How would you solve the problem of 2.7 million dogs + cats getting euthanized every year here in the USA?
I would love to hear your solutions. This has been an unfathomable and heartbreaking problem here in the United States, and I am not sure how we as a nation can fix it.
Nik & I adopted a dog who we named Marvel. He was deemed un-adoptable from the shelter because of aggression issues, the shelter just didn't have the time or energy or resources to put towards him.
Originally, he was left at a house when the owner moved out. I got him through a very lucky and strange situation through a friend. He was getting euthanized, they couldn't even examine him, he was growling and in a ball and he was in the back of the shelter.
Nik & I had him home for about a week, and he is the most loving dog, he was basically just scared shitless.
If you have an actionable steps that others should know about, please add to the comments.
I came up with this one: If everybody in San Diego paid $5 a month (doggie tax), just $5 which is a cup of coffee and that money went DIRECTLY toward building better shelters, educating the public, offering free spay/neuter clinics, and moving towards no kill, and also working with all the rescues as a unit (I believe Synergy; a rescue, rehab & sanctuary for special needs animals is at the forefront of this movement in San Diego), we would have a better system and a model for other States.
Do you have any opinions or solutions? Please share to get a good dialogue going. Also, do you have any heart warming rescue stories to share?~ LEE
Our other rescue is my little Norton, I rescued him from Ramona Humane Society here in San Diego. He's an intellectual. :)
adopt don't shop! more strict adoption policies - it's very easy to rescue a dog regardless of your financial situation which i think leads to a lot of dogs in shelters without homes.
How would you implement stricter adoption policies at the shelters? That's a tough one because I am not sure they do a super good job at vetting because of the desperation to move animals out.
it would definitely be difficult they definitely don't do a good job at vetting and I have experienced this first hand - my dog ended up having genetic issues that weren't apparent until months after I adopted her but luckily her rescue gave me $500 toward her $5k surgery. its definitely a tough battle
Education on what it means to have a dog; training, nutrition, commitment etc. Also education on the importance of having an animal in the house; they keep us healthier and happier.
Great input Nik, thank you! :)
How do you think the best way is to educate?
It isn't only a problem in the US...here in South Africa we have the same issues...made more complex by historical inequalities, lack of education and access to animal healthcare and sterilization. There are loads of animal welfare Nonprofits that provide free sterilization drives in poorer areas but still the problem exists. I myself have also adopted a rescue dog and feel a bit irked when others buy dogs bred by backyard breeders. I'm not sure there is an easy solution other than education, education, education.... Your dog looks a real cutie.
Thank you, he is a cutie, we have 3 now. (that's our limit :) Really interesting to hear how it is in other countries. I remember spending time in Mali, and dogs were the least of their worries. I agree on the education for sure. Here in the States, I am not sure we limit back yard breeders as much as we can, it is really bad in the poorer areas of the country. Thanks for your input from SA! xoLEE
That top photos was when we picked him up at the shelter! :)
You will have to reach out to my daughter for that question @justsailey.
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