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Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America
Redemption is the story of animal sheltering in the United States, a movement that was born of compassion and then lost its way. It is the story of the 'No Kill' movement, which says we can and must stop the killing. But most of all, it is a story about believing in the community and trusting in the power of compassion.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2014
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About the author
Nathan J. Winograd
10 books13 followersNathan J. Winograd is a graduate of Stanford Law School, a former criminal prosecutor and corporate attorney, has spoken nationally and internationally on animal sheltering issues, has written animal protection legislation at the state and national level, has created successful No Kill programs in both urban and rural communities, and has consulted with a wide range of animal protection groups including some of the largest and best known in the nation.
His work has been featured widely in such publications as Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, USA Today, and newspapers from all over the country. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, ABC, and other radio and television affiliates around the country. His creation of the country’s first No Kill community was named one of the Top 100 achievements in the nation by Metropolitan Home in its “Best of the Best” issue. And The Bark magazine calls him “the voice of America’s displaced pets and the conscience of the animal sheltering industry.”
His book, Redemption, is the most critically acclaimed book on the topic in the United States and the winner of five national book awards. Winner of USA Book News Award for Best Book (Animals/Pets), a Best Book Muse Medallion winner by the Cat Writers Association of America, an Award of Excellence and Best Book nominee by the Dog Writers Association of America, winner of a Silver Medal from the Independent Publishers Association, and runner-up for the Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence in Publishing, the book shatters the notion that killing animals in U.S. shelters is an act of kindness. He is also the author of Irreconcilable Differences, a collection of essays that follows up where Redemption left off and asks – and answers – the question of whether we can do better as a society when it comes to our stewardship of companion animals.
As a nationally recognized speaker, Nathan has also spoken at national animal welfare conferences from coast to coast. He has spoken internationally as well, as a guest of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and has been invited to speak as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. He has also lectured on animal sheltering ethics to students at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the nation’s number one ranked veterinary school, and has lectured at the U.C.L.A. School of Law on animal law issues.
In various leadership positions, including Director of Operations, for the San Francisco SPCA, Nathan was instrumental in advancing some of the most progressive shelter programs in the nation, and helped push the lifesaving rate to over three times the national average for an urban community and at the time, the best in the nation. As Executive Director for the Tompkins County (NY) SPCA, he managed the full range of animal control and adoption services in a rural community, including construction of a new Pet Adoption Center achieving unprecedented results. Nathan is currently the Executive Director of the national No Kill Advocacy Center.
His work has been featured widely in such publications as Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, USA Today, and newspapers from all over the country. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, ABC, and other radio and television affiliates around the country. His creation of the country’s first No Kill community was named one of the Top 100 achievements in the nation by Metropolitan Home in its “Best of the Best” issue. And The Bark magazine calls him “the voice of America’s displaced pets and the conscience of the animal sheltering industry.”
His book, Redemption, is the most critically acclaimed book on the topic in the United States and the winner of five national book awards. Winner of USA Book News Award for Best Book (Animals/Pets), a Best Book Muse Medallion winner by the Cat Writers Association of America, an Award of Excellence and Best Book nominee by the Dog Writers Association of America, winner of a Silver Medal from the Independent Publishers Association, and runner-up for the Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence in Publishing, the book shatters the notion that killing animals in U.S. shelters is an act of kindness. He is also the author of Irreconcilable Differences, a collection of essays that follows up where Redemption left off and asks – and answers – the question of whether we can do better as a society when it comes to our stewardship of companion animals.
As a nationally recognized speaker, Nathan has also spoken at national animal welfare conferences from coast to coast. He has spoken internationally as well, as a guest of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and has been invited to speak as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. He has also lectured on animal sheltering ethics to students at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the nation’s number one ranked veterinary school, and has lectured at the U.C.L.A. School of Law on animal law issues.
In various leadership positions, including Director of Operations, for the San Francisco SPCA, Nathan was instrumental in advancing some of the most progressive shelter programs in the nation, and helped push the lifesaving rate to over three times the national average for an urban community and at the time, the best in the nation. As Executive Director for the Tompkins County (NY) SPCA, he managed the full range of animal control and adoption services in a rural community, including construction of a new Pet Adoption Center achieving unprecedented results. Nathan is currently the Executive Director of the national No Kill Advocacy Center.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 4, 2024
A STRONG INDICTMENT OF ANIMAL SHELTERS THAT KILL ANIMALS
Nathan Winograd became Executive Director of the Tompkins County SPCA in 2001, and in 2004 started the No Kill Advocacy Center, to help reduce rates of shelter killings; he has also written books such as 'Irreconcilable Differences: The Battle for the Heart & Soul of America's Animal Shelters,' 'All American Vegan: Veganism for the Rest of Us,' 'Friendly Fire,' etc.
He wrote in the "To the Reader" section of this 2007 book, "This is the story of animal sheltering in the United States, a movement that was born of compassion and then lost its way. It is the story of the No Kill movement, which says we can and must stop the killing... And it is about a social movement as noble and just as those that have come before. But most of all, it is a story about believing in the community and trusting in the power of compassion." (Pg. 2) Later, he adds, "Within a decade or two [of 1910], most mainstream humane societies and SPCAs did little more than kill dogs and cats." (Pg. 13)
He points out that under a new SPCA director, San Francisco "would become America's first No Kill city." (Pg. 45) But he laments, "The problem is that the large national agencies have historically not endorsed No Kill or the success in San Francisco... and so have not promoted it as a model for others to follow. They have not endorsed all the programs and services that made it possible... they could have learned from it, emulated the programs and services that had made a lifesaving difference, and imported San Francisco's success to their own communities. Tragically, few did." (Pg. 59-60) Similarly, of his time in Tompkins County, "It should have been the model that finally pushed failed ones aside and cleared the way for a No Kill nation... Tragically this did not occur. To this day, the business of killing continues as usual in shelters nationwide." (Pg. 107)
He is critical of PETA: "Despite the comparison to dogs when it suits their agenda, PETA treats dogs very differently than it does pigs. They have two entirely different standards. They not only call for the deaths of dogs in shelters, they kill dogs (and cats) themselves---nearly 2,000 per year." (Pg. 121)
He concludes, "If we are to reach the goal of a No Kill nation, we must move past the notion that animals are being killed because of pet overpopulation, because we don't have enough laws, or because the public is irresponsible... we must stop pretending that the animal lover saving feral cats in the neighborhood, the rescuer who finds homes for wayward dogs, and the No Kill shelter ... are all a part of the same movement as the animal control director who is content to pass the blame to others and who kills animals in the face of alternatives." (Pg. 154) He adds, "what is actually killing a high number of animals, is an overpopulation of shelter directors mired in the failed philosophies of the past and complacent with the status quo..." (Pg. 178)
Definitely provocative, this passionate book will be of considerable interest to anyone concerned with animal welfare.
Nathan Winograd became Executive Director of the Tompkins County SPCA in 2001, and in 2004 started the No Kill Advocacy Center, to help reduce rates of shelter killings; he has also written books such as 'Irreconcilable Differences: The Battle for the Heart & Soul of America's Animal Shelters,' 'All American Vegan: Veganism for the Rest of Us,' 'Friendly Fire,' etc.
He wrote in the "To the Reader" section of this 2007 book, "This is the story of animal sheltering in the United States, a movement that was born of compassion and then lost its way. It is the story of the No Kill movement, which says we can and must stop the killing... And it is about a social movement as noble and just as those that have come before. But most of all, it is a story about believing in the community and trusting in the power of compassion." (Pg. 2) Later, he adds, "Within a decade or two [of 1910], most mainstream humane societies and SPCAs did little more than kill dogs and cats." (Pg. 13)
He points out that under a new SPCA director, San Francisco "would become America's first No Kill city." (Pg. 45) But he laments, "The problem is that the large national agencies have historically not endorsed No Kill or the success in San Francisco... and so have not promoted it as a model for others to follow. They have not endorsed all the programs and services that made it possible... they could have learned from it, emulated the programs and services that had made a lifesaving difference, and imported San Francisco's success to their own communities. Tragically, few did." (Pg. 59-60) Similarly, of his time in Tompkins County, "It should have been the model that finally pushed failed ones aside and cleared the way for a No Kill nation... Tragically this did not occur. To this day, the business of killing continues as usual in shelters nationwide." (Pg. 107)
He is critical of PETA: "Despite the comparison to dogs when it suits their agenda, PETA treats dogs very differently than it does pigs. They have two entirely different standards. They not only call for the deaths of dogs in shelters, they kill dogs (and cats) themselves---nearly 2,000 per year." (Pg. 121)
He concludes, "If we are to reach the goal of a No Kill nation, we must move past the notion that animals are being killed because of pet overpopulation, because we don't have enough laws, or because the public is irresponsible... we must stop pretending that the animal lover saving feral cats in the neighborhood, the rescuer who finds homes for wayward dogs, and the No Kill shelter ... are all a part of the same movement as the animal control director who is content to pass the blame to others and who kills animals in the face of alternatives." (Pg. 154) He adds, "what is actually killing a high number of animals, is an overpopulation of shelter directors mired in the failed philosophies of the past and complacent with the status quo..." (Pg. 178)
Definitely provocative, this passionate book will be of considerable interest to anyone concerned with animal welfare.
October 7, 2022
I was thrilled to find this book in a local op shop for $2. I have been involved on the fringes of animal welfare for around 14 years and always felt that killing some animals was a regrettable but necessary act. I was curious as to how this book would make me feel.
Well, haven't I don't a complete 180! This book was engrossing and the arguments for No Kill very compelling. I was kept very busy with highlighter and tabs. I'm not sure if the situation would be the same here in Australia as in the USA, but from what I have heard and experienced I would say it would be.
"Animals in shelters are not being killed because there are too many of them, because there are too few homes, or because the public is irresponsible. Animals in shelters are dying for primarily one reason - because people in shelters are killing them."
Any organisation who purports to have the aim of saving animals MUST become No Kill by definition of their purpose!
Well, haven't I don't a complete 180! This book was engrossing and the arguments for No Kill very compelling. I was kept very busy with highlighter and tabs. I'm not sure if the situation would be the same here in Australia as in the USA, but from what I have heard and experienced I would say it would be.
"Animals in shelters are not being killed because there are too many of them, because there are too few homes, or because the public is irresponsible. Animals in shelters are dying for primarily one reason - because people in shelters are killing them."
Any organisation who purports to have the aim of saving animals MUST become No Kill by definition of their purpose!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews