The Las Cruces animal shelter has a small bank of cages(like the ones in a vet office) that are left in front of the shelter at night. They leave forms to fill out with the cages. I picked up a very sick puppy that had been abandoned at a truck stop in Lordsburg and dropped him off in there.

Honestly this "drop box" is better than that bank of cages. It's bigger, better sheltered, and provides water.

The author of that article has a slander/libel case headed her way if she doesn't start checking her "facts" before posting.

What's the alternative? I don't see this as making it easier for people to abandon their animals. People are going to do that anyway. But it's going to be alongside the road or tied to a fence. Many animal shelters have some variation of this. Is it ideal? no. Is it better than the alternative? most likely. I agree that this article is meant to be sensational and written with good deal of bias. The writer makes it sound as if it weren't for the drop boxes, these animals would continue to live in a happy home. Trust me, that is not the case. Those animals are most likely strays, owned by people who would abandon their animal anyway or by those who feel they don't have another choice.

Our local shelter has a drop off zone. however, they have doors that open on the outside and you place your pet or stray in the drop off by opening the door, placing the animal in, the other side has bars like a shelter run. When you close the door it locks. They have about 10 of them, some for dogs some for cats. Not a favorite thing, but I can see why they did it. Many animals are dropped off and in my area, the favorite thing to do is to just dump them somewhere.
What I don't like about it , well, there are many things I don't like, but one of them is that the owner does not have to be responsible and face anyone when they give up their pet. But in today's society, ....well, don't get me started.
As someone who volunteers at the humane society, the other thing I do not like about this method is that you know nothing of why the dog/cat was given up. Did it bite? Is it ill? Does it have behavior problems? aggressive toward other dogs, people? I wouldn't want to be the one who opens up the drop off cage to meet some of the animals for the first time. Wow, that could be crazy! Anyway, that is just my take on it. Love sharon and her pups, Bindi, cody, terra.
It is sad to see how many animals are dumped. Anyway, sadly it is true that the shelters have a drop off.

Carlin was "given" to the shelter by being thrown out of the window of an SUV that never stopped. I wish he was placed in a "drop box."

 Quote: John Vanek

Carlin was "given" to the shelter by being thrown out of the window of an SUV that never stopped. I wish he was placed in a "drop box."

My first dog was a "drop box" dog at our local shelter. I volunteered there for a while, and the drop box alternative (really a room with cages) was better than dogs tied to fences exposed to coyotes, moose and the elements.

My best dog ever. Who knows why his owners left him?

A shelter near me has night receiving kennels. During the day, they require a $50 surrender fee. Some families are so down on their luck that they aren't able to pay it. They have spent their last $50 on food for their kids or electric bills. The drop sites gives them the opportunity to better the chances for their animal to be adopted as the shelter is also the regional humane society. What is their other choice if they can't pay the fee?

After reading the posts here, I agree that there may be no better alternative in some instances. I'm just bothered that society always allows for an easy out when more could have been done in the way of education and prevention.

Personally, my dog would have made her way to a good home long before my grocery money was exhausted. This may sound heartless, but if your family is struggling, you have no business paying for the upkeep of a pet. Kids vs dog? Hmmm...

^^^Yep.

On one hand you could have a person struggling financially who is very attached to their dog and will keep him unless they are completely broke and are forced to place him. These people are not likely the ones to use the drop box...they post an add or contact a rescue to find a good home.

On the other hand you have people who are SELFISH and want a maltipoo or something and can't afford it. They get one anyway not thinking about finances until they realize they can't afford it and dump the dog. Or they just dump the dog when they don't have time for it. BUT...a drop box is better than tying it to the fence. Yes it is very sad that people do stuff like that, but the dogs still need our help when the owner surrendering isn't willing or able to pay the fee.

Responsibility is not dependent on finances. And it's easy to make judgement calls when you haven't been in a situation. Maybe that pet is the only thing that is giving a child some semblance of normal. Maybe it really is their best friend? What do you do as a parent then? Quite frankly if the only animals that shelters had to worry about were the ones coming from otherwise responsible families that had hit on super hard times, then we wouldn't be having this discussion.