No One Came

What do these dogs have in common?

They were all dumped by their owners at a shelter.

They were all euthanized.

From Left to Right:

Honey, 14 yrs old. Yes, you read that right, dumped at 14 years old. Why? Because a child acted out at a family gathering and the dog nipped, probably out of fear.

Knotty, 2 yrs old. Dumped because he’s fearful.

Rip Roy, 1 yr old. He was heartworm positive, and too much trouble.

Milo, 2 yrs old. The owner never bothered to train him and he was a handful.

According to a recent study, less than 10% of the dogs who enter shelters walk out alive. So when people surrender their pups and say, think, “oh, they’re good dogs, they’ll get adopted.” Chances are that their pups will end up like this:

and not like this:

At the time of this writing, we’re in the midst of the “puppy for Christmas” “adopt, don’t shop” season. But too many people make hasty decisions without understanding that the pup they adopt from a shelter “because we want to save a life” may bring with it its own set of challenges, that the average human is unprepared for and didn’t consider.

Many of the pups at a shelter or rescue may be dogs who have never known a home, a kind word, a kind hand. They, like the pups featured, may be dumped from the only home they’ve ever known because their owners are moving, being deployed, etc., and then shut down in a kennel. They become shy, stressed, and are often overlooked by potential adopters.

Or in some cases, the dogs may be completely out of control. In a recent study conducted by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) as to why people surrender their dogs, 96% of the dogs surrendered had no training at all. Zero. Zilch.

When considering whether to adopt a dog into your home or family, consider whether 1) you can afford the cost of ownership, including an unexpected vet bill; 2) whether you have the time for the dog — to train it, to care for it; 3) whether you have the emotional commitment necessary to own a dog. If patience is not one of your strong points, then don’t adopt a rescue or shelter dog. Don’t adopt any dog.

Dogs are not trends, they are not toys. They have emotions — they feel joy, excitement, sorrow, pain, anxiety, depression. Adoption can and should be one of the most rewarding decisions of your life, and you’ll find no better pal than a dog who is loved and gives you its devotion.

Reward that devotion. Give, Adopt, wisely. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t let this happen to the dog.