08/11/2025
For the last 25 years, every day, I’ve been working with people and their pups to keep the pups from going back to the shelter or breeder. Sometimes we start at 8 wo, sometimes it’s a newly adopted dog. Sometimes people start at adolescence or later in their training. It’s still doable.
I’ve done my time in the shelter. It’s a stressful environment for the animals because it’s loud, it smells, there aren’t a lot of choices or opportunities for freedom. Stangers pass by the kennels throughout the day looking in at “the poor dog” who resides in a run until they are adopted. They get outdoor time and walks and hopefully playdates with other shelter dogs. Dogs are the more social animals at shelters and it’s easier to provide them with enrichment, training, field trips, and playdates. Shelters are full of caring people who want the best for the animals in their care. Not one of the animals in the shelter would have chosen to be there. All shelter animals would do better in a foster care environment. But fosters have limits too.
People bring their animals to shelters for financial reasons, relocation, allergies, or pets not getting along, to name a few reasons. They sign over ownership, and decision making to the shelter. When the animal is in their care, and they do care!, sometimes tough decisions have to be made, most often due to behavioral concerns or failure to thrive. This is a very personal decision and one that takes many minds, but most importantly, the animals well being. This is what happens at “no kill shelters” where 90% of the animals are rehomed. At times an animal is suffering emotionally or is too aggressive to put out into the public. If only those farms of our childhood really existed. TWKK.
Please put your emotions aside and look at the big picture. Euthanasia is never taken lightly. No one is euthanizing for the hell of it. Your criticism is a dagger. Better yet, go volunteer and do your part to make the lives of others a little bit better and reduce the brunt of the work for those that do it everyday. Orherwise, donate supplies and/or money. I guess, this is my ted talk…..
