All over the world, animals shelters are overflowing with dogs and cats that are in desperate need of a loving home. How did these once beloved pets get there? It can be hard for us dedicated pet lovers to comprehend how a person could just surrender their companion. When an animals finds themselves at a shelter, it is not their fault. Most of the behavioral issues, for example, can typically be traced back to how their former caretakers handled their training and how they treated them.
We all know the endless reasons why one should adopt a pet from a shelter. However, I doubt many of us know the most common reasons why our furry friends end up in a shelter. So, we present to you...
THE TOP 9 REASONS DOGS END UP IN SHELTERS
1. Lack of training: There are a lot of people who may decide to get a puppy without realizing how much training is actually involved. Yes, you may decide to get an older dog thinking that they will come housebroken, however that is not necessarily the case. Dogs do not come trained. They require diligent leaders who are willing and able to put in the time setting rules, boundaries, and limitations. People fail to take all this into account and often ignore the problems which may only lead them into more behavioral issues. Shelters are filled with dogs that have potty training, socialization, and obedience issues, all of which could be avoided through proper training.
2. Lifestyle changes: People are notorious for getting restless with their lifestyle and need change. We change our jobs, get married, have kids, get divorced, we could encounter a health change or decided to move. These are all common reasons why dogs get taken to shelters. A person may be overwhelmed by a dog when they have a newborn baby to take care of, find themselves too stressed, or too sick to take care of their pet. Also, when people move they find that they cannot take their pet with due to restrictions in their new home, roommates with allergies, and even instances where people do not wish to take their dog to their new home in hopes to keep it more clean.
3. Not enough time for a pet: Similar to #2, we find that we have busy lives and having a dog or any pet requires a varying degree of time to properly care for them. This is a big reason why dogs end up in shelters. We tend to get busy and start to prioritize other things above the dog, and in turn neglecting its needs. Often times it is children who persuade their parents into getting a family dog by promising that they will take on the responsibility but end up leaving the majority of the needs to the already overwhelmed parents.
4. Cost of owning a dog: Between vet bills, boarding/daycare, food and treats, toys, and grooming, pets can be expensive. Many people underestimate the amount of money that owning a dog will involve, especially young adults.
5. Health issues: Older dogs and dogs with injuries or other ailments require more money, time, patience, and attention that otherwise healthy dogs. There are people who make the decision to get rid of a dog versus continuing to care for them once and illness or ailment arises.
6. Biting: Dogs are often hauled to shelters because they have bitten a member of the family. If a dog exhibits any aggressive behavior, it must be dealt with immediately. Biting can be avoided if a dog is properly trained and socialized.
7. Too many animals in the home: There are many people who adopt pets impulsively. They feel that they are doing a good deed by giving a dog a home, however, when there are too many animals in the home it can lead to problems. People that fail to spay or neuter their pets may end up with multiple litters of dogs and nowhere to place the puppies. There could be fighting between a dog and cat in the house, or they could not be getting along with other dogs in the house.
8. Allergies: If someone in the house develops an allergy to a pet, the dog may wind up in a shelter. Even someone who was not allergic when they first brought the dog home, may develop an allergy later in life. Equally, dogs may be sent to a shelter if a a significant other moves in that is allergic or if a child develops a dog allergy.
9. Strays and rescues: People who find dogs on the street often take them in temporarily while they search to find the animals family. If the dog's home is not found they are often taken to a local shelter in hopes that they will find a new home.
Despite the ways that a dog may find its way into a shelter, there are a few ways that we can prevent that from happening.
The biggest way is think before you get a dog. We urge potential dog adopters to carefully decide before bringing a dog home or not. Do your research and factor in whether or not you will have the time and money to meet their mental and physical needs. Make sure nobody in the house is allergic or if there are any home restrictions on pets. Consider whether or not current pets will get along with a new pet in the household and whether or not you are in a stable condition mentally to care for them.
If you find that you need to surrender your pet to a shelter consider other alternatives first. If you have a dog and find yourself experiencing a lifestyle change, try your best to work through it without leaving your dog at a shelter. If you find yourself with less time, consider putting your dog into daycare or hiring a dog walker if you have the disposable income to do so. If you move and are unable to take your pet with you or you cannot afford the costs, seek our a responsible caretaker for your pet. Often times relatives who are familiar with the pet are good places to start. If you develop an allergy, one could try bathing the dog in hypoallergenic shampoos to alleviate your condition, or even as simple as taking an antihistamine. If you find a stray on the street, do your best to find its owner and try to foster the dog if possible before opting for a shelter.
By doing our part, we can all help to ensure that fewer dogs and cats end up confused, abandoned, and facing destruction in an overcrowded animal shelter.
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