Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tobit on January 24, 2015, 04:48:52 PM
-
The girl at the local Humane Society told us that we wouldn't be allowed to adopt a dog if we plan to leave it outside, in our fenced yard, during the day while we're at work. I wasn't sure I was hearing right. She explained that dogs must be crated indoors while no one is home to watch them, that her three are fine with it. They stay in their crates for 10 hours until she gets home and lets them out. Humane?
We just put our dog of ten years down a month ago and she'd been fine in the back yard every day. Even preferred it if it was snowing! Running back and forth, laying in the sun, relaying messages on the canine party line.
"Well, another dog might get in, or they might eat a squirrel and choke, or there might be a tornado."
Yep, I'm getting old. The world's going nuts.
Tobit.
-
When we adopted a dog from a shelter a few years ago, they required a fenced yard.
-
I wish my hood had that rule.. there's a couple dogs who bark all day long and it's really driving me crazy..
Tobit, did they have one you liked? tell them OK, show a crate and then ignore it.. do they do follow up to see if your abiding? My dog freely goes in her kennel when nothing is going on and seems to like it! but we never put her in it or close the door. even tho fenced I wouldn't leave her out when not home.. someone might steal her..
try a different agency..?
-
I tried to adopt a dog about a year ago that the Virginia Humane Society was frantic and begging to find a new home for. I was the perfect owner, have a fenced yard, I'm retired and home all day, even have a doggie door for my hound that I had to put down due to cancer 5 years ago, so this new big boy could come and go as he pleased. I even live beside a huge city park with great walking trails, so we would both get plenty of exercise. I grew up with dogs since I was 4, and have had and loved them all my life.
I was turned away though, because I live in NC, and am not a VA resident.
I believe the dog was put down within a couple of days.
-
I think the concept of pet ownership has become completely corrupted and I refuse to participate. Up here to "adopt" a pet from the shelter you have to pass a background check. No kidding. Then there are all sorts of promises and pledges you have to sign because after all -- "animals are people, too."
Some woman has moved into the apartments next door. They don't allow pets, although other sorts of people like drug dealers seem to be welcome. Her huge dog lives in her car, which she has parked directly outside my window on account of the barking and howling disturbs the other tenants in her building. I complained, both because of the noise and because the dog is outside in an unheated, unventilated car all night. I was told that I need to think of it as 'sharing the ownership' of the f***ing mutt and that I need to try harder to get along with my neighbors.
I can't begin to express my revulsion.
-
Find a way to adobt a dog, they mean well, and often keep the monsters away, but sometimes good folks get caught up in the weeds. Tell them what they want to here, and make it happen, I say this because you clearly love your animals.
-
Bottom line, is dogs and cats need good homes, and many of us have them, lets make it work.
-
When I read water meters 30 years ago, I would have to call in on dog owners that left the dog chained to a tree. The dog would get all wrapped up and couldn't get to the water bowl. Some people just don't know how to treat animals.
I do agree that a large dog in a crate is cruel. A snickerpoodleterrie rchihuwa should never be left outdoors. P:)
-
Humane society can be fussy considering the animals are on death row...... Dog outside all day when no one is home usually means a barking dog...
-
Never kept a dog in a cage in my life and most of our pets lived outside. But, the middle granddaughter keeps two good size dogs in a large cage in her house when she goes to work. The mutts go into the gage willingly and seem healthy enough to me. When she get homes they expect to be let out and will let you know it if that doesn't happen "right now". All she had to do is say "up" and both dogs head right for the cage. However, the idea that a person could go to jail because someone didn't approve of how they cared for their dog well........... :BEER:
Matt
-
Humane society can be fussy considering the animals are on death row...... Dog outside all day when no one is home usually means a barking dog...
We wanted to adopt a "rescue" Border Collie. I've owned Border Collies my whole life, and I know their needs, instincts, and how to treat them. They need lots of interaction, they need a job to do, they need outlets for their energy, and they need to know that their efforts are recognized and appreciated. I live on 310 acres of family land, with 1000 acres of timber company land surrounding it. Two houses on two square miles, 3/4 of a mile to the nearest road. A perfect environment for a busy, energetic dog.
We approached two different Humane Societies looking for a Border Collie that had been rescued from a situation where the previous owners had not recognized the above, and had let the dog go. We found two dogs.
In EACH case, they demanded:
1) That the dog be kept in a fenced lot.
2) That the dog be on a leash when outside the fenced lot.
3) That they be given a permission to come and inspect the conditions AFTER we acquired the dog, at various times.
We told them to Bugger Off. I don't know what ever happened to the unhappy dogs that they were keeping in THEIR tiny lots; they probably euthanized them. We eventually went to a local breeder who had one male puppy left out of the last litter, and Jack has been living with us for 5 years and hopefully happily ever after.
Yes, I know they have to protect the dogs from the many partly-insane humans who want to project their insanity onto the dogs, and end up in a house with 50 dogs living in horrible conditions. But they SHOULD have a little common sense, and they didn't, not here ....
Lannis
-
Bottom line, is dogs and cats need good homes, and many of us have them, lets make it work.
We WANTED to make it work, we really did. Fay and I have the ability to bring a mistreated dog back to normalcy (whatever that is for a Border Collie), and to treat him as one of the family.
But the "rescue" organizations were unyielding, rule-bound, pharisaical, "by the book" jobsworths, and we just couldn't do business with them without lying and signing things that we knew we wouldn't do ....
Lannis
-
Strictly following rules allows people the luxury of not using their brains. If you don't use judgement, then you can't get in trouble.
See also: suspending a 6 year old for bringing a plastic knife to cut his lunch with. College campus sex rules that basically make sex illegal in all cases. A perfectly good dog not getting a perfectly good owner, namely the OP.
Welcome to 2014 2015, guys.
-
Several years ago, my brother went to an animal shelter in Jonesboro AR to look for a dog for my dad. Now, my dad lives on 160 acres of hardwood forest and pastureland- about half and half.
It is surely dog heaven.
The shelter said no adoption unless the animal is kept penned or caged. Tobit, it sounds ridiculous and to you and me it is. My sister eventually found an appropriate dog at a shelter in L. I was surprised that they let her have it after she disclosed that he administered the various vaccinations himself!
My wife and I had a few discussions early on about letting the cat roam. I said let her roam. It is a quality of life issue.
I would rather be free but 'at risk' than safely tucked away in a cage.
-
So let me get this straight. Fenced in backyard bad, outside bad, euthanized okay!!
We have a 80# German Shepard. She follows basic German commands. Stays outside when we work, in our three acre spread, 175 yards off the road. Have worked hard with her to stay in the yard and she does pretty good to the best of my knowledge. She sleeps inside every night. Brushed daily and two baths a month. She even has her own Italian leather chair, lol!! Guess we are bad masters.
-
There is an easy solution to your problem. If you are concerned with someone from the Society coming to visit and inspect your pet ownership behavior, don't adopt a dog. Instead, go find a pet/dog you like. Have your friend or family go get the pet/dog and bring it home. Go pick the dog up from your friend or family member. If anyone questions the friend or family member regarding the pet/dog, have them tell the Society that they could not take care of the pet/dog and gave it away to someone who could. Problem solved. Enjoy you new dog.
-
Tobit:
Have another kid. The authorities ask fewer questions, you can raise them as you please and it's all-around easier to get started. There are downsides though...
-
Not all people are good so there are rules to try and prevent the bad ones from getting a dog.
A properly sized crate is not a cage but is a den to the dog. It has to be snug without being too small, and if larger than that, will seem to be a cage.
-
Not all people are good so there are rules to try and prevent the bad ones from getting a dog.
A properly sized crate is not a cage but is a den to the dog. It has to be snug without being too small, and if larger than that, will seem to be a cage.
Dunno, Rboe. Seems to me you lose hundred of good potential owners in order to filter out "the bad one," and many more dogs get executed than adopted. I know, because my situation was very similar to some of those above. We wound up buying our American Bull Dog from a private party and never looked back. It's too bad because there were people in line to get my dog, versus the poor doggies that met their fate at the local "Humane" Society.
I understand the need to try and weed out the riff raff--but they have gone too far. My .02
-
You are correct. The world is nuts. The dame at Humane is worse. My dogs have a large fenced in area and can stay comfortable in their shelters
down to freezing. Wind protection is important.
The crating of a dog for long periods of time IS cruel.
My dogs are GSD's. We live in central NH. not the tropics.
-
I wonder if maybe some of the people working in those places maybe prefer to put down as many as they can.
Probably think they are doing the world a favor. Or maybe they market them to laboratories or dog fighters as practice animals.
Then if you ask where that dog is that you saw yesterday, you are told it was put down.
Suspicious old bastard I am.
-
Strictly following rules allows people the luxury of not using their brains. If you don't use judgement, then you can't get in trouble.
See also: suspending a 6 year old for bringing a plastic knife to cut his lunch with. College campus sex rules that basically make sex illegal in all cases. A perfectly good dog not getting a perfectly good owner, namely the OP.
Welcome to 2014, guys.
I think I get where you are coming from brother, I feel that way too at times, but it's not that simple in reality. And just for fun, I get to remind you that 2014 has gone into the books!
-
Both of my dogs are kennell trained but I wouldn't keep them in the box for more than a few hours at a time. They like thier kennels and stay in thel all the time with the door open. Dogs are den animals, a properly sized kennell is is a welcome refuge to a dog that's used to one.
I do however think the humane society is nuts for making "rules" for dog ownership.I know the dog would have a better home with you instead of getting the needle.
Seen the needle and the damage done...............
-
Our lab loves lounging on our bed during the winter and being the squirrel and bird police in the back yard during Spring, Summer and Fall. She is just fine left alone in the house for hours or just as fine left alone in fenced back yard. She sleeps with us every night and is a pretty good guard dog (although she would lick anyone who actually broke in). She hasn't been in her crate since she was a puppy.
-
It is mind boggling that a crate is considered better than a fenced yard. And it is more mind boggling that this person said "her dogs are alright with it". And just how did they tell her they were OK with a cramped crate all day?
We had multiple cat rescue services deny us a cat because we have a border collie. They said border collies are aggressive towards cats. I said this is my 3rd border collie and all of them got along just fine with cats. The cat people are just as nutty as the dog people. We also were not allowed the every let our cats outside. So our cat door was a no no. So we found a good no kill shelter that understood dogs and cats can live in harmony with each other as well as with humans and that going outside for cats is just fine. Except of course when the bring snakes, mice and rabbits back into the house and play with them. The snakes are the scary part. I found one cat playing with an immature timber rattler on day. Thank goodness I got it before the cat brought it in the house never mind the snake bitting the cat. Now my border collie got it good from a copperhead one day playing ball in the yard. He ran right over the snake and got nailed in the rear leg. Never new what hit him he was too focused on the ball. I suppose I am inhuman for playing with my dog where there are venomous snakes.
These people real are cruel to animals and are clueless.
-
My niece who is a veterinarian was not able to adopt a dog from a rescue group for the same reason - she might leave the dog outside during the day IF it was a pretty day.
My dogs would go nuts if they were crated for 10 hours every day. That is cruel and inhumane, but unfortunately, that's the rule for "rescue" groups and many "humane" societies these days. No pets outside, even in a fenced yard!
By the way, my niece ended up adopting from another rescue group and her dog is now 13 years old and still doing GREAT, even though it has to stay outside some. :) Even my old blind 16 year old min pin will find her way out through the doggy door and into the backyard and lay in the sunshine, even when it's cold.
Beaver
-
There is an easy solution to your problem. If you are concerned with someone from the Society coming to visit and inspect your pet ownership behavior, don't adopt a dog. Instead, go find a pet/dog you like. Have your friend or family go get the pet/dog and bring it home. Go pick the dog up from your friend or family member. If anyone questions the friend or family member regarding the pet/dog, have them tell the Society that they could not take care of the pet/dog and gave it away to someone who could. Problem solved. Enjoy you new dog.
That doesn't work either because most of the contracts you sign will say you must return the dog to the shelter or rescuer if for some reason you can not or do not want to keep the dog. They could file charges against you if you sell the dog or give it away!
-
Some think it's ok and even proper to treat dogs like prisoners.I don't . A trained and well behaved dog is a pleasure, that's an owners responsibility. It's a wonder more dogs don't go insane.
-
From the American Humane Society website:
Crating philosophy
Crate training uses a dog's natural instincts as a den animal. A wild dog's den is his home, a place to sleep, hide from danger, and raise a family. The crate becomes your dog's den, an ideal spot to snooze or take refuge during a thunderstorm.
The primary use for a crate is housetraining. Dogs don't like to soil their dens.
The crate can limit access to the rest of the house while he learns other rules, like not to chew on furniture.
Crates are a safe way to transport your dog in the car.
Crating caution!
A crate isn't a magical solution. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated.
Never use the crate as a punishment. Your dog will come to fear it and refuse to enter it.
Don't leave your dog in the crate too long. A dog that’s crated day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious. You may have to change your schedule, hire a pet sitter, or take your dog to a doggie daycare facility to reduce the amount of time he must spend in his crate every day.
Puppies under six months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders and bowels for that long. The same goes for adult dogs that are being housetrained. Physically, they can hold it, but they don’t know they’re supposed to.
Crate your dog only until you can trust him not to destroy the house. After that, it should be a place he goes voluntarily.
-
Y'all can flame away if you like but rules for adoption are in the animals best interest. We've rescued many dogs for lots of different reasons and leaving a dog outside when nobody is home is not a good idea for lots of reasons. As some of you have pointed out, the world has gone nuts. We treat our dog and cats as members of the family, our kids if you like, if you can't do that, don't bother adopting. If you'd like a list of reasons why your pet should not be left alone outside, I'd be happy to respond.
-
I've had cocker spaniels for a long time and 7 years ago we wanted to adopt from an older cocker rescue league. They had a lot of rules. The owner of the rescue league brought Cliff (RIP) the dog to our house, saw that the dog responded well to me, and we all left happy. It worked out great.
I've wondered if we'll have another dog because of many of the concerns on this post - bottom line - dogs and people have a long long history together - we belong together and for people who get that, nothing should get in the way of that.
-
Y'all can flame away if you like but rules for adoption are in the animals best interest. We've rescued many dogs for lots of different reasons and leaving a dog outside when nobody is home is not a good idea for lots of reasons. As some of you have pointed out, the world has gone nuts. We treat our dog and cats as members of the family, our kids if you like, if you can't do that, don't bother adopting. If you'd like a list of reasons why your pet should not be left alone outside, I'd be happy to respond.
Since a neighbor's dog got loose and killed several of my wife's chickens last summer( we live on 10 acres with no neighbors closer than 400 feet) ,we have gotten to know the animal control officer in this county. He says 90 percent of his calls are barking dogs...and 90 percent of the time it's a dog(s) left outside while the owners aren't at home or simply don't care. Our rural neighborhood is white middle working class and since the fowl attack several other dogs have gotten loose and come snooping around the chicken coop. We can legally kill any stray dog on our property that is near the chickens...
I'm sure many here are responsible dog people and their dogs never are a brother. But the number of people who have no idea how to take care of a dog has increased and this is a problem...Several towns are considering passing codes requiring an adult to be with any dog outside due to the massive pile of dog nuisance complaints....
-
We have had a least one dog since I can remember. My wife is an animal lover and sometimes we seem to have a zoo of local rescued animals that were hurt or in trouble.
All the dogs we have gotten have been from individuals that didn't want them or couldn't care for them for a number of reasons (accidental litters being the most common). Also most of our dogs were "mutts". Traits of a predominate breed but usually a few others mixed in. They always seemed to be the happiest and easiest to care for. That's the path we follow and has always worked out well. The free puppy we get for the Wamart parking lot that people are giving away doesn't know how good a life it will end up with. Of course we got one that ended up costing us a small fortune in vet bills, as much as a new bike I have been lusting after. Vet told us he would be lucky to make it 5 years, but after several "procedures", he was with us for 12 years. Still have his sister at 15 years old.
Always been easy for us to find a mutt that is in need of a good home, and we have not needed a government agency to do it. That would be my recommendation.
-
Y'all can flame away if you like but rules for adoption are in the animals best interest. We've rescued many dogs for lots of different reasons and leaving a dog outside when nobody is home is not a good idea for lots of reasons. As some of you have pointed out, the world has gone nuts. We treat our dog and cats as members of the family, our kids if you like, if you can't do that, don't bother adopting. If you'd like a list of reasons why your pet should not be left alone outside, I'd be happy to respond.
If leaving the dog alone outside at night was the issue, I'd have a rescue dog NOW. Even our ruff tuff collie sleeps inside with us.
It's all the other stuff "in the animal's best interest" that the jobsworth's can't see past that gets me. And as a result, they end up killing a perfectly nice animal ....
Lannis
-
Lannis we got this all wrong. Instead of jailing and executing unwanted animals, we should be jailing and executing (sarcasm) animal owners who give up on their pets when they become a pain in the ass. And of course those who let non neutered cats and dogs roam the neighborhood.
-
I think a dogs worst fear is abandonment by his pack. Someone who would do that to an animal should be treated unpleasantly.
-
Y'all can flame away if you like but rules for adoption are in the animals best interest. We've rescued many dogs for lots of different reasons and leaving a dog outside when not home is not a good idea. If you'd like a list of reasons why your pet should not be left alone outside, I'd be happy to respond.
Adoption rules are not universal. So this thread started on the adoption rule that the dog must be in a cage all day when left alone. The example the women from the shelter gave was she crates her dog(s) for up to 10 hours a day.
I say that is cruel and if you are saying that is in the animal's best interest I would like a justification on the specific rule for caging a dog all day vs an outdoor fenced yard with shelter within the fenced area.
There are many ways that one can leave a dog outside while alone: some good and some real bad.
A large fenced in yard with adequate shade, water and protection from the elements is better than caged inside for 10 hours. The animal is still alone whether in the cage in the house or in a large fence enclosure with shade and shelter. But chaining any dog (BTW chaining dogs is illegal in my county in NC) for even a few hours to me is inhumane even if the dog has water and protection from the weather. I keep my border collie in the house free to roam in the house when we are not home yet my cats have a cat door and come and go as they please. We are surround by 200 acres of woods/state park and just a couple of houses and I still keep him inside when we are gone. Mostly because I do not trust him. I think he would roam. 40 years ago I had a border collie that lived to be 17: she never left even though she was free to roam. Only when she started to loose her hearing and eyesight did I move her indoors when I was not home. I now keep my dog or dogs inside when gone. Mostly because I can afford AC all day in the summer. But what if I lived in a trailer without A/C. Do I not own a dog because I dare not keep it inside during the summer without A/C? I think a good secured fence with shade and a dog house is better than a trailer without A/C.
-
If you need a dog, you can do what I recently did. On my way back from the concrete jungle of Atlanta, I noticed a number of cars flashing their lights to on coming traffic. I slowed thinking a local cop was fishing in hopes of ruining someone's Thanksgiving weekend. Instead, I found several cars stopped on the side of the road and a few parked in the road, all with flashers on, and a group of people standing on the side of the highway. I didn't notice and damage to the vehicles, so my curiosity got the better of me and I stopped.
What I found both aggravated me, but ultimately bought us happiness. Some jerk had dropped off his female dog and her many puppies. One had been hit by a car, and was being rushed to the local vet clinic as I approached. There were two more being held by bystanders. My son and I learned others were or had tried to rescue a few more, but they followed the freaked out mom into the woods. A man that lived about 2 blocks away told us this is a common occurrence at this location on HWY 515, many pets dropped off at this spot.
I started talking to the people and asked to hold one of the puppies, my son took the other on into his arms. Most of the people that had stopped were on their way to parts north for family reunions in a rented cabin, the others had no where to keep a puppy. So, we made the split second decision to rescue these little girls and take them home.
I am pleased to report that we were able to find a home for one of them (a woman who had just lost a dog after 16 years), the other we kept. Peppa has brought us more joy than the pig who abandoned them on the side of the road could ever imagine. My oldest son took one look at her and asked if he could have her. Peppa has adjusted to the pack and even the alpha bitch Aucilla, another stray I rescued while living in Argentina, has accepted her and treats her like the puppy she is.
-
I agree that the humane society has to have some pretty strict rules. Why? Idiots.
They have to do something to keep people from treating the pets like trash. The rules are one way to do that. I don't like some of the rules but I respect them for trying to make sure a dog isn't mistreated. We also have the gangs and drug dealers who like to get dogs and treat them like s&&& so that they become rabid 'guard' dogs. These days they are using breeds other than Pitbulls so as not to attract too much attention.
Yes, many dogs are comfortable outside. Here in my neck of the woods it is dangerous. Packs of wild dogs and coyotes roam looking for 'outside dogs'. You may think your dog is tough, but, a pack of coyotes will kill it in minutes if they have a mind to. And, yes, I have watched the process in action, from locating the dog, stalking it, luring it into the open and killing it.
Cages? We used one for our dog (Old English Sheepdog) until she was almost full grown. And, yes, she stayed in it whenever we left the house, sometimes for 6-8hrs, and she slept in it at night. She preferred it to the regular dog bed and kept sleeping in it for almost a year after she was full grown. Our daughter and her husband also cage one of their dogs during the day when they go to work. It seems to calm him down a lot more than letting him roam the house (Jack Russell mix).
So, cages are not evil and making rules for the general welfare of the animals is necessary in these days of neglectful or abusive owners.
-
Almost all my dogs I've ever had as an adult have been "rescued", some from on the side of the road, some from owners who no longer wanted them. Don't worry, I'm not a hoarder!
My 18 year old 50-60 pound mutt has a long, thick winter coat and refuses to come inside the house for more than 5 minutes at a time during the winter. He prefers staying in the garage or doggy room in the garage - former office & has central air & heat, but the door stays partly open to the garage and it doesn't get real hot. He has access through a doggy door to the large fenced backyard. The 16 year old blind MinPin prefers to stay in the "doggy room" where she wraps herself up in a blanket to sleep, and will find her way through the garage and out the doggy door where she loves to bask in the sun during the day.
The others, 2 short-haired 3 yr olds, go in and out as they please, but prefer to stay out if it's pretty. At night they sleep in crates inside and will each go to his/her own when it's time.
I have three large dog houses outside, huge shade trees, a doggy door to the garage, and a doggy room in the garage water buckets scattered around outside and inside, and 2 or 3 kiddie pools. Yes, the blind MinPin will get in the pool all by herself during the summer. They have excellent veterinary care. They are all well adjusted, happy, friendly, mostly quiet dogs.
If I applied to adopt a dog through a Rescue group, I would probably be turned down!
Oh, and guess what. My truck doesn't get to live in the garage, but my motorcycles do!
Beaver
-
When ever I'm boring my dogs choose this as their favorite spot.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/fotoguzzi/IMG_1141_zpsu0one2j9.jpg)
-
Almost all my dogs I've ever had as an adult have been "rescued", some from on the side of the road, some from owners who no longer wanted them. Don't worry, I'm not a hoarder!
My 18 year old 50-60 pound mutt has a long, thick winter coat and refuses to come inside the house for more than 5 minutes at a time during the winter. He prefers staying in the garage or doggy room in the garage - former office & has central air & heat, but the door stays partly open to the garage and it doesn't get real hot. He has access through a doggy door to the large fenced backyard. The 16 year old blind MinPin prefers to stay in the "doggy room" where she wraps herself up in a blanket to sleep, and will find her way through the garage and out the doggy door where she loves to bask in the sun during the day.
The others, 2 short-haired 3 yr olds, go in and out as they please, but prefer to stay out if it's pretty. At night they sleep in crates inside and will each go to his/her own when it's time.
I have three large dog houses outside, huge shade trees, a doggy door to the garage, and a doggy room in the garage water buckets scattered around outside and inside, and 2 or 3 kiddie pools. Yes, the blind MinPin will get in the pool all by herself during the summer. They have excellent veterinary care. They are all well adjusted, happy, friendly, mostly quiet dogs.
If I applied to adopt a dog through a Rescue group, I would probably be turned down!
Oh, and guess what. My truck doesn't get to live in the garage, but my motorcycles do!
Beaver
If there's such thing as re-incarnation, I want to come back as one of Beaver's dogs, sounds like they get exactly what they want ;D
-
When ever I'm boring my dogs choose this as their favorite spot.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/fotoguzzi/IMG_1141_zpsu0one2j9.jpg)
Pretty much where my pooches hang out too.
-
I got yer heartwarming shelter story right here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/25/dog-with-broken-back_n_6524468.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592
-
I neither patronize nor donate to any "humane society". They seem to have lost their way about who benefits from their services.
-
My dogs would go nuts if they were crated for 10 hours every day.
Beaver
Just as an aside, how does Tex do after ten hours in the cage? I mean, he's already nuts, so he can't "go" there.
-
I got yer heartwarming shelter story right here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/25/dog-with-broken-back_n_6524468.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592
http://www.examiner.com/article/jaw-dropping-conditions-as-veterinarian-inspected-failed-klein-animal-shelter
Sadly, this is happening in my territory!
In addition to Henry in Rodekyll's article, there was a Chihuahua with two broken front legs left unattended which had been walking on his hind legs for weeks. WEEKS! :o He was also rescued out of the Klein Animal Shelter by Dr Spence and is up for adoption.
Rescuers, former employees, and concerned citizens have been complaining about Klein for a long time now, but nothing has been done until just recently when it was "raided" and the director and two other employees were arrested. Investigation is still ongoing and others may be arrested.
You can't just blame the director in this case. For the past several years, the city of Tyler in Smith County, over 100,000 people, has not had an animal shelter. They contracted with Klein to bring all the strays to their facility, over 30 miles away in Jacksonville, Cherokee County. Several times a week, Tyler Animal Control would take a truckload of dogs to Klein. In addition, Klein also accepted all the Cherokee County dogs, strays and owner surrenders. They soon became overwhelmed with dogs and cats and the killings began. It was a nightmare for years, yet Tyler and Jacksonville just turned their heads and pretended nothing was happening. Finally some Rescue groups got together and made the investigation happen. Tyler, Smith County, East TX SPCA, and Nicholas' Pet Haven have all been talking about building shelters for Tyler and Smith County. Nicholas' Pet Haven was started by a 13 yr old boy, with the help of his parents of course, and he will probably have his built and opened before the others do.
East Texas is also known for it's many dog fighting rings so I do understand the reasons for applications, interviews, home visits, vet checks, etc to make sure the dog goes to a good home. I just don't understand why a Great Pyrenees or a St Bernard or any thick haired dog or a working dog needs to stay inside a home inside a crate. Yes, I have crates and use them, but I don't keep my dogs locked up all day every day.
Just as an aside, how does Tex do after ten hours in the cage? I mean, he's already nuts, so he can't "go" there.
Yeah, just imagine Tex caged for 10 hours. He may be in the dog house sometimes, but I can't get him in the crate! He's a workin' dog and he would totally lose whatever mind he's got left! ;) ;D
Oh and he's got outdoor cats! Oh my! Yeah, they are feral, but he is finally able to pet them and hold them and cuddle them and they'll be heading off to the vet soon! They stay on his covered front porch, in his barn, and in his hen house (no hens!) and sometimes sneak into his garage!
Beaver
-
I'm not saying that you have to crate your dog in your house all day when you're gone although most vets will tell you it's good for your dog and has a calming effect. Before I retired our Sophie got her hind leg hung up trying to get over the fence in our back yard, had I not got home and found her, she would have died from the heat. I vowed never to do that again. She always had plenty of water and a dog door into the garage but since she was not able to get to either, she almost died. I had to lay her in a kiddie pool filled with cool water for over an hour and it took her a week to fully recover.
She has never been crated but now since getting hung up in the fence, she is never alone outside. When we're not home she is in the house and free to roam the house. Whe I was still working, I was fortunate enough most of my work was on a computer and I even looked in on her once in awile with my webcam..... (https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1512736_10201792933479980_620293666_n.jpg?oh=614c76de7db0fc3646221799615bff68&oe=555A7FAB)
Dogs and puppies we rescued were obviously crated when we were not at home and Sophie and Ellie (recently lost to cancer) would babysit our rescues in the yard and herd them back in the house when I went and called them..... http://youtu.be/WaD4e8vOX8c
Ya gotta realize that there are so many things that can happen to your dog when left out alone in a fenced yard from cops that shoot it because a neighbor complained or thought they were threatened to kids abusing your pet to bad weather, to predator animals to getting hung up in youi fence and not able to get to shelter or water.
They depend on you to take care of them.
-
One VERY important rule when crating a dog. No collar. Our Lab got his collar hooked and nearly killed himself struggling to get free.
-
This can happen: A bunch of dogs were stolen in Wise county, just northwest of Dallas-Ft Worth area.
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/Dozens-of-Dogs-Possibly-Stolen-Out-of-Wise-County-289537771.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CTBrand
Also, I had read that a bunch of dogs were stolen in Mesquite, just east of Dallas, seems like about this same time, in the same part of town where my daughter lives. She has a big dog that stays inside all the time and never leaves her outside when she's gone.
So far my small town is still fairly safe. Even the cops try to find the owners instead of taking the stray dog to the local kennels.
Beaver
-
Not all people are good so there are rules to try and prevent the bad ones from getting a dog.
A properly sized crate is not a cage but is a den to the dog. It has to be snug without being too small, and if larger than that, will seem to be a cage.
RBOE is right on this! I used to think it cruel. But our rescue Pitbull LOVES her crate! That is her den and sanctuary. She sleeps in our room at night on a dog bed and is very happy. She strolls into her crate without even being told if she thinks we are going somewhere. BTW, if you have never owned a Pit bull, what a cool dog they can be! ;-T I have my own personal shadow and stalker! Awesome and gentle family dog! Funny thing is our cats love her crate too and she shares it with them.
-
The crate (we call it the "kennel") is the dog's 'safe place' -- exclusively theirs and theirs alone. If in doubt, if you think you're in trouble, or if you're underfoot, you can't get in trouble by going to the kennel. The right size crate is a secure and friendly place for the dog. Ours would want to sleep and loiter in theirs, and even a trip to the vet was palatable if the dog traveled by crate. If we had to leave them with someone due to our not being home, the kennel made the stranger's house immediately acceptable.
-
Living out in the country, we get lots of dogs dumped in our area. Three of our four dogs came to us this way. They're all pretty small; two Chihuahuas, a Fox Terrier, and a Blue Heeler (our old boy, Max). We built our house with a climate-controlled, tile-floored den with a dog-door leading to a 3/4 acre fenced yard. We try to also walk them daily outside the dog-yard to give them exercise and control their anxiety about the "outside world". At night, they all sleep in their crates, which we cover with fabric to create a cavelike vibe. We put them to sleep when we go to sleep and let them out when we wake up. Despite the "dog politics" associated with having four males, this has worked out pretty well.
Our local Parish Humane Society provides veterinary care for our boys at their clinic. This facility is a "no-kill" shelter for both dogs and cats. They network with other shelters to place animals and sponsor monthly mutt-struts with local business to promote adoptions and spay/neuter initiatives. We're lucky to be in an area that advocates for animals pretty generously, despite unenlightened behavior from a minority of abusers. They even have almost free veterinary care at an annual event called Woofstock. I expect that ours is a bit of a model facility, but I have yet to work with any Humane Society that wasn't trying all they could to make life better for companion animals. Be patient with them and give them the benefit of the doubt. Nearly all of them are operating on a shoestring...
-
I agree that the humane society has to have some pretty strict rules. Why? Idiots.
Not only this, but when these idiots, full of their own entitlement and their own accumulated wisdom about how to take care of a dog or cat, come up to the counter, who's going to deal with them? Some highly trained professional, maybe with some veterinary experience to back up what he's saying, and lots of street smarts to help him sift out the guy who really does have a dog heaven at home out of all the manipulative losers? Ha, no. I don't know if they have paid staff at all, but if they do, it's going to be a warm body who's willing to do that work for very little. So they draft up rules that serve fairly well for 98% of potential owners - the urban/suburban masses - and they tell the lady at the counter to stick to the book.
Too bad that truckloads of dogs and cats have to be snuffed out? Solve that problem at the source. Here's another class of idiot: local news yesterday ran a story on a woman who bought a part-Akita mongrel puppy for over $400 (!?) from some guy at a parking lot rendezvous, via craigslist. Didn't last long, had parvovirus, so she's out big bucks for vet fees and also very sad. Could it be that she learned something from this, and - even more optimistically - others will see the light after reading this sad story? Well, I hope so, but I doubt it. It's just like kids: when you decide you're going to have a kid, or a dog or cat, it's just your inalienable right to do that regardless of whatever, and furthermore you're a pillar of society for taking on this burden and people ought to help out instead of getting in the way. So backyard breeding is a money making proposition for someone with a rural address and neither skills nor conscience.
Where to store your dog all day? I agree that a crate serves pretty well, it's like the den they'd dig in the wild, that's what they tell me anyway. But the problem isn't where you store it, it's that your dog is alone for like 20 hours a day. Dogs are social critters. I've seen a few dogs that go everywhere with their owners, and it's like another species. None of the frantic, grovelling enthusiasm of the dog who's being treated to its twice daily 10 minute social contact, these guys are rather cool and focused. Maybe one dog in a hundred. The other owners ought to have gone with a cat.
-
Dogs are social critters. I've seen a few dogs that go everywhere with their owners, and it's like another species. None of the frantic, grovelling enthusiasm of the dog who's being treated to its twice daily 10 minute social contact, these guys are rather cool and focused. Maybe one dog in a hundred. The other owners ought to have gone with a cat.
Well, there's a dark side to that too. We take our Border Collie with us everywhere that is APPROPRIATE to take a dog. Many of our local supply stores and hardware stores are dog-friendly, and we can always walk through town with Jack when we go.
But too many people take a dog everywhere. Places it's not appropriate for a dog to be. Places where the dog has to stay in a car too long by himself in not-so-good conditions. Not everyone wants to be around dogs all the time.
So you have to have a home solution too ..... just socializing him by "taking him everywhere" won't work .....
Lannis
-
My take on all this is quite simple. The HS is the last hope for these dogs before being put down. They should encourage adoption and make it much easier or the dogs are put to death. Beyond simple basic questions and hoops to jump through (more to educate the adopter of what to expect in dog ownership and what's to be expected), the need to get these dogs out of there is greater than the need to make sure every home is perfect to their standards. The bad homes still won't outweigh the death of these animals that never find a home. If they never put dogs down than I'm full of hot air.
-
My take on all this is quite simple. The HS is the last hope for these dogs before being put down. They should encourage adoption and make it much easier or the dogs are put to death. Beyond simple basic questions and hoops to jump through (more to educate the adopter of what to expect in dog ownership and what's to be expected), the need to get these dogs out of there is greater than the need to make sure every home is perfect to their standards. The bad homes still won't outweigh the death of these animals that never find a home. If they never put dogs down than I'm full of hot air.
Yep, in a nutshell.
Lannis
-
I've seen a few dogs that go everywhere with their owners, and it's like another species. None of the frantic, grovelling enthusiasm of the dog who's being treated to its twice daily 10 minute social contact, these guys are rather cool and focused. Maybe one dog in a hundred. The other owners ought to have gone with a cat.
There are breeds that are real good for that. Others, not so much. Working dogs such as Australian Shepherds and Blue Healers excel at this.
Some high-energy dogs and aggressive dogs are rarely good for this.
It varies by breed and by individuals within the breed.
-
My take on all this is quite simple. The HS is the last hope for these dogs before being put down. They should encourage adoption and make it much easier or the dogs are put to death. Beyond simple basic questions and hoops to jump through (more to educate the adopter of what to expect in dog ownership and what's to be expected), the need to get these dogs out of there is greater than the need to make sure every home is perfect to their standards. The bad homes still won't outweigh the death of these animals that never find a home. If they never put dogs down than I'm full of hot air.
Absolutely ;-T
-
But what kind of home? Would it be ok if they let the dog go and then it gets chained up 24/7? I'd rather see a dog put down then let go to be tortured for the rest of his life.
The 'nutshell' is how do you tell the difference between a home that will be good to the dog and one that is not? That's why they have the rules. And, no, your 'word' would not be good enough to someone who does not know you.
-
Another consideration is that some dogs should not be 'rescued'. Some animals in the HS BELONG there. They have character problems or health issues that make them unsuitable for general society.
When I was a kid our farm was the final stop for all sorts of psychotic, malsocialized, dna-deficient animals from Banty roosters to plow horses, mostly thanks to my sister, who could be late for school on account of rescuing worms from puddles on the long walk in.
I was once chased not just into, but across a lake by a pair of deranged Shetland ponies (the nastiest of the ponies). These fellas were 'rescued' from a travelling carnival and a life of giving kiddie rides in a circle at the end of a long pole. They hated children, circles, and poles. Before we gave up on them they'd bitten, kicked, thrown, and stomped everyone but mom. When dad would threaten to end the tyranny, we'd plead for their lives -- we knew what 'rendering' is.
As we grew up and the ponies began threatening our dates and stomping bicycles we finally conceded the war and had them hauled off. The less ornery one for some goofy reason got yet another reprieve, probably because it was too mean to die. I was in my 20s when it finally did, which means the pony was pushing 30 or better.
-
There are breeds that are real good for that. Others, not so much. Working dogs such as Australian Shepherds and Blue Healers excel at this.
Some high-energy dogs and aggressive dogs are rarely good for this.
And of course one must have the sort of dog one must have, regardless of the suitability of the breed or personal circumstances, so there you go. I'm just saying, cruel is the rule, when it comes to dog ownership, and the fact that they slobber all over you with gratitude when you pay them a little attention doesn't prove otherwise. Dogs ought to have a trade union.
-
My take on all this is quite simple. The HS is the last hope for these dogs before being put down. They should encourage adoption and make it much easier or the dogs are put to death. Beyond simple basic questions and hoops to jump through (more to educate the adopter of what to expect in dog ownership and what's to be expected), the need to get these dogs out of there is greater than the need to make sure every home is perfect to their standards. The bad homes still won't outweigh the death of these animals that never find a home. If they never put dogs down than I'm full of hot air.
Uh...no. There are people that make a habit of adopting dogs, some are hoarders, some are abusers, some are dog fighting promoters, some adopt to keep their kid happy for a few minutes and then when they find out it requires work to care for a pet the pet is neglected or abused. Nobody wants to see innocent animals euthanized but sometimes it's a better option than the animal being in the hands of irresponsible idiots.
We've rescued many dogs that were from idiots that were allowed to adopt by less than reputable shelters and Walmart parking lot hawkers.
-
Uh...no. There are people that make a habit of adopting dogs, some are hoarders, some are abusers, some are dog fighting promoters, some adopt to keep their kid happy for a few minutes and then when they find out it requires work to care for a pet the pet is neglected or abused. Nobody wants to see innocent animals euthanized but sometimes it's a better option than the animal being in the hands of irresponsible idiots.
We've rescued many dogs that were from idiots that were allowed to adopt by less than reputable shelters and Walmart parking lot hawkers.
Ok Tobit, there you go! You are a loser that deserves no pet. A true abuser and hoarder. I guess you have been found out. :winer
-
Ok Tobit, there you go! You are a loser that deserves no pet. A true abuser and hoarder. I guess you have been found out. :winer
Hmmm..just re-read my post to see if I owe Tobit an apology.........uh, nope. Rules set up by HS and many other shelters are there for good reasons, I don't think they're designed just for Tobit, the rules are in place to protect the animals. No need to be sarcastic, these are things I've learned after many years doing animal rescue. Do you think there should be no rules in place for adoption or just let anyone that walks in off the street adopt without showing they're prepared to care for a pet or was your response because of too many of these :BEER: ?
-
As stated before, I think very basic rules should be stated so that these animals can get the heck out of the "Dead animal walking" penetantery. If this means a few won't be sufficiently cared for for the many that are, so be it. Tobit is one that would and now he's not good enough. Funny how both he and a dog on death row lose.
Too many rules= too many exclusions= too many deaths
-
If this means a few won't be sufficiently cared for for the many that are, so be it.
Your confidence in the basic goodness of human nature is refreshing, but my theory is that the problem with this kind of thing is that this basic goodness is powerful enough to draw people to the shelter to rescue a dog, when it often isn't strong enough to keep them on track with the dog once they have it. Hoarders are a classic case of this, they see themselves as rescuers of their animals and it's impossible to convince them otherwise, and the difference between a hard core hoarder and the more average unsuitable owner is just a matter of degree. That, and the percentage of people with zero goodness is higher than we'd like to believe, e.g., dog fighting guys who are down there looking for "bait" dogs.
-
I think it's inhumane to keep any dog in a house - period!
-
I once saw a kid with a box of just weaned pups and a sign that said, "fresh delicious puppies 50 cents a pound.
I think he got rid of them all that day.
-
Here is a great link about homesteading in the wilderness with dogs. It's well done and these people take care of there animals.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/remote-homesteading-with-dogs-zbcz1311.aspx
They have 3 German shepherds and do not take any chances.
To quote:
"We have a 1600 square foot fenced in back yard for our dogs with a fence that is 6 feet high. Even then our dogs are not allowed in the back yard without one of us being out there with them".
-
Here's our shelter dog. Had her since Oct. and she is an awesome character!
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b155/rgmaund/PART_1419793045847_20141227_132233-1_zps254189ff.jpeg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/rgmaund/media/PART_1419793045847_20141227_132233-1_zps254189ff.jpeg.html)
-
When I read this stuff about the dogs on the freeway and that one with the broken legs it makes me sick.
Its 1974 or 75 and I am driving a propane truck for Thermogas. I cover the farm lands about a 30 mile radius around Effingham (arm pit of the midwest) Illinois. I am on I-57 headed back to the shop to refill. Up ahead I see cars slowing down and an injured dog laying in the middle of the interstate moving around and trying to get up. On the side of the road is another dog; a friend no doubt trying desperately trying to reach its injured companion. It would step out into the lane only to be chased back by speeding oncoming traffic.
I pull my delivery truck over. I manage to get the injured dog off he highway and into the cab. I cannot gather in the other dog as it is frightened and runs from me.
I could have taken the dog back to Effingham, about 15 miles away but I know the countryside like the back of my hand. I look and and reference the side roads and houses from the interstate. I see some country homes down a dead end road not far off the interstate. So off I head to the next exit and find my way back to the most likely home of this dog. I easily find my way to the road and the homes that were only a short distance from the interstate but it took country roads to get there.
Amazingly I find the owner of the dog. He says yes that is mine. Looks no good to me anymore. I'm gonna take em out back and shoot em. I was devastated. My good deed turning into the death of a perfectly viable dog. I drove back to town depressed and saddened.
-
Its 1974 or 75 and I am driving a propane truck for Thermogas. I cover the farm lands about a 30 mile radius around Effingham (arm pit of the midwest) Illinois. I am on I-57 headed back to the shop to refill. Up ahead I see cars slowing down and an injured dog laying in the middle of the interstate moving around and trying to get up. On the side of the road is another dog; a friend no doubt trying desperately trying to reach its injured companion. It would step out into the lane only to be chased back by speeding oncoming traffic.
I pull my delivery truck over. I manage to get the injured dog off he highway and into the cab. I cannot gather in the other dog as it is frightened and runs from me.
I could have taken the dog back to Effingham, about 15 miles away but I know the countryside like the back of my hand. I look and and reference the side roads and houses from the interstate. I see some country homes down a dead end road not far off the interstate. So off I head to the next exit and find my way back to the most likely home of this dog. I easily find my way to the road and the homes that were only a short distance from the interstate but it took country roads to get there.
Amazingly I find the owner of the dog. He says yes that is mine. Looks no good to me anymore. I'm gonna take em out back and shoot em. I was devastated. My good deed turning into the death of a perfectly viable dog. I drove back to town depressed and saddened.
That sort of thing is why I don't "look for the owner" of a dog found on the road, injured or not, any more.
The likely chance is either that:
1) They'll do like yours did and just shoot it if it's a hunting or fighting dog, ie an "appliance".
2) They'll rave and scream at you and the other drivers on the road and threaten to call the cops for hurting or killing their precious little Princess that wouldn't hurt a flea.
The fact of the matter is that anyone who would let their dog be in a situation where the dog would run out into traffic should not be allowed to have a dog. It's like letting your two-year-old run around out the highway without paying attention to it.
I'll take an abandoned dog to a vet or shelter, not to the "owner". They can come pick it up if they like. Sure, a dog can get away by accident if the underground invisible fence is cut or he digs his way out, etc. But that's not the usual situation, especially around here. Dogs run loose in the road - if they get killed, well it was just a dog, plenty more where that came from .....
Lannis