What will it take?

What will it take to get the message out to dog owners? How graphic is too graphic? It has been estimated that 3 - 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized by shelters in this country. That's roughly 10,000 animals killed each and every day. Many of these animals are perfectly healthy. Bottom line, the shelter system is broken. Little to nothing is being done to fix it and dog owners are making it even worse. When a dog is surrendered to a shelter, does the owner know what may happen to that dog? Do they care or do they just find a way to justify it in their minds? 

Volunteering at animal shelters for years now and being personally involved with owners surrendering their pets, I can tell you that many do know what may happen but in their minds they have justified their decision. There are also many who have no idea. They think their dog will find a new home.

I truly believe that people in this country are sheltered from way too much and most will say it's for the best. Really? Is it best not to know what happens to their loving family member once he/she is surrendered? Shouldn't they know that there's about an 80% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at. Older dogs and bully breeds are most likely not going to make it out of the shelter alive. Rescues are full, money is tight and there's not much more they can do. 

I think the ones who want to surrender their dog should be told the cold hard truth. In many shelters, their pet has a matter of days to find a new family from the moment they drop it off, sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and their dog manages to stay completely healthy. If there are enough volunteers at the shelter then their dog may be taken outside to relieve itself and to go for a short walk. If there aren't any volunteers then their dog most likely will not get out that day. He/she will be forced to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. This alone can be pretty traumatic if their dog is house broken but what else is it suppose to do? If their dog doesn't get adopted within a few days and the shelter is full, that dog will most likely be euthanized. If the owner was told all of this, would it make a difference? Would they care enough to make an extra effort to find their dog a home. Or would they simply do what an owner recently did at a local shelter? Will they look at their dog, the dog they supposedly love, and say to her, as they walk out, "'you be a good girl and get yourself adopted". Are people that stupid that they think the dog has a say in whether or not it gets adopted or are they that self absorbed that they only care about themselves? If you've read any of my blogs in the past, you know what I think the answer is.

The main problem with shelters is the irresponsible owners who dump their dogs there out of convenience. Yes, some will say that these people have no choice and I should give them a break. I should have sympathy for them. Well, those are the minority, those are maybe 1 in 100 and for those who have exhausted every possible option then, to some degree, I can understand them turning to a shelter. But are our shelters really shelters? According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of a shelter is something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger. Do shelters really offer protection from danger? What is more dangerous than being put to death? That is the ultimate danger that any creature could face. Like I said earlier, the shelter system is broken and very few seem to be willing to try and fix it. There are a few like Nathan Winograd who has helped to reform some of the most difficult shelters in our country, or Ryan Clinton who was instrumental in ending the unnecessary killing of animals at Austin's Town Lake Animal Shelter. It's not easy, but it can be done. And if it is done, will that just result in more and more owners who will be quick to get rid of their family member and responsibility because, in the end, they care about themselves more than anything else.


I do realize that my views and opinions may be quite controversial and that many may have comments to this post, both positive and negative, but it is my Blog and I am not forcing anyone to read it. I am sick and tired of seeing the same things over and over. It's a never ending revolving door and the ones who are stuck in the middle and pay the ultimate price are the animals who have done nothing but love their owner and would protect them to the end.

PLEASE SHARE THIS and, hopefully, people will think. Maybe, just maybe one person will think twice before surrendering their pet to a local shelter. Maybe they'll realize that there's another solution that they haven't considered. If only 1 person finds an alternative to surrendering their pet to a shelter, then this post was well worth it.