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Why Adopt a Rescue Dog? Please remember, we are a volunteer NON-Profit Public Charity 501(c)3, tax deductible organization.
I looked at the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry. "God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?" God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly. "I have done something," he replied, "I created you." ~Jim Willis 1999
Education people, EDUCATION!! Let's
pray that 2009 spares more lives than the 11 million killed this year...
A Letter from a Shelter
Manager:
I think our society needs a huge "
Wake-up" call.
As a shelter manager, I am going
to share a little insight with you all. ..a view from the inside if you
will.
First off, all of you
breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter
for just one day.
Maybe if you saw the life drain
from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you
would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't
even know. That puppy you just sold
will most likely end up in my shelter when
it's not a cute little puppy anymore.
So how would you feel if you knew
that there's about a 90% chance that
dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at?
Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner
surrenders" or "strays" that come
into my shelter are purebred dogs.
The most common excuses I hear are;
"We are moving and we can't take
our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets
and why did you choose that place
instead of a pet friendly home?
Or they say "The dog got bigger
than we thought it would". How big
did you think a German Shepherd would get?
"We don't have time for her".
Really? I work a 10- 12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs!
"She' s tearing up our yard".
How about making her a part of your family?
They always tell me: "We just
don't want to have to stress about finding a
place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog."
Odds are your pet won't get
adopted & how stressful do you think being in
a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a
new family from the moment you drop
it off. Sometimes a little longer if the
shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy.
If it sniffles, it dies.
Your pet will be confined to a
small run/kennel in a room with about 25
other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where
it eats and sleeps.
It will be depressed and it will
cry constantly for the family that
abandoned it.
If your pet is lucky, I will have
enough volunteers in that day to take
him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention
besides having a bowl of food slid
under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out
of its pen with a high-powered hose.
If your dog is big, black or any
of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much
dead when you walked it through the
front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted.
It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or
'well behaved' they are. If your dog
doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is
full, it will be destroyed.
If the shelter isn't full and your
dog is good enough, and of a desirable
enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long.
Most dogs get very kennel
protective after about a week and are destroyed
for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this
environment.
If your pet makes it over all of
those hurdles chances are it will get
kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed
because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100
treatment.
Here's a little euthanasia 101 for
those of you that have never witnessed
a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down"....
First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk - happy, wagging their tails.
Until, they
get to "The Room", every one of them freak out and put the
brakes on when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they
can feel the sad souls that are left
in there, it's strange, but it happens
with every one of them.
Your dog or cat will be
restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending
on the size and how freaked out they are.
Then a euthanasia tech or a vet
will start the process. They will
find a vein in the front leg and inject a
lethal dose of the "pink stuff".
Hopefully your pet doesn't panic
from being restrained and jerk. I've
seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the
resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams.
They all don't just "go to sleep",
sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp
for air and defecate on themselves.
When it all ends, your pet's
corpse will be stacked like firewood
in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals
that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage.
What happens next?
Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never
know and it probably won't even
cross your mind. It was just an
animal and you can always buy another one, right?
I hope
that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and
can't get the pictures out of your
head I deal with everyday on the way home
from work.
I hate my job, I hate that it
exists & I hate that it will always
be there unless you people make some changes and
realize that the lives you are affecting go much further than the
pets you dump at a shelter.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals
die every year in shelters and only
you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are
always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there
are homes.
My point to all of this: DON'T
BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!
Hate me if you want to. The truth
hurts and reality is what it is.
I just hope I maybe changed one
person's mind about breeding their
dog, taking their loving pet to a
shelter, or buying a dog.
I hope that someone will walk into
my shelter and say "I saw this and it
made me want to adopt." THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT!
PLEASE FORWARD, CROSS POST, CIRCULATE TO
YOUR CONTACTS!!!!
________________ How Could You? ~ Jim Willis When I was a puppy I entertained you with my antics and made you
laugh. You called me your child and despite a number of chewed shoes and a
couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was
"bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" -- but then you'd
relent and roll me over for a belly rub. ________________ EXTREMELY SAD National Figures:
10,000 -
The
number of people born in the
How & Why Do Labs Go to Shelters? Labs are the most popular breed in America and have been for the past few years. They have an excellent reputation for being an all around great family dog. However, some people purchase a Lab without learning about the time, training and lifetime commitment the dog requires. The
following important statistics complied by the Animal Welfare Association
illustrate why & how Labs come into our rescue program. 22% Owner lack of commitment/dog's behavior due to lack of training or adequate exercise 20% Owner lack of commitment/no time for dog 19% Human's health (including allergies) 16% Humans moving 10% Owner lack of commitment/unclaimed stray, no permanent identification on dog 6% Divorce 5% Dog's health 1% Owner cannot afford to keep dog/lost home/misc. financial reasons 1% other ______________________
Stray's Prayer
Dear God, please send me somebody who'll care! My
last owner tied me all day in the yard
They've chased me with sticks and hit me with stones, If
you find one for me God, I'll try to be good,
Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry, Unknown
Black Dog Syndrome
Statistics show black dogs, in general, regardless of their size or disposition are euthanized far more frequently than lighter colored dogs? Is it because they look meaner? or that they do not photograph as easily? or simply because of superstitions or prejudices that black dogs are not as loving & wonderful as lighter colored dogs? We are not sure of the true reasons for this horrifying statistic but many in canine rescue are working to overcome the Black Dog Syndrome. Thanks to www.blackpearldogs.com for the: Top Ten Reasons to Adopt a Black Dog Reason Number Ten: We cannot clash with your furniture or clothing (and some of you actually worry about that). Reason Number Nine: We cannot clash with any collar you might choose either! Ditto for the bandannas. Accessorize us! Reason Number Eight: Ease of vacuuming! You can quickly spot the areas of most urgent need. Reason Number Seven: We hide the dirt well (doesn't mean we don't need that bath after a messy play but your guests won't be able to see it so quickly). Reason Number Six: We make an excellent "backdrop" for a second lighter colored dog (if you choose to have one). Reason Number Five: Availability!!! We are available now at every shelter or rescue you can imagine, in every age bracket with no long waiting lists or difficult search. Reason Number Four: No annoying queries of "exactly what kind of dog is that anyhow?" People are content with "big black dog" and don't ask anymore questions. Reason Number Three: EXCELLENT night walk protection. The "bad guy" won't see us till its too late! Reason Number Two: Status symbol potential. Black pearls are the most costly you know...... Reason Number One: WE NEED YOU!
"If
Not For You" I
would've died that day if not for you.
We received this in the email, and felt we should share it with the public. This is a daily reality, not something to make you sad or angry, it's about REAL animals EVERY DAY! A Letter from a Shelter Manager:
I think our society needs a huge " Wake-up" call.
As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all. ..a view from the inside if you will.
First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day.
Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know. That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore.
So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays" that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.
The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets and WHY did you choose that place instead of a pet friendly home?
Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get?
"We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10- 12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs!
"She' s tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family INSIDE?
They always tell me: "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog."
Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies.
Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps.
It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it.
If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.
If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, RETRIEVER, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted.
It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are. If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed.
If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long.
Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment.
If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.
Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down"....
First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk - happy, wagging their tails. Until, they get to "The Room", every one of them freak out and put the brakes on when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them.
Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are.
Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff".
Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams.
They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.
When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage.
What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?
I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.
I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much further than the pets you dump at a shelter.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.
My point to all of this: DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!
Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is.
I just hope I maybe changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog.
I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt." THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT!
PLEASE FORWARD, CROSS POST, CIRCULATE TO YOUR CONTACTS!!!!
Education people, EDUCATION!! Let's pray that 2009 spares more lives than the 11 million killed this year... "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." ~ Edmund Burke
PET SHOP PUPPY I'm a little puppy,
so cuddly, sweet and small Why should I adopt? If you have room in your home and in your heart for a new dog or cat, adopting makes sense for lots of reasons. Here are just four of them: 1. You will be saving a life. Even if you adopt from an organization that has a no-kill policy, you will be helping to rescue another animal by making space available at the shelter. 2. You will be saving money because adoption costs less than buying an animal from a pet shop or a breeder. 3. By adopting rather than buying a new companion animal, you will reduce the demand that drives the commercial breeding of puppies and kittens. Each year, millions of healthy and well-behaved animals are destroyed in shelters simply because there are not enough homes for all of them. 4. If you adopt a young adult or older pet, you can avoid many of the domestic hassles related to house-training and teething. Puppies and kittens are cute, but they require lots of attention, training, patience … and newspapers!
An older dog might fit in better with your loyal old
So, there are plenty of good reasons to adopt your next pet, but probably the best reason to adopt a dog or cat is that you just might meet your best friend. Where can I adopt? You may already know of several shelters and rescue organizations near where you live. If not, here are a few suggestions: 1. The municipal animal control shelter or local humane society is a good place to start. If you don’t know where it is, call your local police and ask for the name and location of the facility or organization that handles stray animal problems in your community. 2. Many animal rescue organizations hold regular adoption days at pet supply outlets. Most of the larger and more enlightened pet supply stores don’t sell dogs and cats at all. Instead, they partner with the humane community in promoting pet adoptions. Check your Yellow Pages for pet supply stores or feed stores near you. 3. Some rescue groups specialize in specific breeds of dogs and cats. So if you have your heart set on a Jack Russell, a German shepherd, or a fluffy Persian cat, you can adopt one through a breed rescue organization. What else do I need to know? Health ~ If you already have a dog or cat at home, make sure that your new pet has a clean bill of health from a vet before exposing your other animals to any risk. This is particularly important if you adopt from a municipal shelter, where veterinary care is usually minimal. Most private rescue organizations will guarantee the health of your new pet and will see to it that the animal has been tested for any contagious diseases, received the necessary shots, and been spayed or neutered before you take him or her home. Spay/Neuter ~ If your new pet is not already fixed, you’ll want to make sure to arrange for spay/neuter as soon as possible. Information about low-cost spay/neuter services in your area is available by dialing 1-800-248-SPAY or visiting www.spayusa.org. Children ~ A new pet in the house is an exciting event for youngsters, but don’t let their enthusiasm turn into a nightmare for you or the new animal. Being pulled from under the bed by eager little hands or being flopped on by a child is very distressing to most animals, and especially for those in unfamiliar surroundings. Their only recourse is to scratch, snap, or run. Two out of three of these natural responses are likely to land them back in the shelter, which is hardly fair. Teach your children to respect animals as they would any other playmate. If their new pet doesn’t want to play for now, teach your children to leave him or her alone. Behavior ~ While your new pet may turn out to be the perfect lady or gentleman from day one, it is more likely that he/she will take a little while to adjust to new surroundings and routines. Be patient. Be positive. Where can I get more information? For more information on basic pet care, training and behavior, visit the “You and Your Pets” section of the Best Friends website at www.bestfriends.org. The following books can also be helpful to you: • Second-Hand Dog: How to Turn Yours into a First-Rate Pet by Carol Lea Benjamin • The
• Child-Proofing Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Dog for the Children in Your Life by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson • How to Get Your Cat to Do What You Want by Warren and Fay Eckstein • Cat Love: Understanding the Needs and Nature of Your Cat by Pam Johnson • Twisted Whiskers: Solving Your Cat’s Behavior Problems by Pam Johnson If you need additional advice, you can try a behavior helpline, a professional trainer or a behaviorist. Check out the resource called “Behavior Helplines” in the “You and Your Pets” section of the Best Friends website. Behaviors like chewing, digging, and separation anxiety are just as common in dogs who come with a fine pedigree from a pet store or breeder as they are in mutts who have been rescued. Most behavior problems can be straightened out with patient and consistent application of a few simple training techniques.
Disposable? I was born in the
summer a few years ago;
I AM FAMOUS I was born today One of 10. My daddy was very famous. I have lots of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous. Since she got famous, she has only had puppies. No more loving hands, no more fun trips just puppies. She is always sad when they leave her. I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mama and my three littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one day they said I would be famous. I wonder; is famous the same as fun and good times? So you picked me up and carried me away, even though you were concerned about me hiding from you. I don't think you liked me. My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says BE BRAVE. My ancestors were. Did they go to good homes like mine? I'm hungry because I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't bite or snap when the children are mean to me. I just run and play and pretend I am in a big green field with butterflies and robins and frogs. I can't understand why they kick me. I am quiet, but the man hits and says loud things. The lady doesn't feed me good things like I had with my mother. She just throws dry food on the ground, then goes away before I can get too close for touching and petting. Sometimes my food smells Bad but I eat it anyway. Today I had 10 puppies. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could play with them, but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this hole under the house nursing my puppies. They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and worry my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty. I now have eight. Two got cold during the night and I couldn't make them warm again. They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them out on the porch, we can get some food. Today they took us away. It was too much trouble to feed us and someone came to take us away. Someone grabbed my puppies, they were crying and whimpering. We were put in a truck with boxes in it. Are my babies famous now? I hope so, because I miss them. They are gone. The place smelled of urine, fear and sickness. Why was I here? I was beautiful, like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted. Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came though I tried to be good. Today someone came. They put a rope on my neck and led me to a room that was very clean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table. Someone held me and hugged me. It felt so good!!! Then I felt tired and laid over the last one who cared. I AM FAMOUS NOW. Today someone cared.
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Love of Labs LOLIN, INC. If you're looking for a Lab to love, look for Love of Labs, we are making a difference one Lab at a time! a 501(c)3 Public Charity Organization
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