matter--is that that's how it is @ that Humane Soc, so I'd get nowhere taking it to the management.

And (a) I'm not in the market for a dog currently--it would be unfair to the resident cats, and (b) I have an "in" with Lab Rescue when it does become "new dog time."

So in the interest of keeping my life low-hassle, I'm just skipping the whole thing with the Humane Soc. As a very wise Quaker woman once said to me, "Well, you try to pick your battles." You just can't fight every single injustice there is out there.

 

[Brian Dale]

But she still has a tough time with my Python

That's an "opposable thumbs" thing: get her a Smith or a Ruger. My cat can't pull back the Colt-type cylinder release on a Python, either.

He didn't come from a shelter; turned up here at the farm three years ago. Took him inside (that's rare; usually can't take in stray cats) and
1) he knew what a litter box was, and he won't beg from the table, won't even eat table food;
2) he'd been neutered and had had his front claws removed.
3) Then somebody just took him out to the country and threw him away.

He's a damned good cat.

Lots of pet-grade animals starve every year, turn feral, get sick and suffer horribly. Pet shelters do a good job of advertising spay-and-neuter programs, telling folks what's available. It's good to support the local ones.

Well Done, Cabela's.

 

[Gifted]

Go for the black animals too. That's something we've got all over the shelter, and frequently have specials for. Black dogs and cats are harder to get adopted, so if you take interest in the black ones, they'll be very happy.