RE: International adoption pioneer in trouble in California

[Guest guest]

I knew Mina Sharpe when she was a teenager in Taipei. I developed a huge

respect for her for standing up and pointing out what should have been

obvious to all concerned: that helping the Taiwanese authorities to kill

dogs more efficiently was NOT what the international humane societies should

be doing, they should be building on Buddhist teachings and promoting No

Kill policies. When others were looking at statistics, she was emphasising

the importance of the individual. I thought such a warm-hearted and

strong-minded young lady would have a bright future. I do hope her present

difficulties can be overcome.

John.

 

 

 

aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of

Merritt Clifton

Saturday, January 06, 2007 3:36 PM

aapn

International adoption pioneer in trouble in California

 

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2007:

 

 

 

International adoption pioneer in trouble in California

 

SAN MARCOS, Calif.--Mina Sharpe, 25, who founded the

Taiwan Abandoned Animal Rescue Foundation in Taipei at age 12, may

be charged with violating probation, after San Marcos animal control

officer Tunis VanBerkum on December 9, 2006 found her keeping 16 dogs and

two rabbits in allegedly filthy conditions in a 700-square-foot home.

The animals were surrendered to the Escondido Humane Society.

Earlier in 2006 Sharpe was convicted of keeping 18 dogs in

unsanitary conditions at her former home in Carlsbad, and was ordered to

find other homes for all but two of them.

The Taiwan Abandoned Animal Rescue Foundation was among the first

organizations to arrange international adoptions through the Internet, and

among the first to send animals to the U.S. by finding travelers who were

willing to transport animals as part of their baggage.

While PETA, the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and

the Humane Society of the U.S. urged Taiwanese pounds to kill animals with

sodium pentobarbital instead of leaving them to die of starvation and

neglect, as was common because of the Buddhist prohibition on killing,

Sharpe argued in a March 2000 guest column for ANIMAL PEOPLE that

international humane organizations working in Taiwan should instead build on

the no-kill ethic. Sharpe asked the global humane community to help

establish high volume, low-cost pet sterilization in Taiwan, and to promote

shelter adoptions.

Sharpe also had a catalytic effect on humane work in Thailand,

where her rescue of an injured dog in 1998 won extensive media attention and

helped to stimulate public discussion about how Thai neglect of strays was

falling short of the Buddhist cultural ethic.

Sharpe and her family relocated from Taiwan to Carlsbad in June

2000, bringing along 30 dogs for U.S. adoption, at cost of $10,000. The

dogs were placed with the aid of U.S. organizations including the Arlington

Humane Society, near Seattle, and Pets Alive, of Westchester, New York.

Sharpe continued to import dogs from Taiwan for U.S.

placement, but never registered TAARF as a U.S. nonprofit organization,

and gradually fell out of contact with her allies and supporters. Pets

Alive founder Sara Whalen told ANIMAL PEOPLE that her understanding was that

Sharpe had retired from rescue several years before her arrest.

Sharpe remained in occasional contact with ANIMAL PEOPLE until April

2005, when she was sent yet another of many personal reminders about the

necessity of obtaining nonprofit status and not taking in more animals than

she could place.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing original

investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide, founded in 1992. Our

readership of 30,000-plus includes the decision-makers at more than 10,000

animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year; for

free sample, send address.]

 

 

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[Guest guest]

>I knew Mina Sharpe when she was a teenager in Taipei. I developed a huge

>respect for her for standing up and pointing out what should have been

>obvious to all concerned: that helping the Taiwanese authorities to kill

>dogs more efficiently was NOT what the international humane societies should

>be doing, they should be building on Buddhist teachings and promoting No

>Kill policies.

 

Likewise. ANIMAL PEOPLE extensively covered Mina Sharpe's

activities, published her very articulate op-ed commentary when she

left Taiwan, and adopted a dog from her, Simon, who is sleeping

near me right now (about two hours before I will depart to attend

Asia for Animals.)

 

However--

 

>When others were looking at statistics

 

Others were not looking at statistics.

 

If any of the institutional advocates of catch-and-kill had

ever looked at the statistics, either in Taiwan, India, the U.S.,

or anywhere else, they would have realized that street dogs and cats

are part of the urban ecology, and cannot be removed from their

ecological niche without compensation: either the remaining dogs and

cats will breed up to the carrying capacity of the habitat, which is

usually far greater than humans are willing to tolerate, or their

places will be taken by more rats, pigs, monkeys, and other highly

ubiquitous and adaptable species.

 

Only if the food sources that support urban wildlife are

removed or changed will permanently removing animal scavengers and

small predators succeed.

 

In other words, garbage must be removed. Sewers must be

enclosed. Sanitation must be practiced.

 

These are the lessons that always emerge from statistics.

Just as every calculation has a proof and every multiple has a root,

every animal statistic is the product of demonstrable and predictable

ecological factors, and a good statistician will identify them.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]