Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim
Top 10 Reasons Dogs are Dumped at Shelters
Moving- Landlord not allowing pet
- Too many animals in household
- Cost of pet maintenance
- Owner having personal problems
- Inadequate facilities
- No homes available for litter mates
- Having no time for pet
- Pet illness
- Biting
Why Do Shelters Kill?
The connundrum of doing society's dirty work while trying to remain mentally and spiritually intact. Nobody who works at an animal shelter wants to kill the animals that are brought in for shelter. They do it because they see no alternative. They indeed see it as a necessary evil preventing the suffering of millions of animals that would otherwise be abused, neglected or abandoned to starve on the streets.
Shelters across the country accept 6-8 million dogs each year. The inflow of animals is far greater than shelter space, and the shelter resources to find new homes. Shelters that euthanize dogs do so because they believe that warehousing the dogs is not in the best interest of the animals. Every animal deserves a decent quality of life, and living in prison cages over the long term does not support this principle.
People who work in shelters want to help animals – they should not be required to take on the job of killing the creatures they love most. This terrible burden is unfair to shelter workers everywhere who care deeply for the animals and desire to nurture life not destroy it.
No Kill Ethics
No kill ethics embodies a consortium of philosophies that espouse killing of animals is unnecessary.
Relevant Articles
"Killing Ourselves Over the Euthanasia Debate" (PDF)
From the September – October 1997 issue of Animal Sheltering Magazine
Toward A No-Kill Nation (PDF)
As long as people believe that killing homeless animals is "just one of those necessary evils," it will continue.
Sheltering Is Pointless...Until the Need Is Reduced (PDF)
This editorial from the newspaper Animal People explains why building more shelters shouldn't be the first step to solving the pet overpopulation problem. First, a community needs to focus on effective spay/neuter, adoption, foster and humane education programs.
Recommended Book
Redemption is the story of animal sheltering in the United States, a movement that was born of compassion and then lost its way. It is the story of the "No Kill" movement, which says we can and must stop the killing. It is about heroes and villains, betrayal and redemption. And it is about a social movement as noble and just as those that have come before. But most of all, it is a story about believing in the community and trusting in the power of compassion.
Declaration of the No Kill Movement in the United States
Dog Adoption
Read these articles BEFORE you adopt!
What to Consider Before Adopting
Open Paw's Guide to the First Two Weeks With Your New Dog (PDF)
How to Make Your New Dog's Adoption Work For Life (PDF)
Dog Behavior
Read articles about common dog behavior issues by leaders in the field.
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) is a professional organization of individual dog trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through education. They promote professional trainers to the veterinary profession and increase public awareness of dog friendly training techniques. The APDT site includes a searchable database of dog trainers.
Dr. Ian Dunbar is the Director of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior in Berkeley, California. He was a founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, an organization with thousands of members. His work extends to every aspect of dog training. He's created many dog training books and videos. He has given hundreds of workshops, hosted TV shows, and won numerous awards. Ian Dunbar's emphasis on kind, positive approaches – based on what dogs are really like – has revolutionized the field.
Dog Star Daily is a dynamic, web-based, multi-media dog-training learning center.
Questions & Answers from Turid Rugaas. The questions span from any problem a dog owner may experience to curiousity about dog behavior, and Turid brilliantly shares with us her wisdom and life-long experience.
Founded in 1910, the Dumb Friends League is a national leader in providing humane care to lost and abandoned animals, rescuing sick, injured and abused animals, adopting pets to new homes, helping pets stay in homes, and educating pet owners and the public about the needs of companion animals. They offer pet behavior information and advice.
The Animal Behavior Center is a division of ASPCA National Programs, located in Urbana, IL. They offer a variety of educational services, including graduate and post-graduate programs for aspiring companion animal behaviorists; continuing education for animal trainers, veterinarians and other professionals; pet behavior research for the scientific community, and sound, practical advice for local area pet owners.
Puppy Mills
Learn more about the "for profit" industry contributing to the homeless dog problem
How Much is that Doggie in the Window SUFFERING? (PDF)
Animal Sheltering Magazine, September-October 2006
Stop Puppy Mills
When we buy a pet or even shop at a store that sells puppies, we contribute to a heartless underground industry that forces dogs to spend their entire lives in cages constantly breeding to support consumer demand for puppies.
Spay Neuter
Spay/Neuter is the cornerstone of a successful lifesaving effort. Low-cost, high volume spay neuter will lead to fewer animals entering the shelter system.
Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet
By making sure that your pet can't have puppies or kittens, you'll have peace of mind that his or her offspring won't be euthanized in an animal shelter.
What You Should Know About Spaying and Neutering
Every year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens, are needlessly destroyed. The good news is that every pet owner can make a difference. By having your dog or cat surgically sterilized, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens and enhance your pet's health and quality of life.
Are mandatory spaying and neutering laws an enforceable or practical idea?
The Dark Side of Mandatory Laws: Why Punitive Legislation Fails (PDF)
Fostering
Thinking about fostering a dog?
Read Fostering 101 (PDF)
Animal Sheltering Magazine, September-October 2006
