Quote: becky shilling

So many of the facebook photos just break my heart, especially the seniors. How the hell do you have a dog for 8 or 10 years and then dump them at the "shelter"???? It just leaves me wiping away tears.

I still remember a GSD that got dropped off. Owner tried to help their dog by claiming that he was only 8. Everybody placed his age at least 10 years old most likely 11 or 12. After two days on a cement floor his joints were clearly hurting him and he had bloody diarhia from stress. He was a sweet old man who wouldn't even potty in his kennel and just wanted his family back. We gave him extra blankets and walks but all the rescues were full and so he was PTS. Saddest thing I ever saw.

"They do the best they can"
That's the bottom line, really. In big cities, or in college towns where kids buy dogs they never train, not thinking what's going to happen when they move on to a job, or have to go "home", the stream of dogs coming in is endless.
As the person who pushed the drugs SO many times I like Phaedra am totally aware of the kill scene, at least as it was. At times I have wondered if the # of critters helped by my life might actually be < than the number killed. It can make you crazy if you think about it too long....

Oh, Betty. That's a terrible thought to torture yourself with. I am certain sure that the numbers don't matter. You healed when possible, and gave rest and peace when necessary. No one could ask more of you.

I have a deep respect for most of the work done at shelters and my admiration for the veterinary field is extremely high. I could not do it.

And I also get that people are busy and this PTS business is thriving but I'm sorry, no dog should have to leave this world like that.

Put on a bite suit if you have to, but drain some of that energy and let him go out peacefully.

 Quote: cathy goessman

 Quote: becky shilling

So many of the facebook photos just break my heart, especially the seniors. How the hell do you have a dog for 8 or 10 years and then dump them at the "shelter"???? It just leaves me wiping away tears.

I still remember a GSD that got dropped off. Owner tried to help their dog by claiming that he was only 8. Everybody placed his age at least 10 years old most likely 11 or 12. After two days on a cement floor his joints were clearly hurting him and he had bloody diarhia from stress. He was a sweet old man who wouldn't even potty in his kennel and just wanted his family back. We gave him extra blankets and walks but all the rescues were full and so he was PTS. Saddest thing I ever saw.

That just broke my heart.

My anger is not at the people that work in shelters or the vets that release animals.

My anger is at the owners that allow their pet their companion to spend their last few days alone, scared and often terrified.

They literally walk away and condemn their pet to a glimpse of hell.

Shelter conditions and accidental PTS are what kept me driving for an hour while having a heart attack last summer. I knew if I pulled over and called 911 Ripley would end up in a terrifying, traumatizing situation, possibly dead, so I kept going until I could get him to safety. Granted,I didn't know how bad I was, and I'm very lucky not to have killed anyone else, but my dog's safety was my primary concern. He survived the shelter once, the only way he'd go back is over my dead body.

 Quote: Meredith Hamilton

Shelter conditions and accidental PTS are what kept me driving for an hour while having a heart attack last summer. I knew if I pulled over and called 911 Ripley would end up in a terrifying, traumatizing situation, possibly dead, so I kept going until I could get him to safety. Granted,I didn't know how bad I was, and I'm very lucky not to have killed anyone else, but my dog's safety was my primary concern. He survived the shelter once, the only way he'd go back is over my dead body.

Meredith,

What an amazing thing to do. I would have done the same, too. If I wasn't somewhere that I could call my husband or someone I trusted to come get JD and Callie (and I wouldn't have allowed them to take me away until they were safe), I would have driven until I took my last breath.

Interesting thread -so I'm getting ready to volunteer again at a shelter (did this briefly a few years back as vet tech) -but this time I will hopefully be working with dogs on the behavior side. I need to buck up -it seems I am much more sensitive and soft hearted around animals as I've gotten older -especially having known the love of a dog for 14 years.

Anyway, before we came to Shiva's kennel a couple months back, my husband was looking at a dog in her shelter and said, "..gee, what's your story? You're 8 years old..." -and I lost it...I just lost it thinking that an animal had known some kind of life with a family that long and found itself in this environment...

Anyway, like I said -need to buck up and be there for the dogs as best I can to try and help..

But I'd like to ask Phaedra and the shelter folks out of curiosity -what are the top reasons for surrender? Or do most people just use the night depository boxes so you get no history? And do you have any tips to keep your heart in check so as to be most effective?

 Quote: hilarie coby

... But I'd like to ask Phaedra and the shelter folks out of curiosity -what are the top reasons for surrender? .... And do you have any tips to keep your heart in check so as to be most effective?

1. Moving, change in living circumstances, "having a baby," and, more and more now, can't afford, lost job.*

2. I try not to hear/read the backstory. Unless I'm working with a "problem" dog (most often fear), I try hard to know as little as possible. Just be with, walk, play, enjoy.



*or, with my most recent acquisition: "don't want no more."

Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/18/2011 04:15 PM)
Edit reason: asterisk