[OwnedBySix]

I visited my local SPCA today to talk to and give some treats to the poor souls that end up there. (It is a high-kill shelter, and they do not foster out animals to make more room ) I passed a cage with both a border collie and a westie in it. Both old. I inquired at the desk...I knew if I could spring them, our local no-kill would help me with them, even if I fostered them. "Sorry these two were just dropped off with owner instructions to euthanize. We can't adopt them out."

Why on Earth would you have a dog for 10 plus years just to drop them off to be killed as they start to decline? Don't they deserve to at least have their last hours happy, as opposed to loud and strange and scary? Shame on you...an ad in the paper would have been free and I'd have taken them for the remainder of their lives. I hope you rot in hell, whoever you are

[Cheetah]

That is so cruel. That reminds me of how my grandmother got one of her cats... she was at the vet for another cat, and somebody brought in this gorgeous 4-year-old Himalayan and she overheard the owners say they wanted the cat "destroyed" because it was mean and they couldn't train it. My grandmother offered to take it. The cat (Muffin) didn't have a mean bone in her body, and lived to be like 15.

People just suck. >-.-< Why couldn't they have temperament tested the dog? *kicks them*

[opokki]

That is so sad. I always get upset when I see older dogs in the shelter. Some of the reasons listed for their surrender are just pathetic.

[NewfCrazy]

That's terrible!!!!! It makes me cry just to think about how confused those poor dogs must be.

I too feel so sorry for the older dogs in our local shelters, because even if its a no kill shelter, they are still going to spend their last days or even years there. There are not very many people willing to adopt the older dogs.

[Mastiffmom]

Our local Humane Society started a program called Seniors for Seniors. They match up older people w/ older dogs. It has worked out well! Alot of older people do so much better when they have a pet to care for and to keep their long days filled with companionship.

It is just heartwrenching to think of those poor sweet dogs put into this situation. I am with ownedby6, I hope there is a special place in hell for people who do this. They must have no heart anyways.

[dogluver101]

People drop off dogs at our shelter too. It is a no kill rescue (or I would not be there) but it is so sad. The dogs get so excited when someone walks by because they think it is there former owner coming to take them home when it is only the staff.

[Lorina]

Originally Posted by Mastiffmom

Our local Humane Society started a program called Seniors for Seniors. They match up older people w/ older dogs. It has worked out well! Alot of older people do so much better when they have a pet to care for and to keep their long days filled with companionship.

I soooo wish our local SPCA would do this. When I worked there, we had so many senior citizens come in and only want puppies... then return them a couple weeks later because the dog was too active.

[bigdawgs]

were there any health problems or a reason given as to why?

[OwnedBySix]

Originally Posted by bigdawgs

were there any health problems or a reason given as to why?

Reason given was "aging".

[bigdawgs]

That sux. If they were sick, I guess I could see it, but otherwise..grrrrrrrr

[rylasasin]

ok I may be overreacting, but I think not only should the guy who did this be shot (shoot him first), but then the people who run the SPCA place should be shot as well. This is every bit as much thier fault as it is the guy's. as such, I also think there should be a national standard (in other words, a set of rules, regulations, and procedures) for animal shelters all across america. I mean for gods sake some of these places may as well be called "pet concentration camps" instead of animal shelters. heres what I would have in mind for such a bill:

1. no more unneeded euthanization. that is, no more euthanization just to make room or for stupid excuses like "thier aging". there are exceptions of course, such as incurable sickness, extreme agression, etc. If an animal shelters carries out a requested euthanization without exaining the vailbility of the claim, they too must be charged with a crime. If the shelter is running out of room, it is suggested that the shelter hold a "sale" of sorts and drive the adoption costs down in hopes to stimulate adoptions.

2. standard of living must be improved. that is, all animals MUST have a soft place to sleep while in thier kennels. I know my dog I got just a few days ago suffers from "kennel burn". In top of this, dogs MUST be allowed at least X amount of hours outside (need some help filling in X). Failure to do this would count as animal abuse.

3. Prices for adoption can be no higher than $XXX dollars. again, a little help with X?

4. uh i'm out of ideas... any to add?

Like it or not, the animal shelters that kill freely are every single bit as responsible as the people that bring them there, if not more.

[OwnedBySix]

I agree, Ryl, the problem is...most people like 'us' (people who truly honestly care) wouldn't work in a high-shelter. It would hurt too much. So usually what we are left with is people who are just there for a paycheck. I know I couldn't work there and kill all these animals, but I do try to volunteer my time to go there and either walk the pups or just talk, pet, and give them a few treats. If nothing else, there was a bright spot in their day

Our shelter does not give beds or blankets either, just the hard concrete. That alone makes me want to cry.

On top of that, there has been a little elderly doxie in there for (COUNT WITH ME) FOURTEEN MONTHS. Why? "Pending a court case".

I have asked...no BEGGED to foster this little guy. But no...it is "against the law". What was worse? Whatever it is his owners are accused of, or torturing him slowly this way? Are they not equally destructive?? He has become so depressed he doesn't even respond to attention. He doesn't get up when I talk to him and try to pet him, his dish has been mostly full each time I've been there, and he has ignored every treat and chewie I could find. He is going to die of a broken heart...

[quanzee22]

This is really horrable. I can't believe that they would do that. I wish I could adopt them right now.

[Lorina]

I agree, Ryl, the problem is...most people like 'us' (people who truly honestly care) wouldn't work in a high-shelter. It would hurt too much. So usually what we are left with is people who are just there for a paycheck.

I used to work for a high-kill shelter, and I disagree that the people there are there for a paycheck. If they were, they'd be better off at McDonalds. The pay would be better. They do care about animals, very deeply. Everyone I knew who worked there had multiple pets of their own. I was the freak who only had two cats. Three by the time I left.

But I will say that they tended to have a much, much darker view of "the public" than most people. At every other job I had, they went by "the customer is always right" and you did what you could to please the customer. There, I (half) joked "the customer is always suspect." No one was ever taken at face value, and they had a deep distrust of everyone.

You also develop a very hard heart. Not because you don't care, but because you can't break down and cry every time something sad happens. You have to try to remain "professional," even if that means you have to duck into the bathroom to cry your eyes out. And you have to look at the big picture & do the math. One day when I was there, 87 animals were brought in. Seven were adopted that same day. As much as everyone hated euthing animals, you just had to look at the ones that were saved, and know you're doing what you can.

I wouldn't have been able to do it long-term. But my hat goes off to those who can. It's not easy putting your heart in a meat-grinder every day, but they do it.

[APBTgal]

come on guys u r making me cry.

[Ace Of Hearts]

I know! Everyone just wants a little puppy and then when they get old and big they just kick them out like sacks of dirt. It is inhumain to treat any living soul like such. GTH to those selfish jerks that murder the lives of those who loved you.

Oh and dogluver101, love the signature.

Emma

[KeiraBaby93]

wow, thats so mean, i agree with the if its old and close to dying and if u have to deop it off at a shelter then atleast give it a chance to live happy before it dyes....

[cshellenberger]

Bull! Once they are in the shelters possesion they can do whatever they want UNLESS there has been a serious bite. I know this because one ofhte dogs I seaved, a five year old Mastiff male with running sores was done the same way. The shelter contacted rescue and I evaluated and pulled him.

[poofywoof]

You can do more than be saddened by what you see in your local shelters.
You can become a member ( to have your vote on how things are done)
serve on the board ( to be involved with the decsion making)
donate much needed money ( to help fund much needed supplies and items)
volunteer your time/services ( to experience the whole story, and help)
As a board member of a shelter - I am constantly horrified by what humans do to their animals, and I don't mean just abuse. There is abandonment, neglect, isolation. Humans believe they are a higher intelligence than the animals, but after what I've seen, there are times I disagree.
Many people want to point fingers at the shelters for the way animals are housed and cared for. while there are surely shelters where animals are mistreated, most are run by people who care. The pay is low, and the job Sux!! minimum wage can be obtained anywhere, often they choose working at the shelter to try to do their part. Instead of hating the shelters, Help the shelter, Hate the previous owners of those animals!!!!!!! You might often be surprised who those prev. owners are too.

[petluver]

What is the matter with some people! And I don't understand if someone wanted to adopt them, why they couldn't. I don't think the owner should have the right to decide when they take them to a shelter, if they should be put down, or adopted. Makes me so sad!!!!!