Let's Talk... The Pet Overpopulation 'Myth'

[WitchyWoman]

I agree that we should take care of our own before trying to resolve homeless animal issues in other countries; but, I also believe that animal overpopulation exists as long as there is 1 companion animal on the planet roaming the streets to survive. I would love to see more organizations from the US setting up education programs in countries that do not value the lives of animals as we do but am fully aware that cultural traditions are deeply imbedded and slow to change.

I have never had the misfortune of visiting an animal shelter in my state whose goal is to stay in business. Their goal is to stay in business until there are no longer animals who need the facilities. Most make barely enough money from adoption fees to care for the animals in the facility. A few staff receive a paycheck that just meets Oregon's minimum wage requirements; the majority of the staff are volunteers.

We import dogs from other states -- usually from high kill shelters in California.

We have a plethora of bully breeds in Oregon that are difficult to get adopted because of the myths about them. There's no way we would consider importing more until we could assure they would find appropriate homes here. This year our city government rejected a proposed bill supported by the police and sheriff's office to ban bully breeds and implement egregious fines on those who chose to ignore the ban. We are, thankfully, progressive in our thinking when it comes to animal welfare.

 

[Trish Allearz]

Well, our local shelter makes millions and cannot account for where the money is going.

I do like the program of taking the numerous Chis out of state to the east coast-- that's a great way to work on the situation.

The fact is-- though-- this ideal that we have in this country that there is a huge pet overpopulation crisis is what leads to breeding bans. I think there has to be a better way to deal with the situation than to lie and to support the AR versus actually DEALING with the situation.

If the money that went into the AR side of things was used to fix shelters and to support pet adoption, imagine how the system could change!

 

[Rafiki]

I love this ad from the Silicone Valley about a terrible Chihuahua up for adoption:
http://hssvacc.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-12-11T15:52:00-08:00&max-results=1

And, in regards to the "bully breeds", there is an organization that is placing these dogs into a photo booth and placing the pictures on the adoption sites. Pit bulls can seriously make the most goofy, ridiculously adorable faces! This action alone has save hundreds of these dogs from being euthanized. People see the actual dog instead of the myth.

 

[Trish Allearz]

I love this ad from the Silicone Valley about a terrible Chihuahua up for adoption:
http://hssvacc.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-12-11T15:52:00-08:00&max-results=1

And, in regards to the "bully breeds", there is an organization that is placing these dogs into a photo booth and placing the pictures on the adoption sites. Pit bulls can seriously make the most goofy, ridiculously adorable faces! This action alone has save hundreds of these dogs from being euthanized. People see the actual dog instead of the myth.

I absolutely loved that blog about the Chi. It's honest, it's hilarious and yes, it brings his attention to adopters who are the right (and wrong) homes for him. Looove it. Great marketing.

 

[Trish Allearz]

LOVE IT!

http://hssvacc.blogspot.com/2014/12/10-cats-uninterested-in-hellastorm.html

 

[Kristin]

I love this ad from the Silicone Valley about a terrible Chihuahua up for adoption:
http://hssvacc.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-12-11T15:52:00-08:00&max-results=1

And, in regards to the "bully breeds", there is an organization that is placing these dogs into a photo booth and placing the pictures on the adoption sites. Pit bulls can seriously make the most goofy, ridiculously adorable faces! This action alone has save hundreds of these dogs from being euthanized. People see the actual dog instead of the myth.

I love their photoshopping

 

[WitchyWoman]

Well, our local shelter makes millions and cannot account for where the money is going.

Then make them accountable. Ask to see the financial statements, make a stink, raise your voice.

There is so much inequality in funding depending on geographical location. We have 2 main shelters here. One is run by the county and takes in all the bully breeds. The other is the local humane society. They work together as well as they can considering one is fettered by state/city/county law and other is a bit more free in their decision-making. Both organizations are run out of sub-par facilities and have been trying for years (25 yrs in the case of the humane society shelter) to get funding for new facilities. I don't think I'll live to see the day. Southern Oregon is rural with high unemployment and we are the meth capitol of the west coast.

The one thing I don't like about how our local shelters operate is that there is no home check prior to adopting a dog to see if there really is a fenced-in yard, and no home check after adoption to follow up on how things are going. I am trying to convince one of the shelters to start such a program. Even volunteered to run it.

 

[Trish Allearz]

Then make them accountable. Ask to see the financial statements, make a stink, raise your voice.

There is so much inequality in funding depending on geographical location. We have 2 main shelters here. One is run by the county and takes in all the bully breeds. The other is the local humane society. They work together as well as they can considering one is fettered by state/city/county law and other is a bit more free in their decision-making. Both organizations are run out of sub-par facilities and have been trying for years (25 yrs in the case of the humane society shelter) to get funding for new facilities. I don't think I'll live to see the day. Southern Oregon is rural with high unemployment and we are the meth capitol of the west coast.

The one thing I don't like about how our local shelters operate is that there is no home check prior to adopting a dog to see if there really is a fenced-in yard, and no home check after adoption to follow up on how things are going. I am trying to convince one of the shelters to start such a program. Even volunteered to run it.

The hue and cry has been raised about the issue-- in fact, it's been raised repeatedly over the years.

I know in Henderson, they send out an AC officer to do a drive by of the house to see if the house has a fenced-in yard for those adopting dogs over a certain poundage. I think that's a good system-- takes very little time and can be incorporated into a normal routine of checking out neighborhoods and looking for strays.

 

[Eddies]

Maybe a little off topic but definitely uplifting...https://www.facebook.com/groups/KHTCsuccessstories/

 

[Eddies]

So I'm interested in your thoughts on this...

http://spanieljournal.com/33lbaughan.html

http://theothersideofar.weebly.com/myth-of-pet-overpopulation.html

We've been raised on the belief-- innate almost-- that our country is overpopulated with unneutered and unspayed pets. And even when we walk through some of our shelters....

So read-- and argue if you want-- but I think this is a great topic for a pet community

I firmly believe if Breeders held their babies long enough to spay/neuter them the entire populace would decline; I'm not a breeder, I've never had an inclination to mix a Chihuahua with a Great Dane but I have seen the results...unfortunately my "Idealistic" belief would not work because someone would still be out there mixing the species "just to see the results"...a natural fluke that works is not the same as throw a lion & a tiger in a cage & see a Ligor. Hmmm maybe I should stop using the keyboard today...lol.