I Went to the Animal Shelter Today

**xtena** · 07-21-2011, 02:09 PM

We'll be adopting in a couple of months. My daughter would love to rescue a beagle but I had to be firm and say 'no way' because we already have two guinea pigs (rescues from the SPCA). We need a small dog that will be okay with smaller animals and be able to jump up at their cage and try to get them. Our ideal dog needs to be small and calm and great with kids. DD herself is a fairly calm and quiet girl on her own but we have a lot of hyper friends in the homeschool community...I just keep telling her we need to keep researching and preparing and not just run out and get a dog on a whim just because her friends already have one.

**bumplett** · 07-21-2011, 02:26 PM

Hey Russ, I hear you, but I just have to give you my 2 cents from the other side....

In my county alone, over 400 pets came through the doors during the month of June.

Most of those were owner turn ins.

I can't speak for other areas, only my own, but we hold all strays for 72 hours. (time for their owners to look for them/reclaim them) Unless they are in pain/suffering, then they would be euthanized before the 72 hours are up. That's not often.
Owner surrenders are available immediately, or they can be euthanized immediately to make room for the strays that must be held for 72 hrs.

People constantly want you to call them and let them know if the pet they are turning in is not adopted. It's just not possible. We've always given people the intake number and told them that they are welcome to call to find out if the pet is still there.
IF you are willing to adopt that dog or cat, you shouldn't turn it in in the first place.

there is NEVER a guarantee that ANY animal is going to make it out of animal control alive. People should be aware of that before they ever walk through the door.

So, while each individual person thinks that their senerio is special, they are one in HUNDREDS of people that think the same.

Never underestimate the degree of compassion that the staff may have. Again, I can only speak for my own area - but in my travels (yes, I visit shelters whenever we go out of town also) I've met huge hearts. There will always be the exceptions, but instead of walking away discouraged, offer to help.

In this area, it's VOLUNTEERS that put shelter animals on petfinder. If you don't think there are enough pets listed online, offer to help them do it.

I've never in my life met someone that enjoyed having to euthanize any animal - it's just a fact of life. it's a fact of life brought on by IRRESPONSIBLE pet owners - not animal control.

Animal Control exists to attempt to control the problem - it's up to the rest of us to ELIMINATE the problem.

**bumplett** · 07-21-2011, 02:31 PM

oh, I almost forgot -

I can only speak for the state of Georgia - but Animal Control is run by each individual county - and it's the county court that sets the fees, NOT animal control.

It's animal control's job to write the citations, not set the fees for those citations. They have no control over the amount of the fees.

**10dogs4cats** · 07-21-2011, 03:25 PM

Don't rely completely on researching specific breeds. Remember they are dogs first & then their breed. Like people, their personalities can vary wildly.

If you have other pets in the house, especially the small & furries, you might want to consider a fully adult dog. They are calmer, they are full grown & best of all - their personalities are already formed. What you see is what you get. And keep in mind that dogs over about 3 years old are usually overlooked - in some areas they aren't even put up for adoption - just euthanized immediately

I've been doing rescue for 10+ years now & am always amazed by how many fabulous dogs are abandoned or turned in to shelters. I pulled one a couple weeks ago who is a boxer mix - I expected a handful, but he is a perfect gentleman with beautiful house & leash manners. He got passed over because at 5 years old, he has some grey on his muzzle already. Also don't forget the plain, black, medium sized adult dogs - they are the most overlooked group & people are passing up some real gems just because black dogs are easy to overlook in a standard shelter set up of gray walls & chainlink kennels.

**bumplett** · 07-21-2011, 03:29 PM

Same goes for black cats.

You wouldn't think people are so silly, but they are.

Thanks 10dogs, and

**craftypam** · 07-21-2011, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by xtena

We'll be adopting in a couple of months. My daughter would love to rescue a beagle but I had to be firm and say 'no way' because we already have two guinea pigs (rescues from the SPCA). We need a small dog that will be okay with smaller animals and be able to jump up at their cage and try to get them. Our ideal dog needs to be small and calm and great with kids. DD herself is a fairly calm and quiet girl on her own but we have a lot of hyper friends in the homeschool community...I just keep telling her we need to keep researching and preparing and not just run out and get a dog on a whim just because her friends already have one.

I would like to tell you a funny story about my guinea pig and my german shephard. My dh was putting a new window into my kitchen so we had to move the guinea pig cage. My dh put it on the floor and while my dh was busy putting the window in the german shephard licked the guinea pig soaking wet. And this is the dog who goes after any animal that enters our yard outside.

I LOVE guinea pigs. Dh doesn't want any more because of having to bury too many!!!

Also don't forget the plain, black, medium sized adult dogs - they are the most overlooked group & people are passing up some real gems just because black dogs are easy to overlook in a standard shelter set up of gray walls & chainlink kennels.

My sil told me about people not adopting black dogs; sorry I don't get it. I was originally looking for a golden retriever because I had adopted one that was 2 several years ago and LOVED her personality. I wound up with a black dog that looks just like a golden and he is so gentle and a great personality.

**10dogs4cats** · 07-22-2011, 12:06 PM

The research I've read says that unlike black cats, people don't avoid black dogs becasue of any fear or bias. Rather they tend to overlook them.

It is believed that it is because the color of the dog just seems to fade into the gray color of the cinder block walls & the chain link.

I work in rescue & find that when we take the dogs out of the shelter to adoption events, the black dogs get just as much attention.

But whenever I hear someone is going to a shelter for a dog, I always remind them to not overlook the medium sized black dogs & explain why. I figure those dogs need just that little extra help

**annymoll** · 07-22-2011, 05:35 PM

Palooka, my best friend lives in Chicago- there is a beautiful Victorian mansion near her home that is a cat shelter.The owner left her fortune to stray and neglected cats and you can go and adopt one! I love going by and seeing the cats- they are in every window and staff to attend them! My Chow/ Shepard /Pit mix and my little white Pit were dumped so callously in my yard. I could not bring myself to take them to the pound, they told me they would destroy them because of the breed. Both dogs have been a joy. I hope you find a perfect match for your family!

**mh3rdwheel** · 07-22-2011, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

I would like to tell you a funny story about my guinea pig and my german shephard. My dh was putting a new window into my kitchen so we had to move the guinea pig cage. My dh put it on the floor and while my dh was busy putting the window in the german shephard licked the guinea pig soaking wet. And this is the dog who goes after any animal that enters our yard outside.

I LOVE guinea pigs. Dh doesn't want any more because of having to bury too many!!!

Also don't forget the plain, black, medium sized adult dogs - they are the most overlooked group & people are passing up some real gems just because black dogs are easy to overlook in a standard shelter set up of gray walls & chainlink kennels.

My sil told me about people not adopting black dogs; sorry I don't get it. I was originally looking for a golden retriever because I had adopted one that was 2 several years ago and LOVED her personality. I wound up with a black dog that looks just like a golden and he is so gentle and a great personality.

I find it funny, my sister always had guinea pigs and cats, she had a cage with a screen lid, it was funny the cats would sit on top of the cage trying to get to the guinea pig, the guinea pig knew and would reach up and taunt the cat, everytime.