Why are people so scared of animal shelters ?

Question

I'm an animal control officer, and people often hesitate to call us because they are scared we will put every animal to sleep. Many times people find an animal and wait for days to call us, all the while some family is worried sick and calling us every few hours to see if we've heard anything.

My shelter has an 8% euthanasia rate, thats insanely low. Legally we could call ourselves a No-Kill shleter ( any shelter thats has less than 10% euthanasia rate can) but we don't, cause it would be a lie.
Why do people hesitate, and put animals in greater risk?

Morgan...

I think its great that you try to find the owner yourself! We have many people in my city that also do this, we just take a report of the animal and where it is so we can give the info to someone who contacts us missing that animal. We have a 7 day holding period for strays, after those seven days the people who found and kept the animal in their home get to keep it. People are charged money to pick up the animal,because it costs us to take it in, trust me we lose money on the deal. Besides if we didn't charge how could we curve repeat offenders? it would'nt be a big deal if your pet ended up at the shelter. And we use the internet as well as local papers to advertise our strays,. for those not able to get either, I'm sure they can pick up a phone and callus to see if we have their pet.

Sassy

Did you work there, or volunteer there? you kept reffering to the shelter as them, not us. Was the dog with mange a cruelty or neglect case? Casue I've seen similiar situations where we take a dog from a home and press charges. Then we have to keep that dog until its all gone through the court system usually 6months, but sometimes it takes years! Where those pups pit mix, did the shelter not adopt those kinds out? I know a lot of volunteers at the shelter I used to work at felt the same way you do, and they just didn't have all the information, and were jumping to conclusions. there is always a reason when euthanising an animal. No one enjoys doing that deed, especially on puppies, its the worst part of my job. The only way I can sleep at night is to justify why I did it, that it was needed. I doubt anyone chose to euth happy, healthy pups, and keep a sick adult around. there was an underlying reason

Answer 1

I have found many stray dogs and still stop when I see them. When I find one I put an add in the paper, put up flyers, go to local vets with flyers, I would even go around to people houses to see if they recognize the dog and call local animal shelther to see if anyone is missing the dog. The last time I reported a dog found the animal control was at my house in five min acusing me of not wanting to help the dog, of wanting to keep in for myself. They keep dogs for 2 weeks and what do they do? They put his pic online (needless to say not everyone has a computer) and if the owner does call they charge him/her or they won't get their pet back. So I just picture in my mind some elderly man or woman, worried sick about their dog, but don't have a computer and can't afford to pay the money. Oh, did I mention the animal control guy was a prick!!!! How is keeping the animal and trying to find him/her it's home at greater risk? I'm looking out for the dog and if I can do all these things to help him find it's home and all you do is put his pic on the internet then he is at greater risk with you.
Thank you for addressing my answer; I"m sorry to seem so bitter. I see some of your points and will try and be more open to animal shelters. I have found I usuallly find the original owner though. In the other two cases I have kept the animals but with no initial intention. Have a good night.

Answer 2

Where I live the shelters are all high kill and it is heartbreaking to take a stray dog without identification in knowing that he will be put to sleep after 5 days if he is not adopted. However, I always call to have a stray picked up because I would never leave an animal helpless on the street.

Answer 3

Some people don't realize that sometimes, unfortunately, animals do have to be euthanized in shelters for reasons other than limited space, like health problems. Many people are also afraid that if an animal comes from a shelter, it automatically has temperament and health problems which is completely wrong. I have two rescue dogs and they are great. I personally would rather rescue a dog than buy one from a breeder. I just like giving deserving animals another chance at having a decent life, but there are many people that choose a different route.

Answer 4

i worked at a shelter about 7 yrs ago and at that shelter it was the most beautiful animals that got put down i watched in horror as they put down 5 pups that came in that same day and they kept alive a dog with dermadectic mange this peticular dog had no hair at all and yes after the hundreds of dollars that they put in that 1 dog it did finally get it's fur back after about 3 months of constant treatments while other very dogs very much deserving to get a great home and i bet they would have went to good homes faster than the dogs that they kept alive as a matter of fact to tell you the truth alot of the animals that they kept alive eventually had to be put to sleep too cause they couldn't find them homes as far as i'm concerned this peticular shelter needs it's doors shut and locked or it really needs new people to run it cause the idiots at my local shelter don't know what the hell theyre doing and i won't hesitate to tell my friends and family and everyone i run across not to take a stray there cause they have a better chance to make it in the wild than at that local shelter!!!!!

Answer 5

I don't know, it's like everyone would rather assume the dog is from an abusive home or the shelter will kill it, instead of thinking about the owners missing their dogs and being worried sick. Seems to be the way society is looking at things lately.

Answer 6

I rescued my first two cockers, both of which had genetic health problems, but yet....I supported rescue.

My mind was changed when I saw a large dog from a local no kill shelter attack a small beagle at a local petsmart during training class. Totally unprovoked. When animal control arrived, they knew the dog because it had attacked two dogs at the shelter. The shelter did not tell the new owner.

I am now afraid that no kill shelter are trying to be to cavalier. From now on, all my pets will come from reputable breeders who are diligent about screening their puppies homes.

Answer 7

I agree people have issues but i think they are afraid thinking that they'll be in trouble. I rember when we seen a dog i awfull conditions but he was so friendly and i asked my mom what the number was to get a hold of some one to take the person in but she yelled at me saying that it wasn't any of my bissnius i cryed that entired night then the next day i went back and the dog was dead and the people left then a few days latter i found ou it was a dog fighting place was so hurt expecialy because i LOVE animals. Now i have nightmares about it.

Answer 8

I'm not one bit afraid to make that call.I'd rather know an animal was put down humanely than watch it be hit by a semi or starve to death.
But I agree with you since I know many people who feel the animal would be better off rehomed by them than sent there and won't make that call without thought that someones upset and worried about their pet.They could at least leave their name and phone number as a contact should someone call looking for it.

Answer 9

It takes a L-O-N-G time to change public sentiment. The shelters in my area are also considered "no-kill," but any time you mention that to people, they have a hard time believing it, and think that they know better.

I think the only thing you can do is politely educate people. If you get defensive or angry, the peoples minds you are trying to change will not listen. But you have the power of first-hand experience, and you can help to educate the public.

You work in a very demanding field, good for you! Your family and friends should be proud.

Answer 10

Because of fear of the euthanizing.Its a feeling of sadness to call to give the animal away to the animal shelter when they think someone might never get it or want it when the case usually is someone is already calling looking for it.And its kind of like sending something away to jail in a sense.