Conference misery::feline

    Hi Janet.
    
    If nobody in the file has any specific info to share with you on
    this shelter...I would suggest you contact them directly and just
    ask alot of questions.  
    
       . You could request a copy of the non-profit status number
       . A copy of their charter statement (if they have a non-profit
         number they had to create a package which includes a charter
         statement.)
       . And I believe you can also ask them how much of the donation
         goes to the animal causes vs the Administration causes.
    
    Hope this helps...
    
    Sandy

    Janet,
    This one sort of scares me.  There is one word in the title that sends
    up the red flag.  "rights"
    
    Who is the mother organization covering this.  Do they propose just 
    no kill, or do they want total equality, non pet ownership.
    Wait, before I get going to far.  I had written a note in here
    earlier called 'the agenda" or some such.  It discusses a lot
    of these types of places and how they play on your emotions.
    I don't want to really get into it again, however, it does point
    out some realities with different groups.  If you want more 
    info you can contact me off line.
    Just be careful and know what they really want out of you, not just
    your money.
    Karen
    an exPeta person.

    
    Contact the Better Business Bureau in MD to also see if there
    is anything on file about the place........

        Janet,
    
       I'm the one who gave you the OTHER shelter...on the Maryland-PA
    line.
    
       Defenders of Animal Rights are a legitimate shelter, but there has
    been some justified questioning of their commitment. WHile I have no
    issue with people making a living, it seems that a larger percentage of
    donations than one would expect in a shelter do NOT end up being
    applied to the welfare and care of the animals. Defenders does rescue
    and care for many animals, but your donation will also be applied to
    the welfare and care of the people involved, at a higher portion than I
    personally think is what I want my money to go to..... (Confused? Well,
    I was trying to get a point across without actually making any
    derogatory comments.....)
    
    
        On the other hand, "Animal Rescue". located at Maryland State Line
    MD., applies everything that is doanted to the maintenance of the
    animals and facilities. My wife's sister adopted her dog from there,
    and they have just recently built a Cat facility with isolation rooms
    for felines recovering from injury and sickness, and have an extremely
    dedicated staff. My Sis-in-Law and some of her friends also go there
    from time to time and donate their time to help out. We get a
    newsletter from Animal Rescue and it's usually filled with sad/happy
    cases and typically is half filled with letters from folks who've
    adopted pets from there. Animal Rescue is DEFINITELY "no kill", and
    they have some dogs and cats that are "unadoptable" for various reasons
    that they have kept at the shelter and cared for for the remainder of
    their lives....
    
       I also get inundated with solicitations...so I know what everyone is
    going through. Many of the solicitors are very legitimate and needy,
    but there are also those who are out to enrich themselves on the
    generosity and compassion of donators....and they are VERY good at
    playing with people's emotions with their stories and photos... It's
    not easy to look at some of these photos and read the plaintive
    messages without instinctively reaching for the old checkbook. However,
    I have made it a practice to take a look around my LOCAL area and see
    what is located nearby that may need some help...and I have found many
    that do. 
    
       John McD

    Hi,
    
    I've been searching for a no-kill shelter in the Balto/WashDC area and
    came across:
    
    	Defenders of Animal Rights, Inc.
    	14412 Old York Road
    	Phoenix, Maryland 21131
    	410-527-1466
    
    Does anyone know anything about this place?
    
    It is north of Baltimore (about 5 miles east of Hunt Valley) and is
    situated in a lovely setting amid Horse Farms, Big Houses, and Golf
    Courses, etc - a nice area.  They have a very large room with plenty of
    toys and windows for the cats.  And they have a great adoption rate - 97%.
    
    Anyway, I've been unable to place my kitties so far (see note 4.595)
    and am keeping this as a last resort.  It is also quite expensive
    ($200 donation per cat).  But, the peace of mind would be worth it.
    Another advantage is that I would be able to visit them until they are
    hopefully adopted.
    
    So, I'd be interested to hear of anyone who has had any experiences with
    this shelter or any similar sounding places.
    
    Thanks,
    Warren

    Hi again,
    
    Oops.  Although I didn't find anything with DIR, a SEARCH resulted in
    a discussion about this place in poorly-title note #675.
    
    Warren

    I have modified the title of this note to reflect the name of the 
    shelter and have keyworded the basenote NO_KILL_SHELTERS.
    
    Jan