Animal Starvation and Nothing You Can Do About It..?

I volunteered at an animal shelter last month, and they brought in a litter of kittens without their mother. They didn't have milk supplement, so I had to buy it myself to try to save them. All of the kittens died because by the time I knew that they weren't feeding them the right stuff (they tried to feed day-old kittens wet dog food in a dish), it was too late. I offered to take the last remaining kitten to the vet at my own expense because it was the only one that was not completely done for. The shelter tried to make me pay the adoption fee, even though I told them that I was just going to nurse it back to health and bring it back to be adopted out. They refused because they said that they didn't want to get stuck with any vet bills (I was going to pay for it)! They have no adoption program, nobody knows they're there. They kill dogs and cats every day, even if they have plenty of room. They don't know what they're doing (hence the wet dog food for newborn kitties)!

I reported them to the local news stations, a few dog rescues, and the ASPCA, but it's been weeks now, and as far as I know, nothing's been done about it. My mom made me quit the day they wouldn't let me take the kitten, so I don't know if it died, but if I had to guess, I'd say it did. I would have called the police, but the freezers were full the day I left, and it probably didn't take the kitten long to die, if they didn't just euthanize it right after I walked out, so they probably disposed of the evidence, and the police wouldn't have been able to do anything but make a report. I don't know what to do now. I've tried. What else is there?

I hear you. I know of several local Animal Shelters like the one you are describing. The sad fact is there is no law that prevents this.
The only beings that can prevent these horrible facts are the people themselves by spaying and neutering their pets.
I have researched these laws because it irks me so to see these animals put down because of lack of funding. Funding is what most of it boils down to. Most of your local shelters in my neck of the woods are run by the local Sheriffs Department and then animals are brought to a local vet clinic usually one for each county. Most of these vets don't even give the necessary medical care. The injured ones are left to die in a cage (which I have been told by the vet techs at various clinics) and the others are euthanized after 5 days if they are not reclaimed by their owners. Mostly because they lack the staff, the time and the funding for a real adoption program. I recently pulled 4 dogs out of a not so nice Animal Clinic/Shelter I still have the black lab male 4yrs old. I had him neutered and vaccinated and HW tested. He is available if anybody is interested. He is a great dog. I try to pull animals out of kill facilities on a monthly basis but it gets expensive because I have to pay for all of it up front out of pocket. Occassionally I get backing from another breed rescue and I do work with several other rescues but it all boils down to finances and getting the animals neutered and spayed and HW tested before they get new homes. Otherwise you defeat the purpose.
You could try to call your county and see if there is anything that you can do yourself to resolve the issue. Maybe volunteer to head up an adoption program with volunteers. Some Counties may be willing...mine is not!
So, it's nice to meet you Pink_lemur13 you are a very caring person. WHO SAID ONE PERSON CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!

:( the poor kittens!
thoes mean people. honestally. you should treat your animal like a person. would you kill a child because they need help? no we would not!!!!!!!!!!!
now this saddens me:/
Go you for attempting to save a life :)

I would contact the RSPCA and get them to investigate. They sound totally inexperienced and those kittens would have made wonderful pets for people. What a shame and I am so sorry to hear that you are having to deal with their inadequacies. Don't wait any longer contact the RSPCA (uk) before any more animals die unnecessarily.

dey r evil ***** dat need 2 b sorted out were r dey set up.id get da bloody rspca on dem

Waiting on the world to change....

Perhaps you and other volunteers can change the way the shelter works. Start fundraisers, newsletters, etc.

Try getting in with local public or private rescues to see what they do and get advise.

Petfinder, Petsmart, and others offer great advice and assistance to those wanting to do animal rescue.

Our rescue spent over $18,000 in veterinary care alone last year. That includes spays and neuters, orthopedic surgeries, vaccines, heartworm and FeLV/FIV testing and heartworm and flea preventative. We also microchip every animal.

This should be reported to someone. How can they call themselves an animal shelter if they're killing animals without giving them a chance?

Try going to the link I've provided below and look for a 'contact us' or way to call/e-mail someone from the AVMA - maybe they can point you in the direction.

Something needs to be done.

Good luck.