Owner Turn In Time

It's summer so that means it's owner dump off time at the local shelters in the US. You know.. puppy got too big, not cute anymore, Christmas present that no one wants anymore, etc., etc..

This just breaks my heart, and there is not much I can do. All of the recues I work with are maxed out as well as all of the local kill shelters. I've got 4 fosters right now in my house, and I don't have the room or time for them all.

This is just a plea to everyone out there.. Please consider adopting your next pet from a local shelter. And please everyone do your research before bringing a new pet home.

I'm not trying to be preachy, I'm just absolutely heart broken at the family pets I see every day in the drop box of the humane society. To me my pets are a part of my family, and I could never drop a loving family member off at a shelter where they will most likely be killed. Even if your life changes and you can't keep the pet, it is still your responsibility to find the pet a new home. There aren't enough rescues out there to do this.

I agree.

I agree Gem. I've been thinking quite some time now about getting another dog. My vet thought it would be a good thing to do for my older dog who is 12 now. I know I have an upcoming vacation and I had debated about whether to get it now or later after the vacation. I decided later so I could devote my time to finding the right dog for my family. I have to find a really docile one. Because Heidi is so easy going in her older age. She's been the little queen of the house. She did great when we had Jorgie here.. but he knew she was the queen lol. I love animals. They bring such joy and happiness to our lives. You just have to make sure you know what your getting into when you get that pet and are willing to be there and devoted to it for its life. Its no different than having a baby. They just want your love, time and to be played with. It makes me sad too to see all the animals who dont have someone to love them like they deserve to be.

Hi SweetSunshine,

Most of the independent rescues out there are really good about making sure you get the right dog. They don't want the dog to be shuffled around so they will take a lot of time to make sure you get the dog that is perfect for your family.

The pound isn't quite as good about that, but it is only because they don't have a lot of time to spend with each dog like the rescues do.

Most rescues and the pound will allow you to foster a dog with the option to adopt. Basically what you do is bring the dog in and see how they get along with your dog and your family. If it doesn't work out then you are really only dog-sitting anyway, and you have helped the rescue to socialize the dog anyway. Most of the time it works out for the best anyway and the people who do this adopt.

I have had a contant stream of fosters for the past while now. I keep them until the rescue has found them a new home. I don't intend to adopt them when I take them in though. I just keep them out of the local kill shelters until they have a home. Sometimes a week sometimes a few months. I only have 1 dog of my own now and 3 cats.

It will be really good for your dog to bring in a younger campanion. Nothing brings youth back into an older dog like a young dog to play with .

I think its a good idea to wait until after vacation though. You want to have plenty of time with your new addition.

You are a dog's fairy godmother, Gem.

You are a kind and gentle soul.

Thanks for this post.

Gemstone, this is an excellent thread. the head of the shelter here told me yesterday that they are full and they have more pitbulls than any other breed. and they only keep the really docile ones for adoption. it isn't a no kill shelter.

i have a full yard and house and don't foster but i really support the work of people who do and i help two families by buying dog food for their "fosters"......

thank you again! this is a great thread for now......

one more thing, be sure if you do get a pet that it has a yard to play in and a place in the home for it. don't chain it....whatever you do.......xoxox pat

I agree it's a shame that some ppl don't care, or don't have the money to take care of the pets they get.

However, I believe animals are part of God's creation, and HE takes care of them, even if they have to leave this earthly experience at the hands of a drug.

TC of yourself.

My dog has a big yard.. and she doesnt wander away from us . She'll just peep at the back door for all its worth till we let her back into her sancutary lol. Sometimes we hear the phone and come in and she is out laying in the grass and doesnt hear us go in. Its not cause we leave her out and neglect her. She has free range of the whole house.. furniture, beds, toilet... which she doesnt use lol!!! She is the joy of our life. I even hold her like a baby and rock her to sleep sometimes while scratching her belly. Nope no pet of mine is mistreated or unloved. I absolutely adore her...

one more thing, be sure if you do get a pet that it has a yard to play in and a place in the home for it. don't chain it....whatever you do.......

I agree with you there. I hate to see dogs chained up all the time.

We have problem with pitbulls here too, well mostly pit mixes. I have 2 pit / lab mixes in my care now, but hopefully only 1 after tomorrow, I have an older couple coming to meet 1. They want an older "calm" dog, and this girl I think will be perfect for them.

I feel good about what I do, but wish I could do more. I have a small house so I can only keep so many at one time. 5 full sized dogs is a bit much. They are all good dogs, but wow its a lot of work.

I just feel so bad for all of them. The sweetest animals with the sadest eyes.

the reasons you don't let them run out and wander is death by cars, other dogs, poison, gunshots, starvation, dehydration, mutilation, etc.

Sad but true,animals and children become victims of morons.

when a non-moronic person takes on a pet, they know they could be looking at 15 years or longer. most of mine have lived more than 15 years.

having children, i think they vaguely understand that it is permanent (the moronic ones) for about 10 minutes.

Austin is giving the families who can't afford a fenced yard $250 for a 150 sq foot yard that will be 5 feet tall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grants! wonderful grants! and personal donations.............if i have time to volunteer for something, it's going to be something like this. where i'm making a "social/quality of life" different. i love it!!!!!!!!!

Warning - Tear Jerker and Triggery - This is why I like animals more than people

I Am Famous Now

I was born today. One of 10. My daddy was very famous.
I have lots of half brothers and sisters. My mother is very famous.
Since she got famous, she has only had puppies. No more loving
hands, no more fun trips... just puppies. She is always sad when
they leave her.

I left home today. I didn't want to go, so I hid behind my mama
and my three littermates that were left. I didn't like you. But one
day they said I would be famous. I wonder; is famous the same
as fun and good times?. So you picked me up and carried me away,
even though you were concerned about me hiding from you.
I don't think you liked me.

My new home is far away. I am scared and afraid. My heart says
BE BRAVE. My ancestors were. Did they go to good homes like mine?
I'm hungry because I can't eat too much because it will be bad for my bones. I can't bite or snap when the children are mean to me. I just run and play and pretend I am in a big green field with butterflies and robins and frogs. I can't understand why they kick me. I am quiet, but the man hits and says loud things. The lady doesn't feed me good like I had with my mother. She just throws dry food on the ground, then goes away before I can get too close for touching and petting. Sometimes my food smells bad but I eat it anyway.

Today I had 10 puppies. They are so wonderful and warm. Am I famous now? I wish I could play with them, but they are so tiny. I am so young and playful that it is hard to lay here in this hole under the house nursing my puppies..

They are crying now. I am so hungry. I scratch and worry my fur. I wish someone would throw me some food. I am also very thirsty. I now have eight. Two got cold during the night and I couldn't make them warm again.
They are gone. We are all very weak. Maybe if I take them out on the
porch, we can get some food.

Today they took us away. It was too much trouble to feed us and
someone came to take us away. Someone grabbed my puppies, they were crying and whimpering. We were put in a truck with boxes in it.

Are mybabies famous now? I hope so, because I miss them They are gone. The place smelled of urine, fear and sickness. Why was I here? I was beautiful, like my ancestors. Now I am hungry, dirty, in pain and unwanted.
Maybe the worst is unwanted. No one came though I tried to be good.
Today someone came. They put a rope on my neck and led me to a room
that was very clean and had a shiny table. They put me on the table.
Someone held me and hugged me. It felt so good!!! Then I felt tired
and laid over the last one who cared.

I AM FAMOUS NOW. Today someone cared.

Author unknown

((((((((((((( Gemstone ))))))))))))))))