Dumping Dogs

[puredelite]

We raise sheep, goats, chickens and ducks to supplement our income and altho we don't get many "drop-offs" they are not tolerated here. If throwing rocks and yelling at them doesn't convey a clear message that they better just travel on then the next course of action is more drastic and final. Most calibre of people that drop off unwanted pets are just too cheap to take them to the pound or too irresponsible to deal with the matter themselves.

 

[hencackle]

I live in the county, not far from the animal shelter, yet many animals have been dropped off here. I assume that the negligent person thinks the farmers around me need another dog or cat. Maybe my yard looks nice and welcoming to them...seeing the chickens free-ranging in my fenced backyard--that I have plenty of time and money to care for the dumper's litter of kittens or pups. I don't. My chickens and my 2 dogs are my limit, financially.

I have often told my dh that I would like to put up a huge banner in my front yard that reads, "PEOPLE WHO DUMP ANIMALS ARE COWARDS!"

Dh's reasoning for why some of the dumpers don't take their unwanted animals to the shelter: They have before, but they either got more animals later on or didn't spay the ones they have, and now they will be fined if they bring any more animals.

 

[lowry075]

The bottom lineis that dumping an animal, whatever the reason, is irresponsible. I have had animals I could not keep anymore, but I took the time to find homes for them. I didn't take them to a pound, I didn't ditch them to become someone else's problem.

I am sorry for the losses of your birds; it has got to be awful to see something you care for die because of an idiot pet owner. I sometimes think people should have to pass a compassion/ intelligence test to own animals.

 

[greymane]

Over the years, we have had two dogs that we had to part with due to compatibility issues with our other animals. We have never had a problem finding a good home. It only takes a little effort. I, too, would not be tolerent of stray dogs on our property. The safety and well-being of my animals comes before that of any others. Cats...well, what can I say, they are everywhere and can't do much about them. (Although, the dogs do a pretty good job of keeping them off the property.) Why is there no cat license and leash law??

 

[Sachasmom]

About five years ago our neighbors at the top of the hill moved out and left their cats! One of them came down the hill and plunked itself on our doorstep and said "Please feed me" so we did. He turned out to be an excellent cat, I just had to put him down this week (FIV) and I'm heartbroken.

We've had our share of dumps out here, but we're on a fairly high traffic road, so its possible they choose side roads for their dumps instead.

Over the years I rescued a beagle puppy in Dec, a German shepherd, a Great Dane mix and our current dog. We also had someones Pom show up and one of the neighbors hunting beagles wandered off while they were training it.

Our current dog is an excellent LGD (I trained her, she didn't start out that way but she has excellent instincts) so I am kinda glad someone didn't want her.

Our local CL is just overrun with ads for cats, kittens and dogs people don't want. (Don't get me started on some of the reasons!) and I think a lot of the shelters are full.

Our local shelters just had "Free cat day" and the one in the city is doing buy one cat, get one free! Sad.

 

[Oregon Blues]

One of the problems with abandoned animals here is that the pound charges $30 to turn in an animal.

They don't care if it is your animal or a stray that you are trying to save. I understand that they have expenses, but all that does is make the irresponsible people dump their pet instead of turning it in.

I know a pound that makes you show up and take counseling before you can turn in a pet. That might work for decent people who are at their wit's end, but it doesn't work for people who don't make commitments. They aren't going to take a class and pay money for a dog that they can throw out the car window for free as soon as they lose interest in it.

The local coyotes have an efficient program available for those who don't want their pets. I feel sorry for the pets who had the bad luck to end up in a home like that. The poor pet gets all the negative consequences and the negligent pet owner gets off scott free.

 

[KDailey]

In my opinion, most people that are dumping dogs are not dumping their own dogs. They're dumping dogs that were a nuisance in their own neighborhood or area and so no, they don't care about the dogs. There are some "gone wild" young dogs on our county road that people are trying to catch/shoot and more than likely will relocate them somewhere else to bother someone else...

 

[FunkyPizza Inc.]

Same thing happens out here to us. Its mostly Pit Bulls, but we have had some Great Pyrenees and some idiot even dumped a large ram out in the back field. We used to call animal control to come and get them but eventualy they started giving us attitude like we were calling them to get rid of our own animals. Now we don't bother and they all become food for the coyotes, which just encourages them to come after our cats and dogs. They are easier to catch then rabbits and squirrels after all.

KDailey I have to disagree, unfortunatly the world is full of as many cruel people as there are kind people.