A set of somber eyes protrudes from between the metal bars. As a young child and his parents pass by, whiskers twitch in anticipation, ears cock, and a small portion of the head tilts. Will this family be the one?.
Every year, this scenario is repeated millions of times across the nation. Animal shelters receive animals that are abandoned or lost by their owners and house and care for them, though frequently only temporarily. Unfortunately, for more than half of the animals that end up there, shelters are their final stop. When an animal enters a shelter, only about half of them will ever go back to their original owners or find new homes. The rest will have to be euthanized.
This article will examine how animal shelters operate, how animals are cared for there, and how shelters and animal rescue groups are assisting stray animals in finding loving homes.
If you read my earlier blog post about planning ahead, you are aware that many of the situations mentioned above can be avoided by making arrangements for a senior dog’s care before things change. All of the senior dogs in shelters represented by the above list have the same problem because, sadly, many people don’t make plans in advance: nobody wants them. They are now considered expendable and have lost some of their value in the eyes of others.
This post offers details that will answer your question if you love senior dogs and are curious as to why one would wind up in a shelter. Although understanding the causes of the thousands of senior dogs who are homeless and living in shelters is probably not very helpful, I felt it was important to share the information in the hopes that you would think about adopting a senior dog from a shelter. Paws up to those of you who have already bailed an oldie but goodie out of jail!
Note: The dogs in the post’s header are just a few of the senior dogs up for adoption in western Washington shelters. Visit http://olddoghaven.com to learn more about these specific dogs. org/dog_category/adoptable-dogs/ .
And yes, I am aware that you are upset about some of the aforementioned issues, but spare your anger for the actions of those who abandon old dogs. However, many people still view dogs as possessions (as they are in the eyes of the law), and no amount of education is going to change that perception. I’d like to tell you that people can be educated to think differently about bringing an old dog to a shelter. Instead, focus on the dogs. Adopt a senior dog from a shelter. Visit your neighborhood shelter and volunteer there if you are unable to adopt instead. Shelters make every effort to assist senior dogs residing there, but volunteers are always welcome. You could take dogs for walks or simply spend time with them to show them that you care.
* Dogs with no prior history are brought to shelters as strays. Many are in terrible shape, but some are relatively healthy. Numerous these “stray” animals are discovered by the side of the road, frequently hurt. Others are found wandering in neighborhoods.
Facts about Pet Ownership in the U.S.:
| Dogs | Cats | |
| Animal Shelter/Humane Society | 23% | 31% |
| Friends/Relatives | 20% | 28% |
| Breeder | 34% | 3% |
| Stray | 6% | 27% |
| Private Party | 12% | 6% |
| Other | 32% | 39% |
APPA reports that 34% of dogs are purchased from breeders, while 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society.
The preceding data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.
Pets escaping their yards or homes without pet identification is another obvious reason why they end up in animal shelters. A neighbor or animal control will transport them to the shelter. It’s a great reason to always have your pet’s microchip and visible identification on them. It also serves as a reminder to turn in stray animals to the shelter if you do find them. If one of our dogs went missing, we wouldn’t stop to look in every neighbor’s garage; instead, we would head straight for the nearest animal shelters.
People who work in animal shelters care deeply about animals; they are not motivated by money or fame. Each and every one of them wishes that their work were unnecessary and that pet owners would take better care of their animals. They would urge all pet owners to have their animals sterilized if they were writing to pet owners. Price is not an issue because there are many locations that offer free or inexpensive spaying or neutering. Dogs that are fixed are 4. They are five times less likely to bite and are at a lower risk of contracting many diseases, including cancer.
It’s also important to have a plan for your pet. These are the kinds of actions that deter landlords from allowing pets: Are you consistent about picking up their poop? Do you make sure that every stranger you meet on your walk is dog-friendly before allowing your dog to sniff them? Do you let your cat roam and use the neighborhood birds for snacks? What will happen if you can no longer care for it? If the vet bills pile up? What steps are you taking to make your pet a good citizen of your community? As pet owners, it is our duty to be accountable for both our animals and the actions we take to make the world a better place for our furry friends.
Numerous animals find themselves in animal shelters each year in the United States. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) published the findings of the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) researchers who visited 12 specific American animal shelters and asked people to surrender their pets for the top 10 reasons. Keep in mind that this information only pertains to pets that their owners have given up. Animal control or a stranger often picks up animals that end up at the shelter, and we are unable to determine why their owner abandoned them.
FAQ
What happens to dogs that are not adopted?
If the shelter is full and your dog doesn’t find a home within 72 hours, it will be put to death. If the shelter isn’t already at capacity and your dog is good enough and belongs to a desirable breed, it might be granted a brief stay of execution.
How do purebred dogs end up in shelters?
Purebred dogs, like any other rescue dog, may wind up at a shelter after becoming lost, being given up, or being born on the streets. They can also be rescued from puppy mills or other commercial breeders because they frequently dump puppies at shelters if they don’t sell before they begin to grow.
What happens to dogs that don’t get bought at pet stores?
Puppies are eventually marked down to the price the store paid the broker for the puppy mill, which is typically a few hundred dollars. Stores frequently cut their losses and give puppies away to staff, friends, or rescue organizations if the puppy still doesn’t sell.
At what age are most dogs given up?
According to the study, the majority of the surrendered dogs (47%) had the following traits: 7%) and cats (40. 3%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age. The majority of dogs (37. 1%) and cats (30. 2) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year.