Doggone Tired

I recently received my first “pawprint” pin, meaning I have completed over 200 hours of community service with the Humane Society. I was thrilled, but it is also bittersweet.

You see, every Saturday, I go to the Humane Society of the Pike’s Peak Region in an attempt to give back to the community. But often, I leave upset and even angered at the treatment of many of the animals there.

I participate in “TLC”-which stands for Twice Loved Canines. These are dogs with “behavioral” problems who we work to train to put back in the community. So, you envision a rowdy dog, one who needs a firm hand, right? Wrong. The majority of the dogs that are in the programs are skittish and fearful due to abuse. Week after week I work with these dogs, patiently having to train dogs to trust humans again, when quite honestly-dogs are the most trusting, loyal creatures on the face of the planet.

So many people in our community are cruel and careless with the lives of animals, and I see that hurt reflected in the eyes of so many dogs.

We have people come in and get frustrated because the HSPPR euthanizes dogs. You have to understand, there is no other way.

Typically, dogs that are euthanized are both sick and old, show signs of aggression that is harmful to others, or most commonly, they weren’t adopted in 8 months. Once they hit the 6 month mark, dogs are placed in the “lonely hearts” club. We place a sign to be viewed through the window, illustrating that they have been in the shelter for a long time. But ultimately, dogs that aren’t adopted within 4 months will not find homes.

So why euthanize them? Why not keep them in the shelter?

First, our funds are produced mainly through adoption fees or limited funding through the government. The fee you pay when you adopt an animal covers a portion of what it cost to keep them there. More “adoptable” dogs are given higher fees (ex: puppies) so that we can lower the fees on older dogs who may have more difficult times finding homes.

The longer an animal stays with us, the more they are taking funds from dogs that have a chance to get worked into the system and find homes. And honestly, would you want to continue living in a cramped space, scared as other dogs howl around you, and sometimes only get to be taken out once or twice a day? We have limited space, maxing out at about 300 dogs, 150 cats, 25 rabbits, turtles, or birds and maybe 50 rodents. The design of the kennels are solely for accommodating as many dogs as possible and functionality, as they are obviously neither spacious nor comfortable. They are meant as a usable living space for an animal for a limited amount of time.

The Humane Society is meant to be a temporary fix for a permanent problem… growing animal populations. We are not meant to be a boarding house for the duration of ANY animal’s life.

In the United States, 6-8 million animals enter the shelter system within a single year. That is more than the (human) ENTIRE NEW YORK CITY POPULATION. There are as many as 300,000 animals euthanized in Colorado per year. Do you see a predicament?

WE created the problem. We breed animals and abandoned them. We teach them dependence, and then desert them because life is “too stressful.” Most dogs are domesticated, and simply cannot live on the streets and fend for themselves.

So my advice?

First, a dog is a commitment-much like marriage or a child. Do not enter into the commitment unless you are prepared for the responsibility that comes with it.

Secondly, if something DOES come up, do NOT send your animal to a shelter. It is YOUR responsibility as your dog’s FAMILY to find them a HOME, not take them somewhere convenient for you. Don’t say, “Oh, Sally will get adopted. She’s a great dog!” Bullshit. Shelters can be stressful for dogs. They have limited human interaction, and you essentially deserted them. Sally isn’t going to be herself. She’s going to be scared and alone, and may not get adopted. Would you like it if your parents did that to you?

Finally, get your dogs FIXED. Yes, puppies are adorable, and breeders make good dough. But why would you want more animals to be continually brought into the world, when there are literally THOUSANDS starving? You want another dog? Great! Adopt one, and give them another chance at life. By fixing your dog, you are decreasing the amount of homeless pets, improving your pet’s health, and pretty much saving the world. (In my eyes!)

My rant is over, but remember… your dog depends on you for happiness, food, a home and family. You are his entire world, and that’s a great honor. Don’t let him down.

And as always, support your local shelter. We may be only a bandaid, a temporary fix, but we are trying to make a difference in these dogs’ lives.

“A person’s a person, no matter how small,” Horton Hears a Who.