09/21/2025
Buckle up for some hard truths.
Shelters across the US are in crisis. Many are so full they’ve had to stop taking animals.
This is not a shelter problem. It’s a community problem.
FACTS:
Animals are being surrendered and abandoned faster than they’re adopted.
They’re being bred faster than we can save them.
They’re being given up on faster than we can rehome them.
If your local shelter is overflowing or forced to euthanize for space, it isn’t because they don’t care. It’s because the community has to do better.
What can help?
✔ Education about behavior, socialization, dog body language, effective training methods and bite prevention
✔ Resources for families adding babies/kids to homes with dogs
✔ Pet food pantries & community support
✔ Low-cost spay/neuter, microchipping & TNR programs
✔ More fosters, adopters & volunteers
✔ Honest conversations about future care if pets outlive us
❌ Less backyard breeding and puppy mills
❌ Less housing breed restrictions
❌ Less irresponsible, fly by night "rescues"
❌ Less aversive trainers making behavior issues worse by suppressing communication and body language
We don’t need to blame shelters. We need to step up as communities.
Read my post on What If Your Animal Outlives You here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2023/09/18/pets-outlive-human/
Read my post on why behavior suppression isn't behavior modification (why not to use aversive training methods) here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2025/08/04/behavior-suppression/
Read my post on what to ask before adopting here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2025/09/15/before-adopting/
