anybody work at the humane society?

[jaseman]

Originally Posted by atomic47

Now i'm not one to see bs and stay quiet, so how am I gonna see people come in and drop off their former member of the family with some lame-*** excuse and not say anything? That's probably going to be the hardest part I think.

Remember, not every story is lame BS. Until the day we had to give up Cosmo, I thought the same thing. I realize now, that some people have no choice, and it hurts them very deeply to give up an animal. Think of those people when you see someone drop off a cat, just because they are going on vacation. Think of the 65 year old woman on welfare, who lives in government housing. And how she had to give up her cat, and only friend, because she was forced to move, and the place has a "no pet" policy (yes, I met this woman, and no, she had no choice). That's how your able to bight your tongue when you hear someone else's lame excuse.

Hope that helps some.

[wild_deuce03]

Aelwulf, I made the mistake of reading that out loud to my wife. She told me not too but I did. I'm not ashamed to admit that I had a hard time finishing it. It was a very moving story and I feel that much better about adopting two pups today. All of our animals have been adopted.

[lilredridingliz]

We have both a county-run Animal Shelter and a Humane Society. Through pressure from local citizens, our Shelter does their best to be a "no-kill" shelter.

My daughter and I are just starting this week volunteering to go in and pet the cats. However, if she starts begging me for a cat, or cries when we leave, that's going to be the end of our volunteering for a while. We have three cats already and a landlord who is not fond of an abundance of pets. If I had my own property, we'd have many more animals. Someday…

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Cranky CJ

No doubt. Really lame excuses and really short sighted people that get pets when they are young and cute then dispose of them when they are older. Lame Lame Lame.

At least they bring them to a shelter where they have a (slim) chance at adoption, or a humane death.

My condo complex has a HUGE problem with stray cats... people move out and leave their pets behind. Those that survive and are not adopted by a neighbor simply become kitten factories... got one mother than has had at least 5 litters in my yard. The flea problem forced me to eliminate all of my grass and convert it to concrete/tile in order to protect my own cats (none ever go outside).

I've managed to collect about half of 2 of the litters and get them to the local shelter (no-kill).
Animal control will not come out unless it's a dangerous dog. They have traps available for loan, but there's a 3 month waiting list.


Looking at it from the human's side.... I agree, in most cases the people are simply dirtbags, but in some cases, it could be that the place they are relocating to do not allow pets, and perhaps they do not have friends/family able to take them.

[wild_deuce03]

I guess I understand that some people may not have a choice. Me though, I didn't get my animals to have to give them up when things get tough. They really are a part of our family. Some people say it but few actually mean it.

When I got out of the military in 2000, we had 2 dogs and 5 cats. We had adopted one cat and she got out and got pregnant before we got her spayed. We tried to adopt them out but couldn't. Since it was our fault she got pregnant we kept them. It is hard enough to find a place to live with a pet, let alone 7! Luckily we found a place but the wife and I were prepared to be homeless if we couldn't find a place. Some people will call that irresponsible I know. I've heard it all, from our family especially. But after coming through that I think they all realized that when we say they are part of the family, they really ARE part of the family.

Not a knock on anyone that has gotten rid of a pet. It's just something that the wife and I feel strongly about. I like animals more than people anyways. All they ask for is food, water and some love and they'll be your best friend until the day they pass.

[mrblanche]

Aelwulf, I sent you a PM. Did you see it?

[Aelwulf]

Yep, replied a short bit ago.

I agree there are cases where it's not a choice or it's int he animal's best interest. Just seems that least 80% of the time it's just people not wanting to take responsiblity &/or put up with one inconvenience or another.

Sorry to hear you had to give up Cosmos, sometimes a dog does just have a rough streak that makes it impractical for anything but a large farm or something. I commend you for trying to work with it first.

When I first read that I was on a mid shift on crew a few nights ago. It was early in the shift, and I spent the rest of the night getting mental images from it and fighting back tears.

[jaseman]

Originally Posted by Aelwulf

...Sorry to hear you had to give up Cosmos, sometimes a dog does just have a rough streak that makes it impractical for anything but a large farm or something. I commend you for trying to work with it first. ...

Thanks, it was very hard for both of us to give him up. Especially since I promised myself, and him, that we would make it work. We felt like such failures. My wife is a cat person, but I've had dogs all my life, and to have to give one up was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.

As hard as it is to put an older dog down, who you love, because he's living in pain, it's harder still to surrender a young, healthy dog. Even if you know it's the best thing for both you and the dog.

Even though we took him to a no-kill, I know he still only had a 50/50 chance. We felt obligated to tell them the dog was aggressive towards children and other dogs (couldn't have that on my conscious). And the shelter has to periodically send animals to other facilities that may, or may not be, no-kill. So I have no idea what his fate was, which still tears me apart to this day.

I have to force myself to believe he was adopted to a nice house with a big fenced in yard. It's the only hope I have for him.

Thanks for listening.

[evmo]

This is why I have no pets.

[Robert1320]

Originally Posted by atomic47

Robert1320, I'll be working at a shelter is new castle. Which shelter do you work at? I only work 3 to 4 days a week, maybe I could go up there too. Yes the kill aspect is going to torment me, but that's how it is for some places. Perhaps it will give me more fuel to fight the puppymills around here, maybe it won't. I hope I don't sound selfish.

Just a few years ago, my life was pure hell. At 20 years old I had already lost my faith in humanity. Then I decided I was going to adopt a puppy. Incredibility,
I named her Samantha, or sammy. lol......coincidences are strange huh? She's an all black miniature schnauzer/poodle/cocker spaniel mix. I don't know how, but she helped me get my life straight and can't imagine how my life would be now had I kept going on ****ed off at everybody. okay, enough of that.

Now i'm not one to see bs and stay quiet, so how am I gonna see people come in and drop off their former member of the family with some lame-*** excuse and not say anything? That's probably going to be the hardest part I think.

Hamilton Co. H/S. I go up there a couple of days a week to help out.
There is a big no kill push and most place CAN do it. But it is easier not too!