Justine DePalma Review of Redemption by Nathan Winograd

Every year about 5 million companion animals are killed by American shelters. The slaughter occurs out of public view in dark dank buildings in villages, towns and cities throughout the United States. It seems like little ever changes, the same “shelters” killing the same amount of animals year in, year out. Failure permeates the animal “welfare” business. Sadly, the government and charities doing the killing, do not view killing as failure. But thankfully, Nathan Winograd does.

Winograd is a former attorney who worked for San Francisco SPCA when it decided to go “no-kill”. After the organization's commitment to no-kill waned, he took a job at a rural animal control shelter, Tompkins County SPCA in New York. Prior to his arrival, Tompkins County was like most American shelters, little more than a dismal holding pen for animals about to killed. There was virtually no attempt at life saving, no foster care program, no volunteers, no rescue group involvement and a disdain for the public. Everything changed the day Winograd walked through the door.

The scope of the problem facing homeless pets is immense and man made. The very organizations charged with their care, refuse to change in order to save their lives. Killing is called euthanasia or the awful “put to sleep”. Excuses and blame abound, but nothing ever changes. Radicals who propose solutions to the killing are vilified and endlessly attacked. Luckily for the animals Winograd refuses to give up.

The beauty of Redemption is that Winograd takes us to the past, plants us in the present and proposes a future of the animal welfare movement. He refuses to be bullied, naming names, calling out the big national organizations like Humane Society of the United States, American Humane Association and even PETA. He exposes their complicity and responsibility for the slaughter of companion animals and their refusal to change is obvious.

Winograd's book will inspire those who believe that killing is morally repugnant and irritate those apologists who throw up their hands claiming that there is no better way. Redemption reminds me of why I became involved with animals, to stop the senseless killing of companion animals. It inspires me to expose the government and charitable organizations doing the killing, refusing to change, refusing to expend effort to avoid killing animals. Anyone who cares about animals, works with animals and especially shelter workers should read and contemplate Redemption. They should then ask themselves are they part of the problem or the part of the solution. If they are the problem, do the right thing, get out of the way and let someone who abhors the killing take over.


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