The Dumping Begins!

ORIGINAL: Tashmoo5454
We have had arguments with people bringing in pure bred pups, who get upset when we tell them there is a $25 surrender fee. 

Our local shelter now charges a surrender fee after careful consideration of the pros and cons of a fee.  More often than not, people gripe about the fee (some imply they'll "do something else" with the animal since they can't afford the fee).  When people surrender their pet, the shelter incurs all the costs related to the pet that the pet's owner is no longer willing to cover (this includes feeding and housing the animal while it awaits adoption, not to mention any medical needs it may have, and in the worst case scenario, the cost of euthanizing the animal).  People think they can dump an animal at the shelter, and the shelter has an endless supply of money to take care of the costs of hundreds and thousands of animals that come in their doors each year. 
 
Ron said it best - too many people are selfish and impulsive and simply will never be the responsible or committed types.

You asked the question in your OP of when will people quit thinking of these pet animals as disposable. I think the answer is not in this lifetime. To have that respect and forethought and consideration would appear to be beyond the ability of a lot of people and that's the nicest way I can put it. They are too selfish and impulsive and were brought up in a world of instant gratification and minimal responsibility and accountability.

 
Unfortunatley, I absolutley agree with this statement Ron...[&o]

I can't tell you how many calls I get for Christmas puppies (which I will never have). Everyone who calls gets my song and dance about why they shouldn't get puppies for Christmas but in most cases I doubt it does any good at all. They probably just call the next number on their list.
 
I would not have guessed that the pups get dumped this soon but I guess it makes sense since they are at their most mess-making stage - but they are SO adorable. I just cannot fathom how people could get rid of a puppy.

Unfortunately I volunteer at a municipal shelter, and by law we have to charge a fee, but when someone squawks too much about it, we just take the animal and one of us will just throw the $25 to the town.  We figure we'll end up picking the poor pup up as a "stray", or worse, so we just do what's best at that point.

We get a lot of dumps here, too - in July.  I call them "student dumps" - UCD students who no longer live in the dorms and just have to have a dog or a couple of cats - and of course, don't want to bring the animals home when school lets out for the summer. [&:] They don't even  bother taking them to the shelter.  They just dump them out on one of the county roads because "Oh, he's cute.  Someone will pick him up and  take him home." Yeah.  Right.  Assuming they don't get run over by a tomato truck first. [:@]
 
Joyce

Joyce, the same thing happens here, except it's in early May.  That's how I ended up with one of my kitties.  She'd been set free when the semester was over.
 
 

anyone who has ever tried to housebreak a puppy knows the best time to get one is May.

Uh this makes me sooo sad, some people are soo ignorant. My aunt is thinking about getting a puppy as a companion for their black lab because he is in a 3feet wide 50 feet long pen all day so they want to get him a puppy and the one they're looking at is going to be a huge lab, I wanted to tell them why not get a puppy from the shelter or adopt a dog, but they don't even need another dog[>:]

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

It's a really good thing I have a stable temperament, because this is one of those issues with which I could "go postal"...[sm=uhoh.gif]
People will never learn.  I may be pessimistic, but just Google the word "puppies" and see how the Internet has ruined dogs.  Just pick up any want ad newspaper and read the countless "puppies in time for Christmas" ads, and then go to petfinder.com to see the hundreds of failed relationships....
Humans suck. [:'(]

 
Anne, the sad thing is you don't even have to google, we even get spammed here with posters selling puppies.  It's sad, sick and breaks my heart.

Ash was given to me as a birthday present. I didn't ask for a puppy, but my ex got me one. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I accepted her. I had never raised a puppy on my own. I worked full time with an hour commute each way. I lived in an apartment and Ash is herding dog! It took less than a week for me to realize that if I kept this dog, my entire life would have to change. My family and even the guy who gave her to me all, at some point, tried to tell me to give her up. I briefly considered it when I moved back to my parents for 2 months, but when I got the first call from an interested person, I was crying so hard I couldn't breathe. I honestly don't think I've ever cried like that in my life. The pain and agony I felt at the thought of not having Ash as so deep and intense that I knew she wasn't going anywhere.
 
My life did change dramatically and for the better. Unfortunately, not many people are willing to put in the time, the money, or are willing to change their lives for a dog. Although Ash was given to me as a present, I am one of the strongest advocates of NEVER EVER giving a puppy/dog/animal as a gift. You're making a lifetime decision for another person and the animal and in most cases, that person ends up deciding to give it away.

ORIGINAL: ladiebug

Are people ever going to realize that it's a living, breathing thing that is NOT disposable?  [&:] [:@]

 
Apparently not.  I wish they would, in fact, I tell people all about that stuff.  They don't listen to me for some reason.  They think that they are right and I am always wrong and that they have absolutely no reason to listen to what I have to say.

ORIGINAL: Cassiewith2dogs

Uh this makes me sooo sad, some people are soo ignorant. My aunt is thinking about getting a puppy as a companion for their black lab because he is in a 3feet wide 50 feet long pen all day so they want to get him a puppy and the one they're looking at is going to be a huge lab, I wanted to tell them why not get a puppy from the shelter or adopt a dog, but they don't even need another dog[>:]

 
Things like that happen to me often.  It's sometimes hard to tell them not to do something when they are family.

We had 4 pups dumped at our clinic when I arrived this morning. (read tied outside to a tree, hedges, loading ramp, and back door)  The most frustrating thing is that we saw one of these pups last week for a well puppy exam.  Two had registration papers left with them (in an envelope tied in the leash)  So now our clinic is the proud foster of two border collies, one gsd, and a doberman.  To make matters worse, these are not easy breeds to place due to exercise/training needs.  On the upside, I just adopted out the two dobies that I was fostering, so I have a little room at home.  Anyone want to guess which pup is coming home with
Auntie Amanda?

This sucks. Joy was my Christmas puppy this year. BUT there is a difference of when you buy a puppy on a whim, versus buying from a great breeder and giving the pup to someone you KNOW is going to love the puppy, and properly take care of it.

I was at our shelter yesterday and, so far, no dumps.  I can't believe that your cities already have Christmas puppies!!  Two weeks and the thrill is gone?