Who's fault is it that animals shelters are full?

Question

I think that animal shelters are full because of humans irresponsiblity. People abuse animals who then in turn have behavioral issues. Others starve and neglect animals, sometimes to death. Selfishness is a big part of overpopulation in animal shelters. Poeple buy or adopt cute animals and when these cute animals make mistakes they abandon them or take them to a shelter. Yeah, I do think that it is the human race fault that animalks shelters are full and healthy, fixable animals are dying because of euthanasia. What do you think? I am doing research so speak or forever hold your peace!! LOL

Answer 1

I have been writing educational children's books for the ASPCA. I asked, at the local shelter, what the biggest problems are that need addressed. they told me #1..lack of education, from early years. #2. This disposable society..everything that is yesterday's is disposable.
#3. Ignorance about spay/neutering ( which refers to number 1) .
#4. the attitude of "don't bother to fix it, just get rid of it" (also #2)

So, it is a vicious circle..which is lead by..Lack of Education.

Answer 2

If you are researching, you shouldn't use your opinion to make your paper. Check out the actual numbers from places like the ASPCA, national rescue organizations, your local shelter, and places that actually have numbers to back up your cause. I did a speech on this before and there's a lot of great info out there that will sway people much better than your thoughts alone.

That being said... yes. People and nature are at fault. We live in cities, we bring animals together that in the wild wouldn't have been. People are fickle - they get an animal and don't realize that it's not a plush toy... they need time and attention and a dedication to be responsible for their well-being. The days of owning an animal that lives outside or never visits the vet is over. The only places that works is on a farm - and even they are sure to get their animals vet attention.

People like cute things and really don't think about what follows when the animal is an adult. They'll go to a person breeding animals and buy one (or worse take it for free) and either give it up later or not bother to get it fixed. People also are biased and misinformed about shelter animals. They believe they are all there because of some sort of physical or behavioral problem. Sure some of them are, but the truth is, a LOT of people lie when they turn in an animal (and this is straight from the mouth of a shelter worker). My dog is a great example.

Adult (1yr when we got her), she had been there 6 days (7 is the limit), and her previous owners said she had seizures. People KNEW the dog by name, she had such a sweet disposition and was quiet and kind... we just had an instant connection. I was looking for a puppy, but it was that fast. We went home and talked it over and decided that even if she cost us 40 bucks a month for the rest of her life for meds, we were going to bring her home. So, we went the next day (which was the time I talked to the worker about her and she pointed out that in the 6 days she had been there, she hadn't had a seizure) and brought her home. Thirty-two dollars and not a seizure at all. She's the most excellent dog - loves kids, loves people, is so obediant, learns extra fast... and she was on her way to be put down because someone lied. Both the shelter and I felt that they got her as a pup (go figure, this was her second time in the pound. At least we got a picture of her as a puppy), and she got a lot bigger than they expected. They brought her back 9 months after the got her. I promised her she'd never have to go back.

Anyhow... Take a look into the numbers. Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Unfortunately, there's just not enough animal lovers out there to give those adorable animals a good home. Then again, there are some pet owners out there that shouldn't be allowed anywhere near an animal, but that's another story. One big factor contributing to the over population of animal shelters, is lack of understanding. Puppies become dogs, kittens become cats. And if you look at pet abandoment statistics, you see a huge spike around xmas time. A pet may be a cute idea for a gift, but not necessarily a great one. Another contributer is also population control. Owners who do not wish for their pet to reproduce should takes the necessary steps to ensure they dont. Thats my theory anyway. You walk into a used car lot. Two cars in your favourite colour sitting side by side. Same price tag, same kick-butt stereo... all the features you want. The one on the left... perfect.. not a scratch. The one on the right.... has a little ding from a shopping trolly. Fixable.... but would you buy that one over the other? Most people wouldn't. The same would go for a pet in a shelter i guess. Sometimes euthanasia would be the best case scenario. I wouldn't want to live the rest of my life in a cage, unloved, unwanted.

Answer 4

I could answer this question as i adopted an adult dog from a pound in NC a couple of years ago. I had been to some pet shops and kennels to first find a dog that can suit my life style and that i would love all my life. A though then stuck me about adoption. I headed to the animal shelter and i found that a lot of people adopt pups, in general animals no in the adulthood or full grown. This prompted me to save a life of a dog that i could choose and thats how i chose my dog. The reason why animal shelters are full is the fact that it has become the human nature to not care of the fellow being in general and if this is true how would they care for an animal. It is arrogance and nothing else.

Answer 5

No animal has ever asked to be brought into this world.
Shelters are full because of irresponsible pet owners. If they would spay and neuter thier animals, there would be far less unwanted animals running around.

I only bred a litter of pups one time, and that was all it took. I felt a HUGE HUGE HUGE responsibility because i was responsible for bringing all of those puppies into the world. THEN WHAT?

I took great care and in finding excellent homes for each and every one of them, and i missed them terribly when they were gone, and i know that i could never do that again. I have had dogs in my life since i was born (I'm 49 now) and i can't imagine lkiving without at least one.
But i find that people who are not educated and have no social skills have the worst pet raising skills. They don't have the capacity to properly train them and give them the necessary social skills to thrive as canines or felines.
When a person is well educated, thier animals live a much better life. Period.

PLEASE SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS
AND ADOPT OR RESCUE FROM SHELTERS!!!

Answer 6

There are several reasons I can think of easily.

The most important is that people don't get their animals spayed or neutered and then dump the offspring on the local shelter.

The next is that people get a pet on a whim, without considering the care the pet will require or the responsibility they are taking on. When that cute little puppy, kitten or rabbit begins to be a "problem" it is dumped on the shelter.

The other thing I have seen is that people live in a place that allows pets, then they move to a place that doesn't, and guess where that pet goes? To the shelter.

I always like to think that there is someone up there watching, and guess what???? He made the animals first ---they have seniority in His book.

Answer 7

I totally agree. I live in an apartment, so unfortunately I cannot rescue any animals. (I already have the max allowed number of cats.) Anyway, I visit my local animal shelter often. I am SHOCKED to see that there are many animals who were "relinquished" by their owners. I think before any person gets a pet they need to take a course on pet behavior and responsibility. It saddens me more than anything that people bring these animals into their homes only to later decide they don't want them because they're moving or just "didn't have time". Once I get a home, I will adopt as many animals as I can take care of responsibly.

Answer 8

who else can we blame but humans? a big problem is that people don't get their pets spayed and neutered, which leads to overpopulation, which means there isn't enough room in the shelters for all these animals. because of the lack of room a lot of perfectly healthy happy animals get euthanized, which is a tragedy. if people were more responsible this problem wouldn't be nearly as severe.

Answer 9

i agree to a point. what about the opeople like the elderly couple who died and no one in the family to take their pets? honey, there will always be animal shelters and they will always be full until people get more responsible about spay/neuter pets, and not dumping them off on the shelter when they are too lazy to address the behavior problems they caused in their own dogs. i am a dog behaviorist, (like cesar milan) and trained with him. i've seen so many dogs die because of human ignorance that it is heart-breaking. also working as a vet tech and groomer, i myself have taken in lots of these because of laziness or income issues. so whats the answer???? HUMAN education, and it's our responsibility to go out there and do it.

be encouraged, be bold, and make a difference.

Answer 10

Oh well, definitely the human beings who use to own the animals are at fault. Agree with you. I have a pet dog myself. I can't even bear to leave him to go on holiday, let alone abusing them or putting them out in the street or shelters. Those selfish owners will get their karma one day! :P