News
Safe Humane and Best Friends More of a Good Thing
April 02, 2008, 5:47PM MT
By Denise A LeBeau
This begins an innovative public/private coalition in Chicago working to end violence toward animals and people.
This begins an innovative public/private coalition in Chicago working to end violence toward animals and people.
Best Friends Animal Society has stepped up to become the sole national
sponsor of Safe Humane Chicago, an initiative designed to end dog fighting and violence toward animals and people.
Bringing together nearly 60 groups, including government agencies, animal welfare supporters and community advocates, the project will be introduced in Chicago neighborhoods where violence is most prevalent and resources most scarce.
“We’re creating an unprecedented alliance and public/private partnership in Chicago, a comprehensive movement for safety and compassion,” says Safe Humane Chicago co-founder Cynthia Bathurst.
The program is already creating a buzz, check out the American Chronicle and the Chicago Sun-Times. Paul Berry and Cynthia Bathurst were featured guests at the showcase studio of WGN radio on March 30, where the new initiative was broadcast all over Chicago! 
Cooperation is the key to the program’s success, according to Melia Carter, the other co-founder. “Our goal is to create a movement of compassion that stops the violence associated with dog fighting and animal abuse in its tracks. In order to do that, we must have a ‘big umbrella’ and work with people that may hold different philosophies than our own on some issues, yet share our common purpose to end dog fighting and other forms of violence. Rather than exploiting our differences, we must embrace our commonalities and create real change.”
Paul Berry, Best Friends chief executive officer, says the partnership is a perfect fit for us because it mirrors our mission: To change the way people relate to animals, nature and each other by promoting kindness and compassion. “We’re very impressed,” he says, “with this unprecedented coalition of leadership here in Chicago. We want to do everything we can to ensure its success here.”
Members of the coalition include the mayor’s office, the police department, the Chicago Commission on Animal Care and Control, Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, Chicago Animal Shelter Alliance, Alliance for Community Peace and a 500-member alliance of ministers.
Bathurst and Carter hailed Best Friends’ decision to join the partnership.
“With the Best Friends alliance, Safe Humane Chicago will greatly expand its programming of education and caregiving to reach all population segments – kids, teens, and adults, especially in at-risk communities,” Bathurst says. “We will also continue our extensive court advocacy program and other activities that assist law enforcement to positively impact arrests, prosecutions, convictions and remedies for situations involving animal neglect, abuse and fighting.” 
Carter adds, “The Safe Humane Chicago program is unprecedented in that it pulls together the entire community to effectuate change where the roots of violence are formed. We cannot forget that some of the ultimate beneficiaries of the Safe Humane Chicago program are the animals that suffer every day from the senseless violence that occurs in neighborhoods and homes across the country.”
Best Friends plans to add a key component to the program by establishing a community animal hospital that would offer low-cost veterinary care and spay/neuter procedures as well as education and recreation programs to further the agendas of compassion and kindness toward animals and people. It would also serve as the hub for all Safe Humane Chicago programs and initiatives.
“The hospital would provide the ‘bricks and mortar’ and needed resources for our programming,” Bathurst says.
Best Friends intends to adopt the Safe Humane Chicago model for other cities.
“No one is building animal hospitals in at-risk communities,” Berry says. “This has never been done before. And it’s time. We want to offer these important services and community programs to those who need them the most.”
Written by Amy Abern, Best Friends staff
Photos by Amy Abern
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