Local Humane Shelter in Trouble-PLEASE HELP!

[tdl_auburn]

Equally important is the need to encourage or require adopters to complete basic pet (and human) training classes. So many good pets are dumped by the wayside because the owner has no clue how to correct a behavior problem or to prevent those problems in the first place.

The vast majority of pet owners are responsible and do abide by local ordinances. Even first time pet owners do fairly well wit taking care of thier pets without many hitches. If everyone were to be required to take classes before adopting a pet, I'd wager few would adopt from the shelter. They'd just go elsewhere. I think if classes (I would call it a seminar) are offered, they should be a requirement after being sited for neglect of an animal or otherwise disobeying a local ordinance - such as letting your animal deficate in other people's yards without cleaning it up (you dog walkers) or those who let their animals run loose. Along with the fine should be a requirement to take a seminar offered by the shelter. A $20 dollar fee (just like most seminar fees) should be expected to cover the costs of the shelter for offering the class.

As for educating owners about the importance of spay/neuter, I believe a brochure is handed out to those adopting animals that explains the need. But in order to adopt from the shelter spay/neuter is a requirement anyway.

[Mrs.Slotz]

The vast majority of pet owners are responsible and do abide by local ordinances. Even first time pet owners do fairly well wit taking care of thier pets without many hitches. If everyone were to be required to take classes before adopting a pet, I'd wager few would adopt from the shelter. They'd just go elsewhere. I think if classes (I would call it a seminar) are offered, they should be a requirement after being sited for neglect of an animal or otherwise disobeying a local ordinance - such as letting your animal deficate in other people's yards without cleaning it up (you dog walkers) or those who let their animals run loose. Along with the fine should be a requirement to take a seminar offered by the shelter. A $20 dollar fee (just like most seminar fees) should be expected to cover the costs of the shelter for offering the class.

As for educating owners about the importance of spay/neuter, I believe a brochure is handed out to those adopting animals that explains the need. But in order to adopt from the shelter spay/neuter is a requirement anyway.

I can educate them for free about the importance of spay/neuter. Just come take a look in my back yard and see the large amount of cats and kittens running around. I have no idea what to do with them. I can't afford to have them fixed and the cost of food is breaking me. We are going thru 20#'s of cat food a week and 20# of dog food a week.

[Walkdontrun]

Quote: As for educating owners about the importance of spay/neuter, I believe a brochure is handed out to those adopting animals that explains the need. But in order to adopt from the shelter spay/neuter is a requirement anyway.

My response: The point being that a brochure won't do the trick. The animals that are altered, then adopted out of the shelter are not the problem as they are not the ones contributing to the surplus animal population. That only keeps those particular animals from reproducing...that's a good thing but its an "after the fact" partial solution. Its precisely because so many owners FAIL to spay and neuter that so many of those offspring end up at the shelter in the first place. The idea is to prevent those pets out in the general population from producing litters of pets that fuel the shelter population.

And if potential pet adopters are truly invested in obtaining a shelter pet, they would be willing to give it a good start in life and in a new home by taking a few simple classes or seminars or workshops or whatever...things that help the pet as well as the new owner have a better start, and a better chance that the pet will work out in its new environment. Many shelters across the country are already doing this and they have a lot less pets being returned to the shelter. Being a pet owner requires some serious commitment, money and time investment...not unlike having a child. Proper preparation for a new home might help to weed out the "impulse" or frivolous adopters from the serious adopters.

[HoosierHelen]

I can educate them for free about the importance of spay/neuter. Just come take a look in my back yard and see the large amount of cats and kittens running around. I have no idea what to do with them. I can't afford to have them fixed and the cost of food is breaking me. We are going thru 20#'s of cat food a week and 20# of dog food a week.

Mrs. Slotz, It sounds to me that you might consider rounding up some of the excess cats & kittens running around and take them to the shelter? The shelter is where people go when looking for pets (especially cats). Their chances of being adopted would be much greater there.

I have no doubt you are keeping them and feeding them out of your loving heart for them, but it does sound like their population will get out of control if you don't reduce their numbers to a level you can afford to spay/neuter the ones you keep. Our neighbors kept an outdoor cat that became a Ferral cat. They laughed and said he kept the field mice population down. I'm sure he did do that. One day another neighbor's German Shepard got ahold of him and he sure died a horrible death. My point is .....even if the shelter has to put them to sleep, that is a much better death than what they experience in the wild.

[Torget]

Walk, It sounds to me like you would like to see all pets spayed or neutered. If that is not what you meant, then please explain as you have stated that those that are already altered are not the problem but the rest that are not are. I have to disagree with this.

There are many reputable breeders that will give you good sound reasons for why they have puppies, and I'm not talking about puppy mill breeders or backyard breeders either. I am talking about those breeders who strive to improve the breed and believe in owner education.

Forcing someone to take a class or whatever is not the answer either as I myself have been around animals my whole life and could probably teach the teacher a thing or two about animals I would consider such a class for someone like myself to be a waste of time.

I would propose a knowledge test to determine who needs a class or not rather than making everyone take a class. Just because someone made it thru drivers training classes doesn't necessarily mean they are a good driver.

[HoosierHelen]

Walk, It sounds to me like you would like to see all pets spayed or neutered. If that is not what you meant, then please explain as you have stated that those that are already altered are not the problem but the rest that are not are. I have to disagree with this.

There are many reputable breeders that will give you good sound reasons for why they have puppies, and I'm not talking about puppy mill breeders or backyard breeders either. I am talking about those breeders who strive to improve the breed and believe in owner education.

Forcing someone to take a class or whatever is not the answer either as I myself have been around animals my whole life and could probably teach the teacher a thing or two about animals I would consider such a class for someone like myself to be a waste of time.

I would propose a knowledge test to determine who needs a class or not rather than making everyone take a class. Just because someone made it thru drivers training classes doesn't necessarily mean they are a good driver.

Torget, What is your recommendation (since you are capable of teaching the teachers) for those who have a yard full of animals that they cannot afford to spay/neuter all of their pets?

Would you say they should continue to nourish and feed animals they cannot possibly take to the vet for their annual check ups, pay for their monthly worm meds, etc? We just spent $90 on our dog for his 2 yr physical and blood tests & shots. The monthly pill we give our dog to prevent worms, ticks, etc is also about $25 a month. It really is not cheap to maintain his physical health.

We made the choice to take him in as a member of the family and so, he never misses an appointment. If we had a yard full of his brothers & sisters, there is no way we could afford to do this for all of them either.

[Torget]

HH, it is people like you that I applaud and represent those who do it right.

By doing it right I mean not taking on more resposibility than you are capable of and not shirking that responsibility when something arises that needs to be taken care of.

I have always had animals in my life, but I also knew what I could handle and did not put myself into a position that might go beyond that. In other words, if you feel that you can afford a pet, whether it be a cat, dog, goat, horse snake, gerbil, whatever, then you need to ask yourself if that animal were to reproduce, could you also provide the needed care for that animal as well. If the answer is no, then you should get your animal fixed BEFORE it gets out of hand and the next thing you know, you have more than you can afford to keep. Bottom line is be responsible when deciding to get a pet or pets.

But for those that are already in that situation, I suggest talking to their vet and seeing if they can set up a payment plan for getting their animals fixed. Another option would be to ask family or friends to help with the costs along with an agreement to repay them. You can also take steps to keep those that are not fixed from coming in contact with others so no more unwanted litters happen, an example would be seperate pens for males and females. Taking pets to a shelter is never an easy option, but sometimes it comes down to being the only option you have left. Taking a pet to the shelter is a form of being responsible as you have come to the realization that you are not capable of providing proper care for them.

The main thing that people need to realize is that when they get a pet, they are now resposible for that pet and if they cannot take on that resposibility they should not get the pet.

As for my suggestion of giving a test before being able to adopt from a shelter, it would not be that difficult to come up with a short questionaire that would let the shelter people know if this person understands what all it takes for pet ownership.

[amcpherson1504]

In other areas, like northern Michigan. They have a neuter/spay event, which costs around 50.00 unless you are low income then it is cheaper. The shelter vets do the operations, and it reduced the number of pets in the shelter by half over a couple years. Tdl Auburn said when he got winnie, they told him she needed to be spayed. That is something that should have been done at the shelter, so the shelter needs to make sure all animals that leave are altered.

[amcpherson1504]

HH, it is people like you that I applaud and represent those who do it right.

By doing it right I mean not taking on more resposibility than you are capable of and not shirking that responsibility when something arises that needs to be taken care of.

I have always had animals in my life, but I also knew what I could handle and did not put myself into a position that might go beyond that. In other words, if you feel that you can afford a pet, whether it be a cat, dog, goat, horse snake, gerbil, whatever, then you need to ask yourself if that animal were to reproduce, could you also provide the needed care for that animal as well. If the answer is no, then you should get your animal fixed BEFORE it gets out of hand and the next thing you know, you have more than you can afford to keep. Bottom line is be responsible when deciding to get a pet or pets.

But for those that are already in that situation, I suggest talking to their vet and seeing if they can set up a payment plan for getting their animals fixed. Another option would be to ask family or friends to help with the costs along with an agreement to repay them. You can also take steps to keep those that are not fixed from coming in contact with others so no more unwanted litters happen, an example would be seperate pens for males and females. Taking pets to a shelter is never an easy option, but sometimes it comes down to being the only option you have left. Taking a pet to the shelter is a form of being responsible as you have come to the realization that you are not capable of providing proper care for them.

The main thing that people need to realize is that when they get a pet, they are now resposible for that pet and if they cannot take on that resposibility they should not get the pet.

As for my suggestion of giving a test before being able to adopt from a shelter, it would not be that difficult to come up with a short questionaire that would let the shelter people know if this person understands what all it takes for pet ownership.

The questionaire is a great option, all possible pet owners should be checked to make sure they can handle the specific animal they are going to adopt, and will not ruin the name of the breed by lack of care and knowledge. I had to fill out six pages to adopt Molly from the rescue, and they can show up anytime within reason to make sure she is taken care of.

[Goodchange]

My Heart is so sad to hear this. I took my granddaughter to the Steuben County Shelter in Angola last year and we dropped off 50 lbs of dogfood and some catfood too. We toured the animals, and even though we could not take one, we still love them and petted them. For people to NOT neuter their animals, should be a crime. Animals are not the problem, it is the people who dump their animals off either at the shelter or on the streets. I know times are tough, but neutering is well worth the money and your animal will be better off too. If you are an older middle aged person who is alone, a small dog/cat can bring you happiness you have never known. They love you and are always loyal. Be loyal to them..they love you...I hope every person reading these messages will send a donation today...Thanks....

[tdl_auburn]

I had to fill out six pages to adopt Molly from the rescue, and they can show up anytime within reason to make sure she is taken care of.

True, but they don't.

[Graygleam]

True, but they don't.

Actually, in my experience, they do.

[amcpherson1504]

True, but they don't.

Yes, They do. They like to know the dogs are happy and loved. They stop by and bring treats for molly

[tdl_auburn]

Yes, They do. They like to know the dogs are happy and loved. They stop by and bring treats for molly

Perhaps it depends on who are then. I've had Winnie for a year and a half and I haven't even received a phone call asking how she's doing. It would make sense that after a certain period they would call and inquire...at least one time.

[amcpherson1504]

Perhaps it depends on who are then. I've had Winnie for a year and a half and I haven't even received a phone call asking how she's doing. It would make sense that after a certain period they would call and inquire...at least one time.

Thats the difference between a shelter and a rescue, shelters get money from the state and don't want to waste funds checking on animals, rescues are completely donation based. They want to make sure the dogs get a good life. I think it is a great idea to check on them, and go through the paperwork with references. Molly is an Amstaff and these dogs are not for everyone, they are great family pets, but you must keep them in their place or they will try to climb the ladder and become dominant over the humans, which can lead to serious concequences. Shelters don't take the right precautions when it comes to these types of dogs. That is why I like the rescues, they get NO STATE money, And they care alot about the dogs and the people that own them.

[tdl_auburn]

Molly is an Amstaff and these dogs are not for everyone, they are great family pets, but you must keep them in their place or they will try to climb the ladder and become dominant over the humans, which can lead to serious concequences. Shelters don't take the right precautions when it comes to these types of dogs. That is why I like the rescues, they get NO STATE money, And they care alot about the dogs and the people that own them.

By Amstaff you mean Pitbull, right?

[amcpherson1504]

By Amstaff you mean Pitbull, right?

yea, not sure of the bloodline but she looks like a colby.