The Untold Story of Shelter Dogs

What do Brooklyn, Kosmo, and Numi have in common?

They were adopted from shelters. They were returned to the shelter by their adopters shortly after their adoption. They’re all dead.

This is not a post meant to depress, but to raise awareness of a heart-wrenching reality that often goes unnoticed in the world of animal rescue: the plight of returned rescue/shelter dogs.

Did you know that six out of ten dogs adopted from a shelter are returned within two months?

For many people who decide to add a dog to their home, they opt to go the shelter route, because they “want to save a life.” But all too often, that altruistic desire backfires once they discover they are ill-equipped to deal with the needs of a shelter dog.

If you have ever been to a city or county shelter, there is no shortage of dogs, and the environment can best be described as “noisy and never sleeps.” Some dogs eventually adjust, while most don’t, and a new set of problems erupts.

Within this environment, the good-hearted John and Jane Does come to look for a dog. Many have no idea what kind of dog they want other than small or large, puppy or adult. They traverse the shelter aisles looking for the dog that “speaks to them” or they “have a connection” with, or they have emotionally fallen for the dog’s story/history.

They adopt the dog, and just like on Animal Planet, they happily walk to the car. All’s well until they get home. Some dogs adjust to their new homes within a few days, the majority take weeks or months. But, most Johns and Janes can’t wait that long. They want the perfect dog NOW.

They don’t understand that shelter dogs need time to decompress and get used to their surroundings on their timetable. Dogs are sentient beings who have emotions and memories. They don’t know if this new home is their forever home or if they’ll be abandoned, yet again.

Some dogs will be scared and hide under or behind furniture. Some will have accidents on the floor or furniture. Some won’t eat. Some don’t want to be touched. And if forced into an action or behavior that scares the dog, the dog may react and nip.

When that happens, 98 percent of the time, the dog is returned to the shelter. And now that the dog has a recorded bite history or behavioral problem, the dog goes to the top of the euthanasia list or is labeled, “rescue only.”

That’s what happened with Brooklyn, Kosmo and Numi.

If you are struggling with your newly adopted rescue dog, please don’t give up on them. Instead, reach out for help. Countless resources are available, from myself to training programs and behaviorists who specialize in working with rescue dogs.

If you are considering adopting a rescue dog, I urge you to learn as much as possible before taking the leap. Rescue dogs have an incredible capacity for love and resilience, but they also have their own set of challenges.

I adopted my German Shepherd, Ophelia, at age five years. Three and one-half years later, I’m still dealing with her mental demons from the first five years of her life.

If you are interested in adopting a rescue or purebred, I’d like to work with you to ensure that you adopt the perfect pup for your lifestyle and personality. Contact me at info@thepupmommy.com