News, Articles and...

News and Press Releases
"The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual - for it is in the solitary mind and soul of the individual that the battle between good and evil is waged and ultimately won or lost." ~ M. Scott Peck

Tail Talk articles
Tail Talk is a weekly column published in the New Orleans section of the Times-Picayune.

Tail Mail: Archive Louisiana SPCA E-newsletters

Compassion Fatigue: It’s not life — it’s stress. And it’s not you — it’s real.
Everybody who works in a shelter likely experiences compassion stress or compassion fatigue. A sweeping statement? Not at all. Experts say animal welfare workers have one of the highest reported incidence of compassion fatigue – the exhaustion stemming from the stress of always wanting to be empathic and helpful to those who suffer.

True Calling: Cycle of grief is endless for shelter workers
When Penny Cistaro visits shelters to teach humane animal care standards and euthanasia, she avoids revealing her occupation to fellow travelers. On an airplane, she’d rather keep her nose in a book and shut down conversation. If pressed, she pretends she’s a bartender. The harmless subterfuge is less painful than the fallout that inevitably comes when she reveals...

"My Name is Sam"
My Name is Sam, written by Chris Benton, is a moving account of her first hand experience with the harsh realities of pet overpopulation. If we were asked to pick a series of articles from our site that we wished everyone would read, My Name is Sam would be among them.

Limited-admission vs. Open-admission Shelters
This article sheds light on the rift among animal care agencies over the issue of No-kill vs. Kill shelters and the problems that arise from differing philosophies, practices and public perception. We can bridge the gap through education and understanding.

Answer to the difficult euthanasia question
"Euthanasia and sheltering are not the solution, but a temporary necessity."

Rainbow Bridge
"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge."

12 Concepts of Working at an Animal Control Shelter
Thoughts on being required to perform or be responsible for mass euthanasia of companion pets.

A Day in the Life of an Animal Care Attendant
What an education!

I Couldn't Work Here
Many people, many passionate animal lovers, feel they couldn't work in an animal shelter. We understand the emotion that would prevent them from doing so.

I Cried at Work Today
I work in an animal shelter that houses between 350 and 400 animals on any given day. We are an SPCA that also has the added responsibility of animal control for our city.