http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/10/10/gaschambers_1011.html
State breaks own law on gassing pets

By D.L. BENNETT (dbennett@ajc.com)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/10/07

A Fulton County judge has found the state Department of Agriculture in contempt for approving the use of a gas chamber to kill unwanted pets at the Cobb County animal shelter.

Superior Court Judge Tom Campbell says he will remove the contempt citation if the department rescinds its approval of Cobb's gas chamber.
It's a sad read, people really do need to understand the importance of spay/neuter....
:mad:

Just change it to "unwanted humans" and it suddenly becomes more sinister and easier to understand.

Besides, my pets are a damn sight nicer and more intelligent than most humans anyway!

Besides, my pets are a damn sight nicer and more intelligent than most humans anyway!

Took the words right out of my mouth!

That's absolutely horrible :sad:

I wish I could expose irresponsable pet owners to life at the shelter and have them see what I see every day;

Cats being pulled from adoption because their time is up, being carted down the hall on a trolly in metal cages and put in the euthanasia room where they will be sedated in the morning and put down in the early afternoon. Hearing their cries from that room when I walk through receiving...

Animals that are sick and neglected, starving and abused beyond repair who never had a chance.

And then outside to our creamatorium where hundreds of cats and dogs are put into the giant furnace that runs all day and at times emits a god awful smell.

Everyday I'm angry when I look at the incoming animals list and the reasons why they ended up there. Like the cat that was adopted and returned the following week because it meowed too much :mad:

I still believe there should be licenses for pets. Not for the pet itself, but for the owner. More of a permit. A sadly large number of people aren't worthy of the life-enhancing gifts a pet can bring them.

If we ever manage to nuke ourselves to death and the dogs & cats & other animals take over the world...I honestly think it might not be such a bad thing.

Humans are the only animals capable of creating both great joy and great suffering...

You wanna know what's even worse than this? The State of North Carolina allows gas chambers...

:mad:

Honestly people need to wake up, there are thousands of dogs and cats euthanized every day....

Spay/Neuter

You wanna know what's even worse than this? The State of North Carolina allows gas chambers...
:mad:
Honestly people need to wake up, there are thousands of dogs and cats euthanized every day....
Spay/Neuter


And adopt rescue pets!!

I agree with the idea of licensing. I also think that instead of pets legally being considered personal property we should legally be considered their guardians. That has a much different connotation.

I agree with the idea of licensing. I also think that instead of pets legally being considered personal property we should legally be considered their guardians. That has a much different connotation.

Hear hear, I'll vote for you!

I spent a summer volunteering at an animal shelter. It's easy for you guys to condemn what they do as "horrible" and suggest substituting humans, isn't it? How many of you have ever had to choose which dogs die and which live? How many of you have ever been told

"I need 20 open spots by 2:00"?

Folks, it ain't easy. It's really hard. I didn't put the dog there. I didn't neglect or abandon it. I have always been a responsible pet owner, and so have the other people who I worked with. We tried really hard to get people to adopt our dogs and cats.

Sadly, we get more in than we send out. There isn't room. There isn't sufficient room. There is no place to put them.

Don't make the shelter workers into the bad people. They are trying to do something to give these dogs a chance. Sadly, we just can't save them all.

Yes, people should be better to their animals. Yes, there ought to be stricter laws. Before we do that, lets get stricter laws for kiddy rapists, lying politicians, etc. Before we do that, let's worry about our friends and neighbors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before we do that, let's worry about the situation in Darfur. Before we do that, let's worry about our own homeless HUMANS. We have more serious and pressing problems than stray dogs dying. Get a friggin' grip.

I too know what it's like to have to make that decision... we are constantly having to turn dogs away from rescue - knowing that seals their fate. Sadly, the large breed dogs are commonly the first ones to be put down - something about 'needing the room'... :mad:

Most all of us doing rescue work empathize with the shelter workers - we're all trying to do the same thing. Most of the time anyway. I know several shelters that - maybe due to burn out - honestly don't seen to care about the animals, but at the same time I know rescues that are the same way.

I've personally been told tales directly from shelter staff that would curl your eyebrows... stuff like: "It's just easier to put them down, than to fool with rescues", "The rescue said they would come get the dogs, they never did...", "I have over 200 dogs and the room for only 45 - guess what do we have to do?"

I don't think the problem lies with the shelter workers any more than it does the rescue workers. Honestly I think both suffer from emotional fatigue way too often.

I think the problem lies in the fact that the general population doesn't see or understand the real need to control the animal population. It really is an epidemic.

As for all the other issues, yes those too are valid problems, and one has to choose their 'causes'. Just because I chose to help animals doesn't mean I don't care, or support the other issues. While I don't physically go out and pick up the starving children in third world countries doesn't mean I don't support those that do. As a matter of fact, Samaritan's Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/) is one of my favorite charities. I urge (challenge) each member of the EOC to support the charities of their choice - all year round.

*** stands down from soapbox ***

Yes, people should be better to their animals. Yes, there ought to be stricter laws. Before we do that, lets get stricter laws for kiddy rapists, lying politicians, etc. Before we do that, let's worry about our friends and neighbors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before we do that, let's worry about the situation in Darfur. Before we do that, let's worry about our own homeless HUMANS. We have more serious and pressing problems than stray dogs dying. Get a friggin' grip.

No need to be rude about it!

Dogs never asked to be part of our society. We made them dependent on humans over thousands of years of breeding. They don't have a choice in the matter, and we owe it to them to treat them with dignity and respect.

I'm here to dispel a few myths.

Sorry, I've been in dogs for over 30 years. I have worked INSIDE anmial shelters in large urban environments--for years. I've done rescue for just as long. I know the dear hearts at the Humane Society who refuse to put ANY dog down--no matter it is sickly, aggressive, whatever. They want to save the WHOLE DOGGY world. It is not that easy. Sometimes it is actually better to put a dog down, then release it to where it can only be unwanted and come back again. Biters, barkers, and dogs with serious or difficult-to-control diseases SHOULD BE humanely euthanized. I would rather euthanize dogs that cannot be placed than place them with a less than satisfactory environment. Do I not love dogs, you ask? Yes, I love dogs enough to know that placing dogs carelessly creates worst lives for the placement, and possibly, god forbid, its progeny. It bothers me to hear people talk about these sick or agressive dogs that they have "rescued". WHY? Was there not a happy, healthy dog to rescue? If there is such an overpopulation, why do rescue organizations place such dogs? Soft hearts. Trying to do good. Blindly.

Our local humane society placed a pregnant shepherd mix bitch with my co-worker. They REQUIRED the co-worker to allow the puppies to be born. They REQUIRED the co-worker to raise them and then AFTER ALL THAT WORK, they REQUIRED her to give them the pups. WHY? So they can sell them for money. So the Humane Society has now become a backyard breeder---all for money. Pathetic. They will never see another donation from me. That Humane Society has no idea whether the pups produced will have stable temperments, sound health. They are playing breeding roulette for the love of money.

Recently, we had the misfortune of having an individual puppy milling our breed. He was indited and 20 dogs plus 3 litters of pups of our breed were siezed. Our breed's rescue organization (incl myself) was all set to go in and take the dogs, assess them and place them. But the Humane Society wanted the dogs to sell. They would not let us--the people who know this breed better than they do BY FAR--do the work. They wanted all the dogs except those most in need--the sick, the older, etc. They esp wanted the pups. So they could ignorantly and unintelligently place them. Never mind I breed hunting dogs with a big run and a high jump--not the dog for the average joe blow. We are a national rescue organization that has plenty of financial and labor support to take care of the dogs. We have members with professional facilities and expertise who are more than happy to do it. But the humane society will not let us. I have no sympathy for the Humane Society.

Speaking of overpopulation, contrary to popular rumors, the overpopulation of pets is significantly overstated. Both our county shelters and King County shelter (Seattle) have run out of dogs to place. They import dogs from other jurisdictions to fill the need for adoptable dogs. Some counties in the US have even imported dogs from other countries due to lack of placements. No problem with me, but do understand there do exist some jurisdictions that are dang out of dogs. Mandatory spay and neuter does work--esp if you want no more dogs---at all.

Someone mentioned having 200 dogs having to be cut down to 45 in a matter of hours. You must have one stupid animal control or humane society. I worked in some of the bleakest animal shelters (for years, I might add), in one of the largest urban areas of the country. NEVER did such a situation arise. Your kennel management had serious problems well before 1 pm.

Have I seen tragic situations involving absolutely innocent dogs and cats that never asked for their fate? Absolutely. Do you sometimes want to get that person bringing in ONE MORE BOX of cats and bang their head against a wall? Absolutely. But government licensing and interference is not the answer. EDUCATION. and more of it, is the only way. With WAY MORE intelligent and thoughtful consideration given to placements of pets by those responsible--starting with the Humane Society itself. Believe it or not, our county shelter (as do many) still allows people to adopt without requiring spay or neuter. Now how stupid is that. I wonder if government regulation will control THEIR ignorance? Oops, they are the government too....guess not.

Very well put Dogbox.

I think that's a shame (an understatment) that this paticular Humane Society would want to keep the puppies. That's outrageous!!!

And bh241 - I'm with you 100%

Thankfully the shelter I work at offers wonderful programs for the public. Our Humane Education department puts on countless kids camps, several departments work with the young offenders centre here where dogs get to go to the prison and live there for 3 weeks and are trained by the youth. This is absolutely a win/win situation for the youth and the animals.

We also have a Violence Prevention program which raises awareness about the link between animal abuse and domestic violence. Combined with that, we offer a Safekeeping program where victims of domestic violence can board their pets free of charge while they stay in a shelter and try to get their lives back together.

I'm proud of what my shelter does and what we offer. No animal goes home without being spayed/neutered nor will we allow an animal to go to a home where there is an unaltered pet.

Our staff in adoptions and animal admissions are constantly working on educating the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying/neutering your pet, be that dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.

Very well put Dogbox.

I'm proud of what my shelter does and what we offer. No animal goes home without being spayed/neutered nor will we allow an animal to go to a home where there is an unaltered pet.

Our staff in adoptions and animal admissions are constantly working on educating the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying/neutering your pet, be that dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.

Why do you not allow an animal to go to a home where there is an unaltered pet? If you require the placement to be altered, it won't be getting bred, so what's the problem?

I believe in spay/neutering all dogs being placed. I don't believe in spaying/neutering ALL dogs. We need dogs in our society.

Anyone that knows rescue work knows very well that it is imposable to "save them all" that is simply a naive notion to even think that euthanasia is not a valid option in some instances. Too many times we have to put dogs down for being too aggressive, or in such poor health that it honestly is better for them. It however, should not be the solution to overcrowded shelters.

I'm not sure about the shelters in Utah, but here in the south eastern US, the euthanasia rates are in the high 80 to low 90 percentile. Yes, 8 to 9 or every 10 animals in put down. Why? because there are more animals than available homes, period.

Yes, there are areas of the US that have higher adoption rates, I've been involved in many a transport that carries dogs and cats from the shelters in the south up north in order to provide the animals with a home. But the problem of overcrowded shelters due to pet overpopulation is a fact not fiction.

Part of it is to blame with the back yard breeder, part of it is nothing more than animals that procreate in the front yard too... Just because the pet can, doesn't mean it should... If the majority of homes would spay/neuter their animals the problem of overcrowded and unwanted animals would be better.

Does that mean I'm against a legitimate breeder? of course not. I do however, have issue with the ones that claim to be legit, by using an 'unsavory' registries like the Continental Kennel Club, aka CKC. Heck, one can "register" any animal there, but does that really mean anything? The whole byb just causes problems all the way around.

As for saving animals... We don't discard an animal simply because (s)he is in ill health. While we do make every effort to pull and place any healthy Saint (and other breeds as space permits) we also try to keep an eye out for those animals that really need rescue. Just because a dog has been discarded, neglected, or simply lost his home, in turn has become sickly, it should not be an instant death sentence.

In our area, any animal will most likely be infected with heartworms by a single bite from a mosquito - unless it is on a monthly preventive. Should those be euthenized too because they are sick? I certainly hope we, as a race, don't become so callous as to put such little value on life simply 'because they are just an animal".

Hi Dogbox,

I agree - we do need dogs in our society, but people have to understand the importance of spay/neuter. If a person comes in and has an unaltered animal at home there needs to be a very good reason for it.

Unless a person is a breeder (and I mean a legitimate breeder) there's no reason to have an unaltered animal at home. The Humane Society is there to educate and have people understand the importance of having this done. Not just to prevent over population but for the general well being of the animal.

A person that wishes to adopt needs to show that they are responsible with their current pets, and that includes having that animal spayed/neutered and most people are okay with that.

No need to be rude about it!

Dogs never asked to be part of our society. We made them dependent on humans over thousands of years of breeding. They don't have a choice in the matter, and we owe it to them to treat them with dignity and respect.
And the same can be said of cats! People more often remember dogs in the shelter (at least where I live), and I see lots of folks defending dogs-as they should-but cats and other domesticated animals got that way be cause WE did it. They have become dependent and we made it so. I buy cat food every month and deliver it to the local shelter, the people there tell me that folks bring dog food all the time, but that I am the only person that remembers the shelter is sadly full of cats too. I don't intend to suggest that dog people don't care about cats, but that all of us tend to forget those that we aren't intimately concerned with, so I just thought I'd chime in for the cats!

And the same can be said of cats! People more often remember dogs in the shelter (at least where I live), and I see lots of folks defending dogs-as they should-but cats and other domesticated animals got that way be cause WE did it. They have become dependent and we made it so. I buy cat food every month and deliver it to the local shelter, the people there tell me that folks bring dog food all the time, but that I am the only person that remembers the shelter is sadly full of cats too. I don't intend to suggest that dog people don't care about cats, but that all of us tend to forget those that we aren't intimately concerned with, so I just thought I'd chime in for the cats!

Oh I totally agree! Cats need to be spoken up for too! Cats are wonderful, loving DOMESTICATED animals. Its too bad I'm allergic to them or I'd have at least two!

For Christmas this year I'm going to see if instead of buying presents for each other my family will just buy cat/dog food to donate to the shelters. I already have too much junk as it is.

Oh I totally agree! Cats need to be spoken up for too! Cats are wonderful, loving DOMESTICATED animals. Its too bad I'm allergic to them or I'd have at least two!

For Christmas this year I'm going to see if instead of buying presents for each other my family will just buy cat/dog food to donate to the shelters. I already have too much junk as it is.

I hate to tell ya, acidcherry, but cats are anything but domesticated. :D

My apologies to any I have offended. I do know how hard rescue work is to do, which is why I can't do it. I end up with too big of an urge to keep them all and punch the previous owners in the face. I support with my $ and supplies. I have nothing but respect for those people who do. And I'm not that keen on the regular humane society either. We are lucky here in that our local branch is essentially private and a no-kill shelter (both dogs and cats). I've seen other places, though...rather not think back to it...

When there are more homes than pets--everywhere--then we will be able to stop worrying about spaying & neutering, and only the severely injured or terminally ill will have to be euthanized. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Less breeding of humans would be nice, too.

...
Less breeding of humans would be nice, too.

Don't get me started...

Less breeding of humans would be nice, too.

Amen to that!!!

Less breeding of humans would be nice, too.

I really wish I had said that... :)

That would be awesome-less pollution,fewer crowds, being "family", I'm doing my part:D Oh, and the fur children are fixed!

We have more serious and pressing problems than stray dogs dying. Get a friggin' grip.

While I agree with you that shelter workers are just doing their job, I have issue with the above statement.

And for that I use this quote.

We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace. ~Albert Schweitzer

Personally I think that helping animals make us better human beings. That is not to say that all the other stuff is unimportant, but we humans have the power to control pet overpopulation. We just need to pull our collective heads out of our collective @sses.


Anyone that knows rescue work knows very well that it is imposable to "save them all" that is simply a naive notion to even think that euthanasia is not a valid option in some instances. Too many times we have to put dogs down for being too aggressive, or in such poor health that it honestly is better for them. It however, should not be the solution to overcrowded shelters.

I'm not sure about the shelters in Utah, but here in the south eastern US, the euthanasia rates are in the high 80 to low 90 percentile. Yes, 8 to 9 or every 10 animals in put down. Why? because there are more animals than available homes, period.

Yes, there are areas of the US that have higher adoption rates, I've been involved in many a transport that carries dogs and cats from the shelters in the south up north in order to provide the animals with a home. But the problem of overcrowded shelters due to pet overpopulation is a fact not fiction.

Part of it is to blame with the back yard breeder, part of it is nothing more than animals that procreate in the front yard too... Just because the pet can, doesn't mean it should... If the majority of homes would spay/neuter their animals the problem of overcrowded and unwanted animals would be better.

Does that mean I'm against a legitimate breeder? of course not. I do however, have issue with the ones that claim to be legit, by using an 'unsavory' registries like the Continental Kennel Club, aka CKC. Heck, one can "register" any animal there, but does that really mean anything? The whole byb just causes problems all the way around.

As for saving animals... We don't discard an animal simply because (s)he is in ill health. While we do make every effort to pull and place any healthy Saint (and other breeds as space permits) we also try to keep an eye out for those animals that really need rescue. Just because a dog has been discarded, neglected, or simply lost his home, in turn has become sickly, it should not be an instant death sentence.

In our area, any animal will most likely be infected with heartworms by a single bite from a mosquito - unless it is on a monthly preventive. Should those be euthenized too because they are sick? I certainly hope we, as a race, don't become so callous as to put such little value on life simply 'because they are just an animal".

I agree with everything you posted.

Except most of it is due to indiscriminate and ignorant backyard breeders. And even the AKC will give papers to puppy mill dogs.

I have worked with shelters and in emergency clinics and regular veterinary clinics and just because an animal is sick doesn't mean it should automatically euthanized. It depends on the illness or the problem.
Although I do agree that behavioral issues such as long standing aggression and those truly vicious animals should be put down.


When there are more homes than pets--everywhere--then we will be able to stop worrying about spaying & neutering, and only the severely injured or terminally ill will have to be euthanized. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Less breeding of humans would be nice, too.

Yep.

I have worked with shelters and in emergency clinics and regular veterinary clinics and just because an animal is sick doesn't mean it should automatically euthanized. It depends on the illness or the problem.

I don't believe animals suffer just as much as we do unless we insist on artificially prolonging their suffering by giving them vet care ad nauseum. Dogs are not humans. They do not understand why we stick them needles, gas them, and cut their skin. In nature, they would accept their death as they have for centuries. You cannot explain to a dog that he has horrible allergies, genetic defects. They cannot comprehend this. But the big hearts insist on treating them as "people", with the same hurts and feelings. They are not.

I met a woman who rescued a dog and was spending $500 per month on vet care for a chronic illness from which the dog would NEVER recover--giving it daily shots for who knows what and weekly treatments of who knows what. What a waste. This was not a wealthy woman. This is a person who somebody at the Humane Society convinced should "do good" by caring for this dog. Imagine how many spay/neuters you can get for the amount of money she is spending. The Humane Society never should have placed that dog, it should have been euthanized.

When the Humane Society insisted my co-worker raise and sell the pups for them--it was because they needed money to pay for vet care for other rescues that nobody wants or pays for. Great. More unspayed/unneutered dogs shipped to homes so that the Humane Society can pay vet care for dogs that NOBODY wants. I see that as plain foolish. Humane Society is a backyard breeder and proliferates unwanted pets into the system so that we can have more unwanted pets.

Obviously, if there are not enough homes, there are not enough homes. Society only has so much resources to allocate to unwanted pets, children, environments, etc. Hard choices, unfortunately, have to be made. After 30 years doing rescue work (and, yes, I still do it), I see a serious need for rethinking the "save them all" mentality that has not done one thing to improve the situation.

The "backyard breeders" and the "puppy millers" only exist because folks still buy from them. I have wasted many a word on people interested in buying a dog who, in the end, simply go out and buy whatever is immediately available and cheap. Never caring about the temperment, health, or suitability of that pup in the future. Not understanding the need to support those thoughtful, caring breeders who are going above and beyond to ensure that future generations of dogs will indeed be cared for, loved, and offer many years of love and care to those who own them. I really don't know what to say for all these people. If they only knew.....I hope they could some day understand the great harm they do in financially supportng irresponsible and careless breeders.

I don't believe animals suffer just as much as we do unless we insist on artificially prolonging their suffering by giving them vet care ad nauseum. Dogs are not humans. They do not understand why we stick them needles, gas them, and cut their skin. In nature, they would accept their death as they have for centuries. You cannot explain to a dog that he has horrible allergies, genetic defects. They cannot comprehend this. But the big hearts insist on treating them as "people", with the same hurts and feelings. They are not.


No animals are not human. And I've never said that they were.
But to unilaterally decide that all animals with even the slightest medical or physical problem is "a waste" is ridiculous. People bond with their pets. To some people their pet is ALL that they have.
I am not saying (nor do I believe) that people should go into debt to save an animal that has a terminal disease. But correctable problems and palliative treatment to help extend a life should be made on a case by case basis.


I met a woman who rescued a dog and was spending $500 per month on vet care for a chronic illness from which the dog would NEVER recover--giving it daily shots for who knows what and weekly treatments of who knows what. What a waste. This was not a wealthy woman. This is a person who somebody at the Humane Society convinced should "do good" by caring for this dog.

Who are you to determine what animals are "a waste" for other people to help? If that is what this woman wanted to do then that is up to her to decide.
In the veterinary field we try to help people make decisions based on sound medical advice AND financial availability. And sometimes we tell people what they do not want to hear, which is throwing money at a medical or structual problem will not do any good. Ultimately (depending on the problem) it is up to the owner.

Imagine how many spay/neuters you can get for the amount of money she is spending. The Humane Society never should have placed that dog, it should have been euthanized.

When the Humane Society insisted my co-worker raise and sell the pups for them--it was because they needed money to pay for vet care for other rescues that nobody wants or pays for. Great. More unspayed/unneutered dogs shipped to homes so that the Humane Society can pay vet care for dogs that NOBODY wants. I see that as plain foolish. Humane Society is a backyard breeder and proliferates unwanted pets into the system so that we can have more unwanted pets.

Individual rescue groups and Humane societies deal with overpopulation issues differently. I personally have a problem with no kill shelters who force animals to live with medical problems that will not get any better and prevent them from being adopted living a long pain filled life. But those types of cases are usually in the minority.
I cannot speak to your particular Humane Society because I have no idea who they are or what their policies are. However spaying an animal late into a pregnancy could be very harmful to the mother. And while yes I have been involved with late stage pregnancy spayings, it greatly depends on the gestation. Again I cannot say if this was a stupid thing just to save the puppies or done for medical reasons.


Obviously, if there are not enough homes, there are not enough homes. Society only has so much resources to allocate to unwanted pets, children, environments, etc. Hard choices, unfortunately, have to be made. After 30 years doing rescue work (and, yes, I still do it), I see a serious need for rethinking the "save them all" mentality that has not done one thing to improve the situation.

I agree with you. I do think we need to make hard choices.
And one of them should be to start fining people who backyard breed. There are no excuses for someone who is not a reputable breeder (one who screens potential clients, limits their breeding to a reasonable amount, takes back any animal if the owner does not want it and actively works in rescue and education for the public) to be breeding animals.

The "backyard breeders" and the "puppy millers" only exist because folks still buy from them. I have wasted many a word on people interested in buying a dog who, in the end, simply go out and buy whatever is immediately available and cheap. Never caring about the temperment, health, or suitability of that pup in the future. Not understanding the need to support those thoughtful, caring breeders who are going above and beyond to ensure that future generations of dogs will indeed be cared for, loved, and offer many years of love and care to those who own them. I really don't know what to say for all these people. If they only knew.....I hope they could some day understand the great harm they do in financially supportng irresponsible and careless breeders.


I think pet stores should be closed down. Most of them get their animals from puppy/kitten mill type operations. And most of those animals are sick, unvaccinated and have a multitude of problems.
I think there should be laws created to make people responsible for the care, upkeep and the reproductive activities of their pets. No "pet" animal should be unaltered. And I seriously believe that we have to hit them in their wallet to make any difference.

The problem with limiting "backyard breeders" is that the government is hardly the one to take on that task. Many laws have been suggested to accomplish this,and most of them hurt ALL breeders--particularly the hobbyists such as myself, who often produce the soundest, healthiest pets out there. By eliminating or severly hampering BYB, you actually end up FAVORING large, commercial breeding operations, where it is impossible to properly socialize the pups, where $$$ and financial viability is the prime concern, and where dogs and pups are warehoused and transported like cattle.

I think more, MUCH MORE, should be done to educate and target the idiot buyers who support both dismal BYB's and the pet stores. Not allowing ANY animals to be sold in pet stores is something I strongly agree with.

Let's face it, demographics and lifestyles have so changed in recent times,that dog ownership is ultimately going the way of horse ownership--it will only be an option for a few people who have land, financial resources, and time for dogs. With more and more folks going to condos, townhouses, and open exercise areas being constantly overused by both animals and humans--dog ownership is just not as feasible as it used to be. That is why I really think we are at a point where we must cut our losses on these unwanted pets. As the original poster indicated, "Sad, but necessary...". Spot on.

Many folks who adopt or buy dogs end up giving them up when they face the hard realities--the TIME and MONEY involved owning a dog. Generally, when someone tells me they are thinking of buying a dog, I remind them FIRST just how much money and time it takes. I don't even talk to them about WHICH dog. They need to understand the commitment. Many a conversation ends there. If we make it past that, then we talk about WHICH dog, WHICH breed, whether to rescue or buy from a breeder, pup or adult, etc.

I'll second the call for more education. I knew fully what I was getting into and it's STILL somewhat of a shock of how much time and effort it takes. People give me crazy looks when I tell them I take my dog out to chase tennis balls every day, rain, shine, snow, sleet, blizzard, etc. Without exception. On the once or twice ever that I was too sick to even go to the park and let them play on their own, I had a friend come pick them up and take them to his house with a big fenced yard to play with his dogs. But that's the kind of commitment it takes to keep them happy and healthy.

Parents would do anything to make sure their kids have the best - just look at the proliferation of things like "Little Einstein" and all of the mind-and-body-expanding stuff on the market for kids today. Why should it seem strange that I do everything I can to make sure my dog is happy and healthy? When you allow someone into your home/family, be it a child or a pet, you make a commitment to take care of them to the best of your ability, no matter how many legs they have.

Just yesterday, a woman at work was talking to me about possibly getting a dog--her daughter (pre-teen) wants a dog. The woman just came back from FIVE WEEKS of international travel (with her daughter). I gave her some idea of what it would have cost her to board even a small dog for five weeks. Her eyes were HUGE.

Folks really don't add it all up until it is too late some time. Then they get rid of the dog.

Just yesterday, a woman at work was talking to me about possibly getting a dog--her daughter (pre-teen) wants a dog. The woman just came back from FIVE WEEKS of international travel (with her daughter). I gave her some idea of what it would have cost her to board even a small dog for five weeks. Her eyes were HUGE.

Folks really don't add it all up until it is too late some time. Then they get rid of the dog.

I've seen this happen over and over and over with some people. There's a particular family I know (I definitely won't say they're friends) who have gone through 6 or 7 dogs while I've known them. They'll get a new puppy when they want something cute & fuzzy in the house, keep it for a few months, and then when they get tired of taking care of it they bring it to the local shelter. Obviously this is bad for the dog(s), and that part has been discussed previously to death.

The part I really worry about is what they're teaching their kids. It's OK to take on commitments you have no intention of fulfilling? Animals don't need to be taken care of properly? If you don't feel like doing something just throw the problem on someone else?

I'll second the call for more education. I knew fully what I was getting into and it's STILL somewhat of a shock of how much time and effort it takes. People give me crazy looks when I tell them I take my dog out to chase tennis balls every day, rain, shine, snow, sleet, blizzard, etc. Without exception. On the once or twice ever that I was too sick to even go to the park and let them play on their own, I had a friend come pick them up and take them to his house with a big fenced yard to play with his dogs. But that's the kind of commitment it takes to keep them happy and healthy.

Parents would do anything to make sure their kids have the best - just look at the proliferation of things like "Little Einstein" and all of the mind-and-body-expanding stuff on the market for kids today. Why should it seem strange that I do everything I can to make sure my dog is happy and healthy? When you allow someone into your home/family, be it a child or a pet, you make a commitment to take care of them to the best of your ability, no matter how many legs they have.


Well said. People think I'm crazy too b/c of how I take care of my dogs. I CHOSE to have them, I OWE it to them to provide them with everything they need to be fufilled as dogs: walks, play, a stable home to live in...

"Crazy" me spends a bundle on Revolution for my two cats (it works!) and I also buy a high dollar cat litter, for the same reason. I really want to go on an Alaskan cruise, and visit Europe and Hawaii too, but I refuse to board my children. Boarding is like jail for pets, though some boarders are obviously better than others. I don't mind the sacrifice of international travel so much, these cats are my responsibility, and their presence in my life is worth it all. I do think pet people should be legal guardians, as opposed to owners...pets are not merely property,imho....

... Boarding is like jail for pets, though some boarders are obviously better than others. ...

Actually, the boarding kennel we send our pets to is nicer than a lot of the summer camps I attended as a kid! :oops::shock: Even accounting for inflation, it probably costs more too. :rolleyes:


The dog, in particular, loves it - he runs right in when we get there!

The dog, in particular, loves it - he runs right in when we get there!

My dog we had growing up LOVED to go boarding. But our current dogs are too close to people and to us. We either have to take them along or have one of our friends with dogs board them the whole time.

Hmmm...friends with benefits, friends with dogs...connection? :rolleyes:

...a stable home to live in...

Stable? Around you?? :rolleyes: :razz: :lol: :lol: :lol:

*pant pant pant* ok I'm done laughing...:D

Stable? Around you?? :rolleyes: :razz: :lol: :lol: :lol:

*pant pant pant* ok I'm done laughing...:D

Ha ha. I may love cookies but I also love my dogs... :D