Pet Underpopulation

 This is another really good article on the same subject: http://www.mofed.org/Redefining.html

One does have to question how there can be at once a pet overpopulation problem and also room for shelters to import dogs from out of the country. Wouldn't that contribute to overpopulation?

I have been on many many wed sites including petfinder for the last 4 days or so and I found a shelter that transports dogs from different countries here to be adopted. And if you decide you don`t want the dog when it gets here you are under no obligation to home the dog.

Sorry, just not buying your argument.  In talking with HSUS, ASPCA, and other sources, reliable data is not collected.  For some reason, you give your argument creditability by the fact that shelter dogs, like the ones my rescue organization take in, are imported.   The fact is Ohio and the souther states have the highest euth rates and those are the areas that a lot of shelters focus on. 

I agree with the article that shelters are not the best managed and some don't know squat about placement.  I can tell you that from my experience and working at it every day and dedicating my weekends, it takes an average of 4 months to place a dog.  The longest ever being one year and 5 months and the shortest being 2 months.  But it is a fact that all the dogs in my rescue organization foster program (regardless of health and behavior issues), eventually get adopted.

I think it's a crock.

I have seen overpopulation first hand. Yes, some shelters are less populated than others, but many are extremely over crowded and therefore those poor dogs and cats that end up in the over populated shelters are euthanized. Why do you think shelters euthanize (other than ill and/or injured and/or aggression)? They don't want to. They just don't have a choice most of the time because space is crucial. My own dog was on the euthanizing list the day I adopted him and he is an absolute dream...NO issues that couldn't be corrected with mainly basic training and NO health problems. I do not support rescues/shelters importing dogs (mainly small dogs) from other countries just because we in the USA are still euthanizing due to space. The only reason rescues/shelters are importing these dogs from other countries is because they're small and many people want small dogs. But what about the medium/large dogs, and even the small dogs we have here in the USA? I don't think it's fair, nor do I think it's right to import.

AgileGSD

One does have to question how there can be at once a pet overpopulation problem and also room for shelters to import dogs from out of the country. Wouldn't that contribute to overpopulation?

     There is one major shelter in my state (North Shore Animal League) that is famous for doing this. We have a definite pit bull problem here, but pits aren't "marketable" enough for them. If they are so set on rescuing from kill shelters, our Center for Animal Care & Control downtown or the AC "holding center" we have in the Bronx or the other 2 AC's in Brooklyn & Staten Island are FULL with dogs ... but mainly Shepherds and pit bulls. They transport dogs from southern states, which is admirable if that was the end of it. But it's not. They have introduced distemper to our area b/c those dogs that they "rescued" were unvaccinated or not properly vaxed. They send down volunteers to pick the animals up and these people, while entirely well meaning, are using their hearts, not their heads. In some instances they are taking pups who are damn near feral and adults who are equally as unsocialized. They are attempting to rehab these dogs and doing a poor job, because I have had about 8 families come to me for a pup who had previously gone to NSAL for a dog and were attacked or bitten despite being committed to socialization/training the dog.

     I have been to North Shore quite recently and while they had some really nice pups/adults, they were adopting out genetic junk in many, many cases. Those dogs SHOULD have been euthanized. The problem we find in some shelters today is that the dogs are either the product of very poor breeding or someone dumped them there for very real behavior issues that can't always be trained away.

     And yes, there are plenty of shelters that go to Mexico or overseas to bring in dogs ... they wouldn't go this route unless there was a demand for adoptable dogs. So if there really were too many *adoptable* dogs, this would never even be considered. OH, I do believe there is an overcrowding problem - but that is not to be confused w/ overpopulation :)

I think there's an underpopulation of the desirable SMALL breeds.  In speaking with AC officers in this area, it's the small dogs that always get adopted and that people are always looking for and that are helping to fuel the puppy stores ridiculous prices here.  There are way too many pits here as well as large sized mutts and LOADS of beagles.  So if the northeast is short on those, they are more than welcome to come down here (VA) and get them! 

BlackLabbie

I think it's a crock.

I have seen overpopulation first hand. Yes, some shelters are less populated than others, but many are extremely over crowded and therefore those poor dogs and cats that end up in the over populated shelters are euthanized. Why do you think shelters euthanize (other than ill and/or injured and/or aggression)?

  Overcrowding in some parts of the country does not mean there is an "overpopulation crisis" across the country though. That is what so much of the propaganda is - the "overpopulation problem across the US".

Why do shelters euthanize? Because in many cases that is there job. County run shelters really are there to "dispose" of unwanted animals. My local county (in Ohio) dog pound is high kill because there is little effort made to get the dogs in homes. They are held three days as required by law and than killed. Owner turn ins can be PTS as soon as they arrive, per the law. This pound has really bad dog viewing hours - 9am - 4pm M-F with it being open 'til 6 on Weds. No weekend hours at all and no public appearances at stores or dog events at all. And even if you do go to the pound to see the dogs - they can't tell you much about temperament, you can't take the dogs to an area for one on one time and they are in stacked vet style cages in a big room. It just isn't really all that appealing for people to adopt a dog from there. Do you think because a dog couldn't find a home within three days, it means the dog was PTS because there was no home for them?

This blog explains pretty good the issue of why some shelters have such high kill rates: http://nathanwinograd.blogspot.com/2008/02/follow-sodium-pentobarbital.html

AgileGSD

Why do shelters euthanize?

In my opinion it's because the dogs in question are difficult to adopt - behavior problems or medical problems or age.  Plain and simple.  People don't take the time to think how life will be after the cute little puppy becomes the needy, big dog.  Most of the dogs in the shelters around here are one year old.  That's right - I'd say 85% of the dogs in our local shelters are one year old, probably 10% are aged and 5% puppies.    The majority are in just after the cute puppy stage and right about the time you see BIG problems if you haven't done right by your puppy with training and socializing.

kelliope

In my opinion it's because the dogs in question are difficult to adopt - behavior problems

I won't say much on this issue other than I think the truth lies somewhere between. I do not agree with importing from other countries...ever. That is unneeded and I don't care if all the funds are donated and not detracting from any shelter. The networking can work great in the USA IF proper health concerns and policies are followed...and IF it doesn't become some sort of money racket where shelters are paying each other for preference at the "good picks" or outright for dogs in general. 

"Behavior problems" that would be worked with at great expense of time and money if the dog is of a certain breed or mix...and if the dog is of another certain breed or mix? That is something I do have issue with at times.

Why is a Collie or Sheltie mix with FA issues, or leash reactivity "worth" more of an investment than the same in a similarly sized Pit Bull mix or Chow Mix? Yet some shelters do just that.

Anyhow...like I said...somewhere in between the two sides is the truth, IMO. And at the end of the day people would still be giving up Fluffy due to little Johnny's allergies or their big move.

kelliope

AgileGSD

Why do shelters euthanize?

In my opinion it's because the dogs in question are difficult to adopt - behavior problems or medical problems or age.  Plain and simple.  People don't take the time to think how life will be after the cute little puppy becomes the needy, big dog.  Most of the dogs in the shelters around here are one year old.  That's right - I'd say 85% of the dogs in our local shelters are one year old, probably 10% are aged and 5% puppies.    The majority are in just after the cute puppy stage and right about the time you see BIG problems if you haven't done right by your puppy with training and socializing.

  It is true that many dogs end up in shelters due to behavior issues, often due to lack of training. That suggests further that the issue is not "too many dogs being born" but too many dogs that don't stay in homes. It is very progressive thinking for shelters to be offering programs designed to help keep dogs in homes and I do think that is part of the answer. If too many dogs were being born, there would be a lot of young puppies always available and shelters wouldn't be importing them. I don't have so much of an issue with taking dogs from higher kill shelters BUT I think if some of those high kill shelters would prioritize adoptions, there wouldn't be such a need for it. Even in Ohio, there are shelters and rescues who euthanize only unadoptable animals. Of course "unadoptable" is open to personal opinion and temperament tests.

DPU

Sorry, just not buying your argument.  In talking with HSUS, ASPCA, and other sources, reliable data is not collected.  For some reason, you give your argument creditability by the fact that shelter dogs, like the ones my rescue organization take in, are imported.   The fact is Ohio and the souther states have the highest euth rates and those are the areas that a lot of shelters focus on. 

I agree with the article that shelters are not the best managed and some don't know squat about placement.  I can tell you that from my experience and working at it every day and dedicating my weekends, it takes an average of 4 months to place a dog.  The longest ever being one year and 5 months and the shortest being 2 months.  But it is a fact that all the dogs in my rescue organization foster program (regardless of health and behavior issues), eventually get adopted.

Yes, the data is skewed. HSUS and ASPCA skew the data to make it look like there is overpopulation. Some may be skewing data to make it look like there is underpopulation. I believe the data is erroneous on both ends, and the reality is somewhere in the middle. Some regions in the country may very well have too many dogs surrendered to the shelters, while other regions have a hard time having dogs to adopt out. That's why they do the importing. An overpopulation problem though implies that there are litters being produced with no homes for them. That's not the case. Most of the dogs occupying space at shelters are older dogs with health and behavior issue, or simply because the owners no longer wanted them once they stopped being cute and fluffy. That's a retention problem. As for taking four months to place a dog, I think it's great that you and your rescue group puts in that kind of time to work with the fosters before placing them. Many groups don't. Many of the groups I'm familiar with place them in a week or two, and the shelters will sometimes place them within a few days. Euth rates are also skewed, probably from both sides. One thing to remember ~ Statistics Lie.

rwbeagles

Anyhow...like I said...somewhere in between the two sides is the truth, IMO.

Maybe so but the one side really harms the chances of the shelter dog being adopted and can cause more puppies being bred by whoever.  I don't understand the agendas here.  What if the spreading of "underpopulation" is wrong?

AgileGSD

It is very progressive thinking for shelters to be offering programs designed to help keep dogs in homes and I do think that is part of the answer. 

There are few to none shelters doing these types of programs with taxpayer dollars.  It's the dedication of volunteers putting in the blood, sweat and tears and working WITH county governments and shelter directors to try to improve placement rates and reduce euthanization rates.  The shelter here in Richmond is viewed nationally as one that turned things around ahead of schedule and in a big way.  It's completely due to a good relationship between volunteers and employees and a dedication to the animals.

In counties where this type of partnership and volunteer efforts are not present, placements are low and euthanizations are high.  Animal control facilities simply are well-funded enough to do much more than catch stray dogs and euthanize them when the facility fills up.  Taxpayers are not willing to pay increased taxes to fund spay/neuter programs, training, behavioral analysis, home visits and vaccinations. 

Regardless of your opinions as to where the dogs are coming from or if there is an under or over population crisis, the fact remains that there are dogs in need in your county shelter who ARE adoptable and being euthanized for no reason other than lack of homes and funds.  If that matters to you in any way, roll up your sleeves or reach into your pockets and make a difference.  Donate to local rescue/humane societies, go in and volunteer and help.

kelliope

AgileGSD

Why do shelters euthanize?

In my opinion it's because the dogs in question are difficult to adopt - behavior problems or medical problems or age.  Plain and simple.  People don't take the time to think how life will be after the cute little puppy becomes the needy, big dog.  Most of the dogs in the shelters around here are one year old.  That's right - I'd say 85% of the dogs in our local shelters are one year old, probably 10% are aged and 5% puppies.    The majority are in just after the cute puppy stage and right about the time you see BIG problems if you haven't done right by your puppy with training and socializing.

It is my opinion that there are not enough dog lovers willing to step up and foster to give the dog a second life.  As I said before, all the dogs that come into my rescue orgs foster program, get adopted.