LeeAnn

Thanks for working at the shelter...I know it is very rewarding. Not all shelter operate like the one in the article , there are plenty of no kill shelters out there. I doubt that a person looking to dump an animal much cares if its a no kill shelter of not, most just no longer want the animal.

Any one that really loves their animal will either find a way to work things out or find another home for thier pet or at the very least call a rescue that will find a home for them.Too many dump them at a shelter assuming they will be adopted,which sadly is often not the case.

You are fortunate to work in a shelter that does things right IMO. Not all work the way yours does.

Jaded2nite,

The shelter I work for does euthanize but it is not their first option. I hate it when the animals are put down and I don't always ask if I notice certain animals are no longer there.

I have found there are a lot of irresponsible pet owners
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I know, like Snoopy says, that not all shelters are like stated in the letter. The ones - most anyway - around here have evolved, and do get rescue agencies involved. The nasty ones are still around - and my Rudy was dumped at one of those few. Fortunately, a rescue found him - 1 day before he was to be put down.

Like Jaded said, if a serious emergency put me in the position of having to give up a pet, no way would I trust their future to luck-of-the-draw at some shelter. I'd make certain to place them myself, find a rescue who I trust to help so they would be safe and loved.

You can't blame the shelters for this - or the breeders or animals. People who buy them put them in this position. All my dogs - adopted (which all are now)or pure bred w/papers - were *fixed* and we kept them till the end. Breeders won't make puppies people don't buy.

To all the breeders out there who are out to make a "quick" buck, stop and think what harm you can create to families who will purchase purebred pups from you.

A couple of years ago we purchased a golden , he was adorable, and we totally fell in love with him on the spot.

he was the only male left, he had about 2 sisters in a pen outside, it was covered in feces... the dogs looked healthy and we didn't think anything was wrong.... it was a farm, which was huge.. We thought he had was given free reign of the place.

Well after a month he started showing aggression toward myself and my 5 yr old dd at the time... he would growl when he took something away from him.... this only got worse.. i contacted the breeder that first month and told her of my concerns.... I'm a stay at home my so i was with this pup 24/7...he would be aggressive towards me.... don't even give him a bell with treats and then go near him because he would growl and show his teeth... This is not normal behaviour.

She stated that it never happened before with her pups.... yeah right...

We had a trainer come to my house and she showed us some training ideas to help with the aggression... we even had him neutred.... no improvement...

It got so bad that the minute my dd would come down the stairs he would growl....the trainer told us that the minute he did that to put him in the crate and say "no"... well he nearly ripped my arm off....

I think alot of the breeders are only in it for the money...
I contacted the breeder again and said that i wanted my money back... and she said she couldn't do that but she could give me a pup from her next litter... not a chance!!!

We did everything for this poor pup.... ultimately we did find an excellent home for him... we gave him to an animal trainer she already had 3 dogs.... she was aware of his aggression and we stiputlated that he could not be around children ... We still keep in touch and she sends pics...

We do miss him but i will never buy from a breeder again... i will adopt from a shelter instead.

I know all breeders are not like this one....but this was my experience and i had to put the safety of my children first...


Having a pet is a lifelong committment and should be taking seriously...

I forgot to mention that the pups parent were older dogs.. i don't know how many times they have been bred but they shouldn't have been...


We were lucky nothing happened but it would have i have no doubt...

And then there are these kinds of breeders.
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Missouri - #1 state for puppy mills. Why they don't get arrested or charged with something is beyond my comprehension. There are no pictures here, just the story.
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Doody ,This Makes me Beyond ******!!!!! as long as people keep buying these animals it won't stop!! There are literally hundeds of animals in shelters and rescues that need homes, yet everyone wants a puppy or "Designer" dog..............ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG

My new Mantra is "DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!"

Ok off my soap box!! Sigh
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What's maddening about that situation is that they had already raided those people 2 years ago and took 150 dogs. I think it will get better as time marches on, I hope.

I remember your posting about all this. Everybody offered ideas when you asked, but despite your best efforts, nothing seemed to help. It was very sad.

I felt awful for you and dd. You did the right thing putting your child first.