JA67, I heard, I heard, doesn't cut mustard! I agree with the one hour handling, the dogs/cats/birds get loving care, holding, petting, etc., then are put back. That is what is called HUMANE. They are also handled by Ms. Rhodes and the staff. You don't want to really spoil them then put them back in a cage. That is cruel to the animal, in my opinion. Ms. Rhodes had a mess to clean up and she is just now starting to see daylight. Be glad we have this shelter, do you have room in your house for them all? Let us know your address, will you?

JA67- Just to clarify for you:
Private rescues, like Friends of Noah or One at a Time can pick and choose which animals they want to take in, and accomodate only as many as they have foster homes for.
Because RCHS, also a private rescue, has contracts with various municipalities, they MUST accept all animals from that municipality. Doesn't matter if the animal has a poor temperament, is severly ill or if they don't have room for it. THAT is the reason animals are euthanized.
It's easy to commend other private rescues for being no-kill, but they don't have to euthanize because they can control every aspect of what they take in.

Back handed critisisms usually have a hidden agenda and accomplish little.

~ No one so thoroughly appreciates the value of constructive criticism as the one who's giving it ~.

thank you, StormChaser. that was my point - it's a business, the Society needs more money, the fees received (from adoption and the JANESVILLE contract) aren't enough to keep them solvent. and, ja57, because this is a non-government agency, I don't think it would be possible to generate more money by putting something onto the tax bills

ja67, the shelter is not OF the county, so it doesn't get their tax dollars directly. It gets paid fees from the different areas that choose to do business with the shelter, so it would be up to the different cities to choose where those tax dollars go.

I heard that even healthy animals are euthanizing. But the board of directors turn their backs on this. I also heard that the volunteers are not happy with Angela Rhodes how she handles day to day affairs. She limits her volunteers to one hour of time with the animals, she should let them have more time with the animals.

Also, I thought Rock County had to help out. There is Beloit, Footville, Milton, etc. Have these other towns be tax to help out with the Humane Society.

mrsdamracefan I am glad that you don't have any control over animal welfare! There are bad dogs in every breed but every pit bull isn't a bad dog. I'm glad your opinion is just that and nothing more.

I realize it's totally different funding, I was merely stating that I would like to see everyone get all the funds they need but unfortunately that's not going to happen. It was an example, nothing more

I say euthanize all pit bulls they are a worthless excuse for a pet. I wouldn't trust them no way no how if they end up at the humane society euthanize them please before the good dogs and cats of the world are killed by these worthless dogs. Thank you a concerned citizen.

Lar80, if you had read the previous article, you would have seen that since Mrs Rhodes took over, there has been a marked increase of transfers of some of the animals to other shelters or rescues that had more space available. My math may not be the best, but that helps reduce euthinasia and increases cage space at the same time, making the percentage drop a lot. She said that he numbers of animals coming is has actually increased, but because of the outgoing ones it helps lower the %. Did that make sense?

So, only unhealthy or unadoptable animals are destroyed.. Yet ironically, you boast your percentage of destroyed animals has notably been reduced.

Clear thinking says; actually no credit is due to you at all in this matter... You simply recieved fewer untreatable animals into the shelter.
Or am I missing something here.

all the articles have been too vague. what people don't realize is the Humane Society is just that, a Humane Society - it's not Rock County, it's not a government entity. Living in the "suburbs" of Janesville, I found they wouldn't respond to my call because (quote): we're "Rock County" like Rock County Buick is "Rock County". They're a very worthwhile non-profit but mamato3 is wrong when saying the school district should get all they money they need, too....it's totally different funding.

There's nothing saying the society has "stopped euthanizing", only that they euthanize based on adoptability. The humane society actually stands in opposition to no-kill shelters in supporting euthanization as a humane alternative to neglect, maltreatment, and blunter forms of elimination used by dog management officials in the past.

I think that the explanation is right there in your story. If the society has stopped euthanizing, their costs will continue to go up and they will soon reach unsustainable levels of pets. There will never be enough money to fix this problem. It is time to start acting like grownups and make the hard decisions. There is no pet shortage and there will not be one anytime soon.