Why Adopt? Because its the responsible thing to do. Dog in shelters are not damaged. They are in there due to a variety of reasons, most of which include families moving or being evicted, a family member being pregnant, families can no longer afford the dog due to the economy and job circumstances, sudden allergies, death in the family. Does that sound like damaged goods to you? Its bad circumstances, none of which are the animals fault.
These are some of the dogs we have pulled and helped.
150+ Dogs Rescued from Michigan Puppy Mill - May 2013
Life is finally beginning for more than 150 Jack Russell Terriers, Shiba Inus and Border Collies—all ages and at least four generations deep—that the ASPCA helped rescue from a substandard, unlicensed breeding facility in Michigan last week.
ASPCA responders discovered the terrified animals drenched from rain and mud and coated in their own waste, in Lake City, Michigan. Outdoor pens, with little protection from the elements and no access to clean water, were the only homes many of these dogs had ever known.
But just one week later, the dogs’ misery is coming to an end.
We’ll have more information on these resilient dogs soon, but for now: Know that these dogs are receiving the care and attention they deserve. Some have been placed with ASPCA partner shelters in the Midwest, where they will be available for adoption, and Thursday afternoon, more than a dozen arrived at the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Madison, New Jersey, to begin their long road to recovery and happy futures.
Although we’re succeeding on many fronts against puppy mills—passing stronger laws, increasing consumer awareness--untold numbers of dogs are still suffering. The ASPCA is doing everything we can to stop puppy mills. We were there to assist in Michigan last week, and thanks to your compassion and generosity, we’ll be there to answer the next call, too.
ASPCA responders discovered the terrified animals drenched from rain and mud and coated in their own waste, in Lake City, Michigan. Outdoor pens, with little protection from the elements and no access to clean water, were the only homes many of these dogs had ever known.
But just one week later, the dogs’ misery is coming to an end.
We’ll have more information on these resilient dogs soon, but for now: Know that these dogs are receiving the care and attention they deserve. Some have been placed with ASPCA partner shelters in the Midwest, where they will be available for adoption, and Thursday afternoon, more than a dozen arrived at the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Madison, New Jersey, to begin their long road to recovery and happy futures.
Although we’re succeeding on many fronts against puppy mills—passing stronger laws, increasing consumer awareness--untold numbers of dogs are still suffering. The ASPCA is doing everything we can to stop puppy mills. We were there to assist in Michigan last week, and thanks to your compassion and generosity, we’ll be there to answer the next call, too.
Here is Rosie's full story.
BECAUSE OF THIS: Everything's Rosie
https://www.facebook.com/MalibuRosie
This is a dog from a backyard breeder/hoarder in California. Do you know what your dog's parents look like?
On Wednesday, a disfigured dog was rescued from a backyard breeder. Almost unrecognizable as a dog, Rosie’s shocking appearance is the result of unscrupulous breeding practices.
Rosie was liberated from a Woodland Hills, CA backyard breeder/hoarder on June 20, 2012.
Rosie was born on Valentine’s Day 2010 – hard to believe she is not very old – but she is the victim of greedy and unethical behavior by a backyard breeder and dog hoarder in Woodland Hills, CA. Of all the dogs rescues workers got out of there, Rosie is in the worst shape.
I know that some find Rosie hard to look at right now – trust me when I say she is stunning on the inside. And, she has spirit, after all she survived two years of neglect in a filthy crowded house, so given the opportunity to thrive imagine what she can do. She is getting that chance because someone cared enough to contact me about her, I was crazy enough to respond, and hundreds of others have stepped up to send love, prayers, money for vet bills, and ideas on what I can do to help her.
This page is about her but it is also about me – Cinnamon Muhlbauer. Who am I? Why should you trust me with Rosie? That is not an easy question to answer because I can’t be everything to everybody – I can only be who I am – and that is a quirky, aging rocker chick, vegetarian that was born in CA, lived in WA for awhile, and now rents a house on a horse rescue ranch in the Santa Monica mountains of Malibu.
I suck at housebreaking or basic training of dogs but excel at nursing, rehabbing and providing care for the ones like Rosie. Google me, FB me, check me out on Linked In…I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done, I’m only ashamed of things I did not do, like smack the woman who did this to Rosie.
Finally, about the Chip In for Rosie. This is the first time I’ve raised funds for one of my rescues. I initially asked that donations be sent to Malibu Vet http://www.facebook.com/MalibuVetClinic?ref=ts for the Rosie fund but after so many people asked for a chip in, I set it up. Getting Rosie started on the new life is the easy part. Her long-term care is what concerns me and why I asked for help.
Her teeth will need to be cleaned at least every month and must be done by a non-anesthetic process. Her little bent legs could benefit from physical therapy and I would like to give her that chance. All of her bills will be posted here. I will keep everyone updated and my vet knows her information is open to anyone wishing to have it. Any questions, any comments, any suggestions, please email me, I am happy to answer!
This is a dog from a backyard breeder/hoarder in California. Do you know what your dog's parents look like?
On Wednesday, a disfigured dog was rescued from a backyard breeder. Almost unrecognizable as a dog, Rosie’s shocking appearance is the result of unscrupulous breeding practices.
Rosie was liberated from a Woodland Hills, CA backyard breeder/hoarder on June 20, 2012.
Rosie was born on Valentine’s Day 2010 – hard to believe she is not very old – but she is the victim of greedy and unethical behavior by a backyard breeder and dog hoarder in Woodland Hills, CA. Of all the dogs rescues workers got out of there, Rosie is in the worst shape.
I know that some find Rosie hard to look at right now – trust me when I say she is stunning on the inside. And, she has spirit, after all she survived two years of neglect in a filthy crowded house, so given the opportunity to thrive imagine what she can do. She is getting that chance because someone cared enough to contact me about her, I was crazy enough to respond, and hundreds of others have stepped up to send love, prayers, money for vet bills, and ideas on what I can do to help her.
This page is about her but it is also about me – Cinnamon Muhlbauer. Who am I? Why should you trust me with Rosie? That is not an easy question to answer because I can’t be everything to everybody – I can only be who I am – and that is a quirky, aging rocker chick, vegetarian that was born in CA, lived in WA for awhile, and now rents a house on a horse rescue ranch in the Santa Monica mountains of Malibu.
I suck at housebreaking or basic training of dogs but excel at nursing, rehabbing and providing care for the ones like Rosie. Google me, FB me, check me out on Linked In…I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done, I’m only ashamed of things I did not do, like smack the woman who did this to Rosie.
Finally, about the Chip In for Rosie. This is the first time I’ve raised funds for one of my rescues. I initially asked that donations be sent to Malibu Vet http://www.facebook.com/MalibuVetClinic?ref=ts for the Rosie fund but after so many people asked for a chip in, I set it up. Getting Rosie started on the new life is the easy part. Her long-term care is what concerns me and why I asked for help.
Her teeth will need to be cleaned at least every month and must be done by a non-anesthetic process. Her little bent legs could benefit from physical therapy and I would like to give her that chance. All of her bills will be posted here. I will keep everyone updated and my vet knows her information is open to anyone wishing to have it. Any questions, any comments, any suggestions, please email me, I am happy to answer!
UPDATE ON ROSIE: 7/13/12. FEELING BETTER AND LOVING THE WOMAN THAT SAVED HER.
Final Update. Rosie passed away. She did spend the final months of her life knowing love like she never had before.
BECAUSE OF THIS: BREEDING VS ADOPTION.
BECAUSE OF THIS: THE HORROR OF PUPPY MILLS AND BACKYARD BREEDERS.
When you buy from a "pet store" or "breeder", your purchase has helped kill 2 dogs; the 1 dog that was put down at the shelter that you didn't adopt, and the other dog that was waiting for his space at the shelter.
Also, you have helped the continued misery of the purchased dog's mother, stuck in a cage only to reproduce for profit of puppy millers. SEE ABOVE STORY.
YOU CAN STOP THE CYCLE OF ABUSE.
DON'T SHOP, ADOPT!
Also, you have helped the continued misery of the purchased dog's mother, stuck in a cage only to reproduce for profit of puppy millers. SEE ABOVE STORY.
YOU CAN STOP THE CYCLE OF ABUSE.
DON'T SHOP, ADOPT!
BECAUSE OF THIS: Puppy Mills. This happens in your state. Where did your dog come from? Don't know the answer? Most animals sold in pet stores come from here. Do the homework and find out.
Because Pet stores LIE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
SOMEWHAT GOOD NEWS. But they should outlaw puppy mills completely. One step at a time I guess. The people who run these operations are heartless, thoughtless small little souls that have no heart and no compassion. Pray for these people. Its sick. Completely disgusting and sick to make your money off the backs of helpless, caged, and sad little pups, who want nothing more than to live a life that has love, food and shelter. THATS NOT TO MUCH TO ASK FOR!
Pet Store Disclosure Bill Passed Unanimously Thanks in part to the many calls from PAWS Chicago supporters, the Illinois state legislature unanimously passed a bill that strengthens disclosure requirements on all dogs or cats made available for adoption or sale by pet shop operators in Illinois pet stores, including adoptions or sales available over the internet.
Sponsored by Rep. Susana Mendoza, D-Chicago, and Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, D-Evanston, and actively supported by Rep. Tom Cross R-Oswego, the bill requires pet stores to disclose information about the origination of all animals including the name and address of the breeder, a record of all veterinary conditions and treatments and information about congenital or hereditary defects of the animals’ parents. An acknowledgment of the disclosed information must be signed by the customer and an authorized representative of the pet shop before a sale can be finalized.
“Requiring the disclosure of a puppy or kitten’s origin and veterinary history will allow consumers to follow up with other important questions about the health of an animal or the type of breeding facility the animal was raised in before they add that animal to their family.”
-Sen. Schoenberg“Too many Illinois citizens have purchased puppies from pet stores only to find that their new best friend is terribly ill or even dying due to substandard breeding conditions and that they have inadvertently supported the cruel puppy mill industry,” said Rep. Mendoza. “This bill gives consumers basic information about where their puppy or kitten is coming from so that they can make an informed decision.”
The passing of the bill amends the Animal Welfare Act and Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and considers violations of the disclosure requirements as an unlawful practice.
This is terrific news for the thousands of dogs and cats who are often raised in mills – unlicensed dog and cat breeding facilities with substandard living and medical conditions – and are eventually sold, often with hidden diseases and illnesses, to unknowing consumers in pet stores.
“Requiring the disclosure of a puppy or kitten’s origin and veterinary history will allow consumers to follow up with other important questions about the health of an animal or the type of breeding facility the animal was raised in before they add that animal to their family,” said Sen. Schoenberg. “I’m pleased to have been able to pass a bill that protects families and encourages improved breeding conditions.”
Pet Store Disclosure Bill Passed Unanimously Thanks in part to the many calls from PAWS Chicago supporters, the Illinois state legislature unanimously passed a bill that strengthens disclosure requirements on all dogs or cats made available for adoption or sale by pet shop operators in Illinois pet stores, including adoptions or sales available over the internet.
Sponsored by Rep. Susana Mendoza, D-Chicago, and Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, D-Evanston, and actively supported by Rep. Tom Cross R-Oswego, the bill requires pet stores to disclose information about the origination of all animals including the name and address of the breeder, a record of all veterinary conditions and treatments and information about congenital or hereditary defects of the animals’ parents. An acknowledgment of the disclosed information must be signed by the customer and an authorized representative of the pet shop before a sale can be finalized.
“Requiring the disclosure of a puppy or kitten’s origin and veterinary history will allow consumers to follow up with other important questions about the health of an animal or the type of breeding facility the animal was raised in before they add that animal to their family.”
-Sen. Schoenberg“Too many Illinois citizens have purchased puppies from pet stores only to find that their new best friend is terribly ill or even dying due to substandard breeding conditions and that they have inadvertently supported the cruel puppy mill industry,” said Rep. Mendoza. “This bill gives consumers basic information about where their puppy or kitten is coming from so that they can make an informed decision.”
The passing of the bill amends the Animal Welfare Act and Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and considers violations of the disclosure requirements as an unlawful practice.
This is terrific news for the thousands of dogs and cats who are often raised in mills – unlicensed dog and cat breeding facilities with substandard living and medical conditions – and are eventually sold, often with hidden diseases and illnesses, to unknowing consumers in pet stores.
“Requiring the disclosure of a puppy or kitten’s origin and veterinary history will allow consumers to follow up with other important questions about the health of an animal or the type of breeding facility the animal was raised in before they add that animal to their family,” said Sen. Schoenberg. “I’m pleased to have been able to pass a bill that protects families and encourages improved breeding conditions.”
Why adopt? BECAUSE OF THIS:
Adopting from an Animal Shelter or Rescue GroupAnimal shelters and rescue groups are your best source for a new pet.
Shelters large and small always have a great selection of animals looking for new homes, from cats and dogs to birds and small animals, to horses and livestock. In fact, any type of animal available for sale at your local pet store or breeder is probably waiting for adoption in a nearby shelter.
Why a shelter or rescue group?
Locating your local shelter is easy »
Now go surfing! Once you have decided on the type of pet you are interested in there are a number of websites out there that bring the world of animals waiting for new homes right to your laptop. The Shelter Pet Project is the most comprehensive source of information on adopting a shelter pet. Don’t be surprised if you are inundated with options!
Waiting for just the right one? If for some reason you don’t find what you’re looking for right away, don’t be discouraged. Sadly shelters and rescue groups receive new animals every day, so keep checking back with them. Some groups also keep a waiting list, so they can call you if an animal matching your preference becomes available.
Visit your local shelter. Not every shelter or every pet is listed on the Shelter Pet Project, though, so it’s important to check the websites of your local shelter as well. And don’t forget to visit your local shelter in person—sometimes all it takes to find your perfect match is to look directly into a pet’s eyes and fall in love.
Shelters large and small always have a great selection of animals looking for new homes, from cats and dogs to birds and small animals, to horses and livestock. In fact, any type of animal available for sale at your local pet store or breeder is probably waiting for adoption in a nearby shelter.
Why a shelter or rescue group?
- 6–8 million pets end up in shelters each year; half of those will probably not be adopted.
- 25 percent of pets in shelters are purebreds. Breed-specific rescue groups always have purebred dogs and puppies looking for new homes.
- Most pets end up homeless through no fault of their own—"moving" and "landlord issues" are the top reasons people give for relinquishing their pets, meaning shelters and rescue groups are full of wonderful, family-ready pets.
- Pets adopted from shelters and rescue groups typically cost less than pets purchased or even acquired for free—once you add in the cost of vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, microchip, dewormer, and other "extras" included in your adoption fee, you'll probably be surprised what a bargain an adopted pet really is!
- Most shelters and rescue groups conduct through behavioral analysis of each pet to ensure that they will be the right fit for your family, dramatically improving the chances your new pet will fit right in.
- Shelters and rescue groups can provide advice on making your relationship with your pet the best it can be for the rest of his or her life, so you’ll never have to go it alone!
Locating your local shelter is easy »
Now go surfing! Once you have decided on the type of pet you are interested in there are a number of websites out there that bring the world of animals waiting for new homes right to your laptop. The Shelter Pet Project is the most comprehensive source of information on adopting a shelter pet. Don’t be surprised if you are inundated with options!
Waiting for just the right one? If for some reason you don’t find what you’re looking for right away, don’t be discouraged. Sadly shelters and rescue groups receive new animals every day, so keep checking back with them. Some groups also keep a waiting list, so they can call you if an animal matching your preference becomes available.
Visit your local shelter. Not every shelter or every pet is listed on the Shelter Pet Project, though, so it’s important to check the websites of your local shelter as well. And don’t forget to visit your local shelter in person—sometimes all it takes to find your perfect match is to look directly into a pet’s eyes and fall in love.
Breeders vs. Rescues. Worldwide Pet Overpopulation Epidemic, who's at fault?
No one can argue the fact that there is a worldwide pet overpopulation problem. In the USA there are 45 cats and dogs for every person born. Only one out of ten dogs born ever get a home. Only one out of 12 cats born ever find a home. Eight hundred dogs & cats are KILLED each HOUR. In Nashville, TN alone, there are 300-500 dogs and cats euthanized (killed) everyday within a 50-mile radius; there just are not enough homes out there for the amount of dogs and cats available for adoption. Can you imagine how many dogs and cats are killed worldwide daily? A pound in Nashville is reported to kill 95 of every 100 dogs that go in there—it's a vicious cycle.
In most cases even when a shelter calls themselves a "no-kill" shelter it simply means they give the dogs they don't want to a shelter that IS a kill shelter. So does that make it a true “no-kill”? No, not in my book, because the animals are not safe just because they end up there.
So where does the problem really lie? One would think it's 100% the fault of breeders and those whoops litters. But no, that is not the route of the problem, not by a longshot. Breeders are the effect of the problem, and the massive pet overpopulation is the aftermath. Yes, breeders, as a whole, are breeding more litters than there are homes for, yet, they are selling them. So why is that, why are breeders selling their litters when there's a worldwide pet overpopulation problem? Because people do not look at the purchase of a puppy or kitten as a lifelong commitment. Puppies and kittens are so cute, most are purchased on impulse. Who could, after all, resist that cute little face?
How many of you reading this article know someone, including yourself, who has purchased a dog or cat, only later to "get rid" of it for reasons you didn't anticipate. Your cute little puppy grew up, it digs holes in your yard, it barks too much, it chews your furniture, you feel sorry for it because you just can't give it the time it deserves, you can't afford its vet bills, you’re tired of dealing with its medical problems, it bites or growls at people because you didn't raise it to see humans as "Top Dog", it pees and poops all over your house, there are pet hairs all over the house, it's ruining your furniture, it's got a ton of energy and gets destructive/neurotic because you don't have the time to spend with it, you’re tired of putting the time into it, tired of cleaning the litter box, tired of walking the dog... the list of excuses for not keeping your pet goes on and on.
So what does one do? They take the dog and try to find it a new home. However this is not all that easy, as most are looking for cute innocent little puppies and kittens.
Yes, the problem lies with the general public who do not research and buy these pets without thoroughly thinking it through. Without doing their homework on the type of pet they should get, and without taking the time to learn what a dog really needs in order to be that perfect dog. They later "get rid" of their pet, passing them onto rescues or pounds. Later, most will end up "testing out" a different type of pet. The vast majority of people who adopt a puppy or kitten do not keep the animal for life. If this were to turn around and most people were to actually keep their pets through the good times and the bad, as they do their own children, the demand for these animals would go down. With less of a demand, breeders would not breed as many litters. Breeders are only breeding as many litters as they do because people are buying them. The demand for a cute little puppy or kitten is great because people do not keep the animal for life. Animals are recycled. If a breeder had a litter and could not sell the puppies, they would not keep having litter after litter. People are buying them, so breeders are breeding them. In a perfect world, breeders would breed less and force people to adopt from an animal rescue, but this is not a perfect world. The solution lies with the general public educating themselves; supply and demand, that's the solution. Lessen the demand and the supply will, on its own, lessen. The power lies within each and every one of us.
Another contributing factor to this huge problem is government intervention. The state-run dog pounds make it way took easy to unload the responsibility of owning a pet onto someone else. Most people can "get rid" of their dogs in one day. Almost anyone can take their pets to the pound.
It is very easy to "get rid" of a dog or cat at a local or state-run kill shelter (dog & cat pound), but it's not so easy to adopt a dog from one. Some years back my husband went to a state-run dog pound near his work and tried to adopt a dog. He was told it was the dog’s last day, yes it was going to be killed the next day. My husband told the shelter he wanted to adopt the dog. Upon doing his paperwork he was told he could not adopt the dog because he didn't live in that county. He explained he worked down the street, didn't live in the county but worked there. No, that was not acceptable, he was not allowed to adopt the dog. The pound was going to kill the dog, but would not adopt it out to a man who lived in the next county over. These state-run pounds have all kinds of rules and restrictions in place for adopting a pet, but not for dumping one. Yes, they will take your pet, and they will also kill it for you. Know if you take your dog or cat to one of these pounds chances are extremely high it will be dead in a month. The majority of cats and dogs that are taken to these state-run kill shelters are not adopted out, but are killed. One might as well save the taxpayers some money and kill the animals themselves. Sound harsh? Yes, it is, so don't take your pets to the pound. You took on this responsibility, now you must deal with it without dumping your problems onto someone else.
Another example (true story): a family was having a rough couple of days with their dog. The dog was getting into the trash and chewing things up inside the house (a sign of not enough exercise). The wife decided on a whim to take the dog to the pound while her husband was at work and the kids at school. Later that same night when her family returned home, she had a change of heart and decided she did not mean to take such drastic measures. The husband went to the pound to get their dog back. The pound would not return the dog. They had given it up and no longer owned it.
For more examples, read Trying to Save Buddy, an SPCA Dog from a High Kill Shelter, SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and A Senseless Death, a Misunderstood dog.
What needs to change...the attitude of the general public. When one decides to buy a cute little puppy or kitten, the decision should be looked at as a 10-15 year commitment. If one cannot, or does not, wish to commit this amount of time to a dog or cat, do not buy a puppy or kitten and then pass your problem off to someone else when it grows up and the situation does not work out as you envisioned it would. Just like when one decides to have a human baby, things will not be perfect. The child will not be perfect. They will be expensive and press us to the end with issues to deal with. Dogs and cats are not disposable and they are not all the same. Chances are, a type of dog that will fit into your lifestyle will not be the type of dog that will fit into your neighbor’s lifestyle. Sometimes there IS NO type of dog that will fit into your lifestyle, and if you want a pet, it's time to consider something else, something less demanding. This research should be done before you adopt a pet, it should not be a trial and error experience. With the internet so readily available, there is no excuse for not researching BEFORE adopting a pet.
It should be made harder to dump unwanted animals off at these state pounds, putting more responsibility on the pet owner. Maybe then people would think twice about buying a puppy or kitten when they were not sure if they were ready for the responsibility of owning one for life. These state-run shelters are hurting the pet overpopulation problem more than they are helping. The world would be a better place if there were not an easy place to dump your pets after you got tired of them. Let private no-kill rescues work with people who think they want to dump their dog. It needs to be harder for someone to dump an unwanted pet and never look back.
If you would like to try owning a dog or cat, but are not sure if you are a dog/cat person, start with a full-grown homeless dog or cat rather than adopting a puppy or kitten. Grown cats and dogs are easier to care for than kittens and puppies and you will not be contributing to the overpopulation problem should you decide it was not something you should have taken on. There are millions of wonderful dogs and cats that need homes.
People who adopt a cute little puppy or kitten without researching how a dog thinks, the type of pet they are getting, the care, time and responsibility it will need, and end up "getting rid" of your pet after it has outgrown that cute puppy or kitten stage, using one of the many common excuses for not keeping a pet—it is you who are the problem for the world’s pet overpopulation problem. Take the time to learn natural dog behavior BEFORE you decide to adopt.
No one can argue the fact that there is a worldwide pet overpopulation problem. In the USA there are 45 cats and dogs for every person born. Only one out of ten dogs born ever get a home. Only one out of 12 cats born ever find a home. Eight hundred dogs & cats are KILLED each HOUR. In Nashville, TN alone, there are 300-500 dogs and cats euthanized (killed) everyday within a 50-mile radius; there just are not enough homes out there for the amount of dogs and cats available for adoption. Can you imagine how many dogs and cats are killed worldwide daily? A pound in Nashville is reported to kill 95 of every 100 dogs that go in there—it's a vicious cycle.
In most cases even when a shelter calls themselves a "no-kill" shelter it simply means they give the dogs they don't want to a shelter that IS a kill shelter. So does that make it a true “no-kill”? No, not in my book, because the animals are not safe just because they end up there.
So where does the problem really lie? One would think it's 100% the fault of breeders and those whoops litters. But no, that is not the route of the problem, not by a longshot. Breeders are the effect of the problem, and the massive pet overpopulation is the aftermath. Yes, breeders, as a whole, are breeding more litters than there are homes for, yet, they are selling them. So why is that, why are breeders selling their litters when there's a worldwide pet overpopulation problem? Because people do not look at the purchase of a puppy or kitten as a lifelong commitment. Puppies and kittens are so cute, most are purchased on impulse. Who could, after all, resist that cute little face?
How many of you reading this article know someone, including yourself, who has purchased a dog or cat, only later to "get rid" of it for reasons you didn't anticipate. Your cute little puppy grew up, it digs holes in your yard, it barks too much, it chews your furniture, you feel sorry for it because you just can't give it the time it deserves, you can't afford its vet bills, you’re tired of dealing with its medical problems, it bites or growls at people because you didn't raise it to see humans as "Top Dog", it pees and poops all over your house, there are pet hairs all over the house, it's ruining your furniture, it's got a ton of energy and gets destructive/neurotic because you don't have the time to spend with it, you’re tired of putting the time into it, tired of cleaning the litter box, tired of walking the dog... the list of excuses for not keeping your pet goes on and on.
So what does one do? They take the dog and try to find it a new home. However this is not all that easy, as most are looking for cute innocent little puppies and kittens.
Yes, the problem lies with the general public who do not research and buy these pets without thoroughly thinking it through. Without doing their homework on the type of pet they should get, and without taking the time to learn what a dog really needs in order to be that perfect dog. They later "get rid" of their pet, passing them onto rescues or pounds. Later, most will end up "testing out" a different type of pet. The vast majority of people who adopt a puppy or kitten do not keep the animal for life. If this were to turn around and most people were to actually keep their pets through the good times and the bad, as they do their own children, the demand for these animals would go down. With less of a demand, breeders would not breed as many litters. Breeders are only breeding as many litters as they do because people are buying them. The demand for a cute little puppy or kitten is great because people do not keep the animal for life. Animals are recycled. If a breeder had a litter and could not sell the puppies, they would not keep having litter after litter. People are buying them, so breeders are breeding them. In a perfect world, breeders would breed less and force people to adopt from an animal rescue, but this is not a perfect world. The solution lies with the general public educating themselves; supply and demand, that's the solution. Lessen the demand and the supply will, on its own, lessen. The power lies within each and every one of us.
Another contributing factor to this huge problem is government intervention. The state-run dog pounds make it way took easy to unload the responsibility of owning a pet onto someone else. Most people can "get rid" of their dogs in one day. Almost anyone can take their pets to the pound.
It is very easy to "get rid" of a dog or cat at a local or state-run kill shelter (dog & cat pound), but it's not so easy to adopt a dog from one. Some years back my husband went to a state-run dog pound near his work and tried to adopt a dog. He was told it was the dog’s last day, yes it was going to be killed the next day. My husband told the shelter he wanted to adopt the dog. Upon doing his paperwork he was told he could not adopt the dog because he didn't live in that county. He explained he worked down the street, didn't live in the county but worked there. No, that was not acceptable, he was not allowed to adopt the dog. The pound was going to kill the dog, but would not adopt it out to a man who lived in the next county over. These state-run pounds have all kinds of rules and restrictions in place for adopting a pet, but not for dumping one. Yes, they will take your pet, and they will also kill it for you. Know if you take your dog or cat to one of these pounds chances are extremely high it will be dead in a month. The majority of cats and dogs that are taken to these state-run kill shelters are not adopted out, but are killed. One might as well save the taxpayers some money and kill the animals themselves. Sound harsh? Yes, it is, so don't take your pets to the pound. You took on this responsibility, now you must deal with it without dumping your problems onto someone else.
Another example (true story): a family was having a rough couple of days with their dog. The dog was getting into the trash and chewing things up inside the house (a sign of not enough exercise). The wife decided on a whim to take the dog to the pound while her husband was at work and the kids at school. Later that same night when her family returned home, she had a change of heart and decided she did not mean to take such drastic measures. The husband went to the pound to get their dog back. The pound would not return the dog. They had given it up and no longer owned it.
For more examples, read Trying to Save Buddy, an SPCA Dog from a High Kill Shelter, SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and A Senseless Death, a Misunderstood dog.
What needs to change...the attitude of the general public. When one decides to buy a cute little puppy or kitten, the decision should be looked at as a 10-15 year commitment. If one cannot, or does not, wish to commit this amount of time to a dog or cat, do not buy a puppy or kitten and then pass your problem off to someone else when it grows up and the situation does not work out as you envisioned it would. Just like when one decides to have a human baby, things will not be perfect. The child will not be perfect. They will be expensive and press us to the end with issues to deal with. Dogs and cats are not disposable and they are not all the same. Chances are, a type of dog that will fit into your lifestyle will not be the type of dog that will fit into your neighbor’s lifestyle. Sometimes there IS NO type of dog that will fit into your lifestyle, and if you want a pet, it's time to consider something else, something less demanding. This research should be done before you adopt a pet, it should not be a trial and error experience. With the internet so readily available, there is no excuse for not researching BEFORE adopting a pet.
It should be made harder to dump unwanted animals off at these state pounds, putting more responsibility on the pet owner. Maybe then people would think twice about buying a puppy or kitten when they were not sure if they were ready for the responsibility of owning one for life. These state-run shelters are hurting the pet overpopulation problem more than they are helping. The world would be a better place if there were not an easy place to dump your pets after you got tired of them. Let private no-kill rescues work with people who think they want to dump their dog. It needs to be harder for someone to dump an unwanted pet and never look back.
If you would like to try owning a dog or cat, but are not sure if you are a dog/cat person, start with a full-grown homeless dog or cat rather than adopting a puppy or kitten. Grown cats and dogs are easier to care for than kittens and puppies and you will not be contributing to the overpopulation problem should you decide it was not something you should have taken on. There are millions of wonderful dogs and cats that need homes.
People who adopt a cute little puppy or kitten without researching how a dog thinks, the type of pet they are getting, the care, time and responsibility it will need, and end up "getting rid" of your pet after it has outgrown that cute puppy or kitten stage, using one of the many common excuses for not keeping a pet—it is you who are the problem for the world’s pet overpopulation problem. Take the time to learn natural dog behavior BEFORE you decide to adopt.