Comments on: The Difficult Reality of Long-Term Care in Animal Shelters http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:32:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Sharon S. http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-2341 Sharon S. Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:07:29 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-2341 What you say in your article is very true and very sad. What you say in your article is very true and very sad.

]]> By: May http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1684 May Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:53:24 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1684 I am a volunteer for the Bay County Animal Control facility in Panama City, FL. Recently, an Irish Wolfhound was given up (the man wept) because the pregnant wife wanted her dog and not Bella. Bella was there nearly two months. She was so severely traumatized that she huddled in a corner, trembling all day long. When walked by volunteers, she wouldn't stop trembling. A week ago, she backed one of the staff into a corner. It looked bad for Bella, whom we were trying desperately to place into foster care with a rescue. Last Saturday a canine behaviorist who is a volunteer, took her out for the day. Bella came to visit us at Pet Supermarket and she was wonderful...confident, curious, happy. We thought we had a place for her, and they went to visit, but the woman wasn't home. When the volunteer took her back up to BCAC, someone who rescues large dogs (mastiffs) was waiting for her. Today, Bella should be at her new home in Louisiana. But surely, had she not been adopted she would have had her spirit broken and her psyche ruined. She would have ended up euthanized. And that would have been better for her. I am trying to place a little pit bull/Boston mix who ADORES children. He is obedient and exuberant and would make an excellent therapy dog - even a friend for a disabled child. He is running out of time and no one wants him because he's between 2-4. What a sadness that no one sees the golden heart under that plain, rather homely facade. I am a volunteer for the Bay County Animal Control facility in Panama City, FL. Recently, an Irish Wolfhound was given up (the man wept) because the pregnant wife wanted her dog and not Bella. Bella was there nearly two months. She was so severely traumatized that she huddled in a corner, trembling all day long. When walked by volunteers, she wouldn’t stop trembling. A week ago, she backed one of the staff into a corner.

It looked bad for Bella, whom we were trying desperately to place into foster care with a rescue. Last Saturday a canine behaviorist who is a volunteer, took her out for the day. Bella came to visit us at Pet Supermarket and she was wonderful…confident, curious, happy. We thought we had a place for her, and they went to visit, but the woman wasn’t home. When the volunteer took her back up to BCAC, someone who rescues large dogs (mastiffs) was waiting for her.

Today, Bella should be at her new home in Louisiana.

But surely, had she not been adopted she would have had her spirit broken and her psyche ruined. She would have ended up euthanized. And that would have been better for her.

I am trying to place a little pit bull/Boston mix who ADORES children. He is obedient and exuberant and would make an excellent therapy dog - even a friend for a disabled child. He is running out of time and no one wants him because he’s between 2-4. What a sadness that no one sees the golden heart under that plain, rather homely facade.

]]> By: Scott http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1662 Scott Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:27:20 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1662 It would make sense of course to have those who profit from our relationships with canines and felines to help pay for spay-neuter. A tax on sale of dog and cat food would generate substantial sums. The various "shelter assistance" programs of the food manufacturers are really just marketing for their own products and don't help animals much at all. But passing a tax at the federal level is virtually hopeless. A more realistic approach is to get county or state officials to add a surcharge of $2 or more to rabies vaccinations and/or license fees with the income restricted to spay-neuter programs for low-income families and homeless cats. See HelpingAnimals.com for info on how to pass legislation in your area! It would make sense of course to have those who profit from our relationships with canines and felines to help pay for spay-neuter. A tax on sale of dog and cat food would generate substantial sums. The various “shelter assistance” programs of the food manufacturers are really just marketing for their own products and don’t help animals much at all. But passing a tax at the federal level is virtually hopeless. A more realistic approach is to get county or state officials to add a surcharge of $2 or more to rabies vaccinations and/or license fees with the income restricted to spay-neuter programs for low-income families and homeless cats. See HelpingAnimals.com for info on how to pass legislation in your area!

]]> By: Ami http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1614 Ami Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:46:21 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1614 all this makes me want to become a veterinarian just so I can volunteer my time to spay and neuter animals that would otherwise go without being fixed. What we really need is federal funding for animal shelters to spay and neuter animals when they recieve them. all this makes me want to become a veterinarian just so I can volunteer my time to spay and neuter animals that would otherwise go without being fixed. What we really need is federal funding for animal shelters to spay and neuter animals when they recieve them.

]]> By: Pamela Coburn http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1590 Pamela Coburn Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:57:50 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1590 I have been a cat foster mom for a local humane group for the past two years and I also help at our spay/neuter clinics weekly. I see so many people who love their animals who haven't been able to afford to spay/neuter and our local shelter has no low cost program to help the community. The many local humane groups do what they can but it's never enough and there are very few veterinarians that step up to help. I think if we could get more Veterinarians and Technicians to volunteer even once or twice a year we could do so much more. We also need more people to foster we can only save those animals we have fosters for. I have been a cat foster mom for a local humane group for the past two years and I also help at our spay/neuter clinics weekly. I see so many people who love their animals who haven’t been able to afford to spay/neuter and our local shelter has no low cost program to help the community. The many local humane groups do what they can but it’s never enough and there are very few veterinarians that step up to help. I think if we could get more Veterinarians and Technicians to volunteer even once or twice a year we could do so much more. We also need more people to foster we can only save those animals we have fosters for.

]]> By: Tina Max http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1574 Tina Max Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:06:47 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1574 I agree with Patty, the federal/state/city/town governments need to be more financially supportive of shelters. Even when times are good, most funds need to be raised by volunteers, and there is only so much money that can be raised by this process. Government wastes sooo much money on trivial matters and perkes, when these funds could be used by the shelters. I think we need to apply more pressure. Currently we are in a bad economic situation, but again, even when times were good, a pittance if that, was geared toward the homeless animal shelters. I say get them to donate funds and then at least more of the animals could remain alive. I agree with Patty, the federal/state/city/town governments need to be more financially supportive of shelters. Even when times are good, most funds need to be raised by volunteers, and there is only so much money that can be raised by this process. Government wastes sooo much money on trivial matters and perkes, when these funds could be used by the shelters. I think we need to apply more pressure. Currently we are in a bad economic situation, but again, even when times were good, a pittance if that, was geared toward the homeless animal shelters. I say get them to donate funds and then at least more of the animals could remain alive.

]]> By: Jan http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1573 Jan Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:10:46 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1573 Dearr Scott, Your points are very salient and need to be addressed as vigorously as we pursue ant-factory farming efforts. Breeding is little more than factory farming for companion animals. I see the spay and neuter programs and a moratorium on pet stores and breeders as the only sane and effective solution to control the end product of animal overpopulations, suffering, and abandonment. Breeding is particularly heinous as it is a deliberate act of profiteering on the backs of animlas who ultimately suffer as result of overpopulation. Breeders are monsters that promote breeds as better than a naturally interbred dog. Remind us of any theories on the " superior race"? Jan Dearr Scott,
Your points are very salient and need to be addressed as vigorously as we pursue ant-factory farming efforts. Breeding is little more than factory farming for companion animals.
I see the spay and neuter programs and a moratorium on pet stores and breeders as the only sane and effective solution to control the end product of animal overpopulations, suffering, and abandonment. Breeding is particularly heinous as it is a deliberate act of profiteering on the backs of animlas who ultimately suffer as result of overpopulation. Breeders are monsters that promote breeds as better than a naturally interbred dog. Remind us of any theories on the ” superior race”?
Jan

]]> By: Sheila http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1553 Sheila Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:07:43 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1553 Unfortunately, prominent people such as Vice-President Elect Biden chose to buy a dog from a breeder. This, of course , sets a bad example for our country. Hopefully, President Obama will not make the same mistake. Unfortunately, prominent people such as Vice-President Elect Biden chose to buy a dog from a breeder. This, of course , sets a bad example for our country. Hopefully, President Obama will not make the same mistake.

]]> By: Anna Chott http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1552 Anna Chott Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:43:26 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1552 I've volunteered at an animal shelter for years, and I find that most of the situations of our cats and dogs are the opposite of some mentioned above. Many of the cats (and maybe dogs too, but I mostly work with the cats) come in with fleas, sores, bad temperaments, and so on. And with veterinary care and the attention of the staff and volunteers, they always improve drastically. There was one cat in particular, named Daniel, who came in covered in fleas and scabs from scratching the fleas. He spent weeks hiding under the bed in his cage, not coming out except to eat and drink. And now he gets along perfectly with the other cats and is one of the sweetest cats ever! I don't think the shelter I volunteer at would ever turn away a cat, and they would only euthanize them if the vet recommended it. When we run out of room we set up cages in the lounge, or some of the workers may take home a cat. Maybe not all shelters are like this, but I really don't think they are all that terrible for animals to live at for long periods of time. I’ve volunteered at an animal shelter for years, and I find that most of the situations of our cats and dogs are the opposite of some mentioned above. Many of the cats (and maybe dogs too, but I mostly work with the cats) come in with fleas, sores, bad temperaments, and so on. And with veterinary care and the attention of the staff and volunteers, they always improve drastically.
There was one cat in particular, named Daniel, who came in covered in fleas and scabs from scratching the fleas. He spent weeks hiding under the bed in his cage, not coming out except to eat and drink. And now he gets along perfectly with the other cats and is one of the sweetest cats ever!
I don’t think the shelter I volunteer at would ever turn away a cat, and they would only euthanize them if the vet recommended it. When we run out of room we set up cages in the lounge, or some of the workers may take home a cat. Maybe not all shelters are like this, but I really don’t think they are all that terrible for animals to live at for long periods of time.

]]> By: Caitlynn J. McNelly http://prime.peta.org/2009/01/the-difficult-reality-of-long-term-care-in-animal-shelters/comment-page-1#comment-1551 Caitlynn J. McNelly Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:39:17 +0000 http://prime.peta.org/?p=1365#comment-1551 You raise a good point. No-one wants to see an animal put down. Unless that animal is old and/or suffering, let's face it, there is nothing "humane" about killing. I think, the problem wholly boils down to making and enforcing laws about overpopulation. Having said that, there SHOULD be LAWS introduced to MANDATE spaying & neutering. People have had plenty of time to UNDERSTAND what Breeding and overpopulating of Pets are doing to the Animals. If they refuse to co-operate-they should have to pay a HUGE FINE. After all, we are talking about lives. We get Fined if we Speed or don't pay our Taxes, don't we? No-One asks, "Did you not understand"? You still have to obey the law for the greater good, agree with it or not. Bottom line, the focus now NEEDS to be on getting laws passed. (Most "Breeders" want the money and no amount of "education" will stop making them greedy) By making it illegal, paying a fine, and having a criminal record, THAT might have an Impact. It also might HELP to "BAN" all of these Dog Shows. This only gives them an "Excuse" to keep having puppies! You raise a good point. No-one wants to see an animal put down. Unless that animal is old and/or suffering, let’s face it, there is nothing “humane” about killing. I think, the problem wholly boils down to making and enforcing laws about overpopulation. Having said that, there SHOULD be LAWS introduced to MANDATE spaying & neutering. People have had plenty of time to UNDERSTAND what Breeding and overpopulating of Pets are doing to the Animals. If they refuse to co-operate-they should have to pay a HUGE FINE. After all, we are talking about lives. We get Fined if we Speed or don’t pay our Taxes, don’t we? No-One asks, “Did you not understand”? You still have to obey the law for the greater good, agree with it or not. Bottom line, the focus now NEEDS to be on getting laws passed. (Most “Breeders” want the money and no amount of “education” will stop making them greedy) By making it illegal, paying a fine, and having a criminal record, THAT might have an Impact. It also might HELP to “BAN” all of these Dog Shows. This only gives them an “Excuse” to keep having puppies!

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