van Layne Working Dobermans Blog

Animal Shelters

Sunday, October 5th, 2008 | Uncategorized

Before I go on…I just want to make it clear that I am not looking for sympathy, I just feel like this is something that I need to write about….so I am going to. It might get lengthy…and this post probably will not be for the faint of heart, so…stop now if that is you.

So I have gone to our local animal shelter a few times over the last couple weeks and done community service. If you have never been to a “kill” shelter…honestly, go volunteer. I know that some of you are probably thinking that I am crazy for saying that….but it truly is an eye opener. I think that in my mind I totally underestimated how many pets are brought to/adopted from/euthanized at shelters every week. I knew it happened, and it really saddens to me to think about….so I guess I just didnt. (Or I at least tried not to) Out of sight, out of mind….right? How sick and selfish is that?

moving on…

My first day there I honestly had no idea what to expect. I kind of blindly went into this head first. I am an animal lover, I cry when I hear about people losing their pets, I cry when I see dogs being rescued on animal planet…I can’t help it, I just do. I just did my best to walk in with an open mind.

(I am struggling for words here…there is so much that I want to say but I don’t exactly know how to say it….just try to bear with me)

I will start out with a few quick facts about this particular animal shelter:

Last year, they euthanized over 4,000 pets. They adopted out just over 1,000.

They accept owner surrenders for a $5 fee or $25 fee for a litter of puppies or kittens.

They adopt out altered dogs and cats for only $30.

All you have to do is be 18 years old, have cash or a debit card, and sign a piece of paper to adopt an animal.

Dogs and cats are kept 7-10 days on average before being euthanized.

Every Friday is euthanasia day.

They do not adopt out young puppies (birth to about 4-5 months old) because of the chance of parvo. (Which has anywhere from a 5-14 day incubation period) In other words, all puppies are euthanized with no chance of adoption. (This week there were 3 litters there with “X’s” on their cards. ) They were not there today. This is not including all the “single” puppies.

Okay, back to my story. Within the first 20 minutes I was there there were 2 dogs being surrendered. TWO dogs in 20 minutes! Both very sweet dogs. One was surrendered because he “dug holes in the yard”. It seriously took everything in me to keep from blurting out something really horrible and awful. Have you even petted him or taken him for a walk in the last year? Does he LIVE outside? This was a young male long coated dog of some muttly variety. He actually had a beautiful coat, it was kind of a copper color. He had a very happy expression and dark black round eyes. The guy lied and said he was neutered. Being the facetious bitch that I am….I stuck my hands under his rear end….parted the fur….. and said….uh, no…..he isn’t. Why do people lie???? I just don’t understand it.

Later that afternoon, a girl came in crying…..she had adopted a dog about a week before that and was going to return it. She didnt feel like the dog was bonding to her and just didnt really know what to do. She handed over about $200 worth of vet bills, shot records, information (she had obviously been responsible and taken the dog to a vet for a full physical and shots) she said to please pass on the information to her next family and that she would like the dog to keep the nice new collar and leash that she bought for her. The shelter was really busy at this point, so I kind of crept in and sat down next to the girl while she waited on them to pull all the paperwork, answer phones and talk to the other 5 people standing there asking questions. I suggested we go and get the dog out of her car and that I would take it in for her (a common practice) When we went to the car, the dog was obviously a little nervous and didnt want to come out. As soon as this girl spoke to her, she seemed to calm down a little and even though I was walking her, she was almost in a perfect heel next to this woman. I said “look at that…I think she wants to be with YOU” We talked a little about how stressful it is for a dog to go into a shelter situation, and how it can sometimes take time for a dog to “bond”. Some of these dogs may have never known trust in their life. They may have never had a “human” of their own. We went back in and sat down. I sat next to her with the dog, and we talked some more. When the paperwork was finished and she was set to go…she said you know what “I think I made a mistake, I think I want to keep her” (I thought I was going to start crying…I am a sap…I know this) She worked it out with the shelter and came over and talked to me some more. When she left, I feel like she had a different outlook about what her new dog has been through and that it might just take a little bit of time and effort to get her past it. I tried REALLY hard not to make it sound like sunshine and rainbows…but to just be honest. I think she understood. I really hope that she decides to keep her forever and is able to provide her with a good home for the rest of her life. She really did seem like a responsible person.

Another dog that really sticks in my mind (and tugged at my heartstrings) from last week was a 1 year old pitbull/lab mix. It was about 6:15pm (the shelter closes at 7, but only accepts adoptions and surrenders until 6:30) a young couple came in with their dog and said they had to give her up…they were deploying and could not find anyone to take her. Her name was “Sasha”. This poor dog was so confused. She looked like she was in great condition, she was as sweet as could be, was trying to get back to her “owners” (if you can even call them that) She just looked like someones loved pet. Her coat was shiny and black, and she had kind of a wrinkled little nose. She was well behaved, and just wanted to be petted and loved on. Who could give up this kind of pet and just walk away??? They said “I am sure she will be adopted fast, she is a great dog” and left. How??? Why??? I sat on the bench and loved on her for a few minutes before taking her back to her new “home”. It broke my heart.

One thing that I will say for this shelter is that they keep it very clean. The staff truly seems to care about the animals, and they try to keep their conditions clean and sanitary. This was something that I honestly did not expect. Why? I don’t know…I just didn’t.

The General Public is not allowed back in the kennels, they can view the first row through glass windows, and there is a searchable computer database of current dogs that the public can view. If they see a dog that they like, they can ask the shelter staff and someone will bring the dog out to them so that they can interact with them. But the “front row” seems to be where dogs are picked from. It kind of reminds me of the “who’s that puppy in the window” If you arent on the front row, your chances are not as good. Dogs are moved up to the “front row” by date.

This was another thing that I had a hard time with. (These seem so petty…I know….but how do you NOT think about it?) If a dog gets adopted from the front row, I always ask if I can go ahead and move another one up there. I mean, why have an empty spot there…that is where the public goes first. But if there are 4 dogs with the same date, how do you pick? Do you pick the cutest one? Just hoping that he or she gets adopted fast so that you can move another up? Do you pick the oldster, the proven pet….the one who deserves to live out their life on someones couch? Do you pick the sweetest one? The one that would make a great pet for a family? Do you pick the poor pit bull….even though there are already 4 other pit bulls just like him on the front row? Do you not give him a chance to? I just cant help but think these things. My heart tugs a little each time I move one. I just feel like their chances are better on the “front row” and how do you choose? Am *I* playing a small part in who makes it past Friday and who doesnt? I don’t WANT that responsibility…It weighs to much on my heart. But you have to pick someone.

Coming back today … well today is Saturday. Friday is euthanasia day. I wanted to say (SO MANY TIMES TODAY) “What happened to the pug” or “did that sweet little lab get adopted”? I didn’t go on Friday. I can’t ask. I don’t want to know. Is that wrong?

This shelter has SEVERAL freezers in the kennel area. I never asked about them, but it was VERY VERY CLEARLY explained that volunteers are NOT to open those freezers for ANY REASON WHATSOEVER. NEVER. Not if you are on fire are you to open those freezers. I don’t want to open those freezers…I don’t need to….I know what is in them. It gives me a spooky feeling even walking past them. You have to walk past them though, they are surrounding the kennel area. They line the walls on one side.

Back to the dog that the “deploying couple” dropped off last week…Sasha… She is on the third row. She is a large black dog, and it is a well known fact that large black dogs often get “overlooked” in shelters. It is also a fact that homes with “large black dogs” are less often broken into. I think there is a relation there….People are scared of large black dogs.

Anyway, a couple was there today looking at a young beagle, maybe 7 months old. The husband really liked him, but the wife was not as impressed. The super high energy, the barking, the puppy craziness… I had just finished adopting out a dog and noticed them. They were in the “viewing area” (which is actually just a row of outdoor covered kennels with benches in them….it is much nicer than it sounds though) anyway, they were in the kennel run right next to the one I had been in with the mother/son I had just finished with. The director came out and said “5 more minutes” we are almost ready to close for the day….so it is time to make a decision. I talked to them for a minute and said….”can I bring a dog out for you to meet” I gave a brief description and they agreed to meet her. I brought her out, and she was slinking along very submissively…very very stressed. It never fails, when you bring a dog into the back, or take one out from the back…they freak. It is just overwhelming the amount of barking, the smell, the stress…it just not a happy place for them.

Anyway, I brought her out to the “viewing area” where they were waiting. The husband was in one kennel run with the beagle pup and the wife and I were in the next run with “sasha” the big black lab/pit mix. I sat down on the bench and kind of drew her closer to us. Petted her, gave her a kiss on the nose and explained what a nice dog she seemed to be. I told them about her “situation” and told them what I knew about her. By this time, it was closing time and decision time. The wife voiced her concerns with me, and we talked about the differences in this dog and the beagle pup. I am happy to say that Sasha got a home today. I gave them my home phone number…I offered to help them with training or just general dog questions. For some reason I really wanted to see her find a home…she just seemed like such a good dog that was going to go overlooked.

The beagle puppy will find a home…he is one of those “easily adoptable” dogs. But I am so happy that Sasha found a new family, I was worried for her.

Sasha’s new mom already called me to tell me that she was sitting next to them this evening enjoying ear scratches. It made me smile. It really made me understand….It may not make a difference on a large scale….but it made a difference for THAT dog.

5 out of 5 dogs that I showed today got adopted. It was a good day.

There is so much more that I want to write about this, and I will soon…but this has all just kind of put things into perspective for me.

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