| 1. "No-Kill" Shelters Aren't Totally | | | | 5. Your Dog May Bark in Chinese |
| In the website words of one of the firstno-kill | | | | Thanks to the publicity campaigns to get people |
| shelters, The San Francisco | | | | to spray or neuter dogs, some shelters are |
| SPCA: | | | | running low on popular small dogs and puppies. |
| "(We)guarantee to find a home for all | | | | They ensure a sufficient supply of adoptable dogs |
| San Francisco's adoptable cats and dogs | | | | by importing them from foreign countries. |
| - animals that are healthy and free ofserious | | | | Visit the website of the Taipei Abandoned Animal |
| behavior problems. Animals are euthanatizedonly if | | | | Rescue Foundation to see how happy they are to |
| they are too sick to be rehabilitated, ortoo | | | | have placed so many dogs in the United States |
| aggressive to be safely placed in a home." | | | | including at the Humane Society of Snohomish |
| 2. Tax Supported Shelters Can't | | | | County, WA and Pets Alive, a no-kill shelter in |
| Turn Down Anyone | | | | Middletown, NY. |
| No-kill shelters have been criticized for skimming | | | | They're not alone. A Tufts University 2000 study |
| the cream of abandoned pets and letting public, | | | | identified 6,000 dogs that had been brought into |
| tax-supported shelters deal with all the | | | | the U.S. from foreign counties including Puerto Rico |
| sick,aggressive and elderly animals. | | | | and Taiwan. |
| There is truth to this. If you take Fido to a no-kill | | | | The impact of so many dogs from unknown |
| shelter, you may be required to have a clean bill | | | | breeders and from countries with limited |
| of health from a Vet before the shelterwill accept | | | | veterinary medicine is completely unknown. |
| him. People who won't or can't afford this wind up | | | | 6. Shelters Are Not Dens |
| leaving Fido at the county shelter. | | | | Many dogs do not do well at shelters. Some dogs |
| 3. Some Adoptions Don't Take | | | | can adjust to kennel life but many others become |
| With the pressure from animal rightists to avoid | | | | fearful, frustrated,and overactive which makes |
| euthanizing animals, some shelters allow dogs to | | | | them even less likely to be adopted. |
| be adopted that shouldn't be. | | | | Many shelters simply do not have sufficient staff |
| The dogs have a history of biting or have chronic | | | | to exercise and play with each dog to the degree |
| health problems. Typically, these problems may | | | | the dog needs to become socialized. |
| not be disclosed or mentioned so casually, a new | | | | It's also extremely difficult to prevent the spread |
| dog owner doesn't understand the gravity of the | | | | of illnesses when you have so many pets in one |
| situation. | | | | location. There's a reason the term "kennel cough" |
| Some shelters claim they don't take puppy mill | | | | conjures up an image of sickly dogs. |
| dogs, but how could they possibly know the dog's | | | | 7. Owners May Not Have Told the Truth |
| background! You most certainly can teach an old | | | | The most common reason given for turning in a |
| dog new tricks, but only an experienced person | | | | pet is that the owner is moving and can't take |
| can train an aggressive dog. | | | | Fido with him. |
| If you ever decide to get a dog from a shelter, | | | | The moving may be true but begs the question |
| be sure to ask the if the dog has ever been | | | | of why didn't the owner try to place the dog |
| adopted and then returned. | | | | himself? If you paid $500 for a purebred, it's very |
| 4. Personnel Is Biggest Problem at Any Shelter | | | | likely you'd try to find a good home for him (if |
| Do you enjoy cleaning up after Fido? Imagine | | | | not resell him). |
| having to do it for a 100 strange dogs and for | | | | The dogs that wind up at shelters tend to be |
| Cujo as well as Lassie. Salaries are low and even | | | | dogs that aren't socialized or trained. They may |
| with government benefits, employee turnover is | | | | be capable of becoming gentlemen and ladies or |
| high. | | | | they may be neurotic, puppy mill (domestic or |
| At private shelters, the problem is worse because | | | | foreign) offspring who don't belong in any dog |
| so much depends on volunteers as I know from | | | | owner's home. |
| my volunteer days. How much time and attention | | | | At shelters as well as used-car lots, caveat |
| a pet receives is dependent totally on the number | | | | emptor. |
| and quality of the volunteers who participate. | | | | |