I agree with you Maren and Connie. But you guys are not the average dog owners and are willing to put in the time and energy whereas most people are not <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I agree with you Maren and Connie. But you guys are not the average dog owners and are willing to put in the time and energy whereas most people are not <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I guess my feeling is more that those people should not get a dog -- not that they should not get a *shelter* dog. The "99%" statement about shelter dogs is bothering me ...... especially if it's based on one bad experience.

I'm not trying to sound critical of you. It may be true that many people are unequipped to handle dog ownership if there is any challenge at all.

I agree again, these people shouldn't get a dog, but they do anyway <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> There's no stopping it.

I have two experiences with shelter dogs. One, the pointy eared mixed who was returned multiple times and was a mess. I wonder how much worse it made him everytime a family he grew to love ditched him. Two, my mastiff cross, the most problematic dog (till I fixed him) and the hardest to handle, also my absolute favorite of all <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

It may be true that many people are unequipped to handle dog ownership if there is any challenge at all.

Those are my exact thoughts. I was just looking at it in my realistic opinion. Everyone should adopt, but in all actuality not everyone is equipped. Take care Connie <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

I would venture to guess that unplanned litters play a big part in the shelter surfeit, too.

I might be off, of course, but I doubt that I've been lucky enough to rescue the "1%" of worth-it dogs. My own feeling is that human problems are the bigger issue behind the shelter surfeit than canine problems. JMO.

You're absolutely right. When people bring in a new batch of puppies every six months (it happens all the time...argh!!!), they just think, "oh, they are cute puppies! They will have no problems getting adopted!" What they don't realize is, when they bring in an average litter of 6 puppies, they have to make room in at least two kennel runs at our shelter to divide up the litter into males and females. For big litters, three or four kennels. That's a death sentence for any older dogs that are going to be forced out for space through no fault of their own other than their owner didn't have time for them, they were moving, they were having kids, they were in the middle of a divorce, you name it. That's why I like fostering so much. Not only do you get to save that particular dog to make it more adoptable but you open up kennel space to take in one more.

Barbara, you're right on as well. The average pet owner should not own a pet. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I'm a very busy person as well. I'm planning a wedding, finishing up the last experiment in my masters thesis, applying to vet school, I teach martial arts, I teach undergrads during the school year, I just started Schutzhund a few months ago, but you know, it still only takes a minute to just make your dog sit and stay before you put on its leash or down stay to give it its food or 20-30 minutes to throw the ball around or jog or 60 minutes for a nice walk every day or every other day. People make time for what is important for them, I guess. *grumble grumble*