The truth about most dogs lives.

[arabianequine]

Quote:
It is not legal to kill off dogs in this country. If you get caught you will be in a world of trouble. A vet should not if he has any ethical morals kill off an animal just cause you want him too instead of it going to a shelter and again not legal to kill cats and dogs yourself no matter how you do it.

Arabianequine: Not true. In my state, I can legally shoot my dog. I cannot abuse it. There is a difference. Dogs are recognized as property under the law and I can dispose of my property. I do not HAVE to surrender my property to a shelter, etc. I can bring my dog to the vet and ask him to put it down and 95% will abide by my wishes. Perhaps you live in a state where they are regulating your property, but not here. Also, if the neighbors dog is attacking my livestock I have the legal right to shoot it. The day I cannot decide the fate of my animals is the day I will never keep one again.

Just because it is legal does not mean I would do it. To me it would be abuse if for a selfish reason or act because of what you think of shelters. If the dog was not suffering or in pain. You don't have to give to a shelter but regardless of what the laws are I think it is wrong to kill an animal when perfectly healthy for your own reasons. I do not consider them as property necessarily either my animals are my friends, kids, and just like people to me I would not treat them any different and give them the best chance at life possible. Find a home before shelter fine but too kill it cause you think no one would treat it as good as you at a shelter and not try to find a home is not right.

I sat in a on a court case where dogs were killed by a neighbor of someone's because it was attacking and that was here in Washington I understand that to protect yourself and others.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I've adopted 3 cats from a shelter. 1 that showed up on my back door step. and 2 that I didn't get there Momma fixed in time! My dear Spook was thrown away at the age of 6 weeks into a graveyard. My new girl, Katie, was 1 day from being put down. She was the result of a backyard breeder not knowing what they were doing. She's deaf.

I can't say it enough times or loudly enough, SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!!! Most states now have places that do low-cost spay and neuter. I'm only paying $65 for Katie and I'm on disablity!!

Too animals are dying of starvation or being killed by the thousands daily.

 

[chickendude]

Quote:
If a vet has any ethical morals he will put the dog down if the owners ask, instead of sending a dog to HELL in a shelter.
If the vet has any ethical morals..he will put the dog down humanely..so the owners dont have to shoot their dog..

Just my opinion..

How would it be any different then from me going in to the doctor a doctor for people and tell him to kill me or my husband taking me in there to tell the doctor to kill me because I or my husband does not want me in a nursing home?

I don't think that is humane to just kill something cause it is your choice unless it is more humane to do so because there is a reason because the animal is in pain and suffering. Better off then and not adoptable anyways probably.

How would it be any different? Think about this one for a sec. You are a human not a dog. That is the difference. I don't believe Redhen is advocating random and unnecessary killing of pets. I believe they are speaking in terms if the animal has a problem or is causing a bad situation. I can remember putting down my German shepherd dog. He was 9 years old and loaded with cancer. The ride to the vet was a stressful situation for him. Sometimes I wish I put him down at home....his home not at some cold vets office.

 

[arabianequine]

There is a difference to me for one I could never kill my animals myself, and in your case it was justifiable to me to have the dog put down and the way you did. I said if they were in pain or suffering and not adoptable. I am a human and my dog/s is like my own child so I would treat it and respect it as such just like it does me it provides me all kinds of respect, love, protection. I would never kill my own animals. That is just me. When it was time and the vet (animal doctor) agreed then I would have it done. I guess you can say I am kind of selfish that way but not really it would just hurt to much to let go. I quoted someone else not the OP so my comment was not directed at the OP or their post.

 

[chickendude]

arabianequine I can see your views as to not being able to do it your self. For me I too love my animals, all of them. If i were to put the animal down myself It would not make it any easier. But doing it yourself and saying goodbye to a longtime true fiend in the privacy of their/your home seems like a more peaceful way for the animal. It is never an easy decision to put an old friend down. Non the less it is sometimes a fact of life.

 

[savingdogs]

I won't get into whether the original post is written by a 13-year old or shelter worker or whatever, the story written there is true in many parts of the world and certainly in my area and resonates with me. It is why I'm "savingdogs".

I'm someone who has fostered dogs for rescues for the last dozen years to try to even the scales for dogs a little...we have fostered nearly 350 and currently have three at our house looking for homes, as well as five kittens. Our family works actively to reduce the amount of euthanasia. Not every animal we have helped has come from a shelter. Some were strays. Some were in "bad" homes. Some were being thrown away by someone. Some were being given up because of life changes and circumstances despite them being beloved pets. There are many reasons why they might need new homes, some entirely unavoidable, such as the owner has died or was evicted from their home. But we work to reduce the amount of animals in our local shelter.

I think the bottom line is this....we need to kill fewer animals. None of us rescue volunteers or shelter workers want dogs to become extinct or purebred dogs bred for specific purposes to go away. But there is so much breeding going on by inexpert people, that overall most people need to hear that message about Dont Breed or Buy While Shelter Animals Die. True reputable breeders have their place but since they are the exception (in the world of rescue) you are not going to see much support from rescue folk if you are breeding your dog unless you are winning shows and helping a few less worthy dogs on the side and that is why we know you. It is the nature of the kind of person who dedicates themselves to saving throw-away dogs to have passionate opinions about breeding and by whom, because those people are perpetuating the problem we are trying to correct. But the majority of "breeders" should not be doing so, not the minority. And people should not buy from pet stores as reputable breeders would not sell their dogs that way, so the premise of the orignal story had to do more with pet store dogs, not going to shows and finding a great breeder dedicated to bettering its type, etc. It is talking about a Chiweiner, a typical puppy mill type animal.

It is the rare person who NEEDS a guardian dog or therapy dog or guard dog. Most people can find a dog for their pet needs on Petfinder.com very easily, given a little patience. That some of us at BYC need a dog for our livestock is not a crime, but that is the exception, not the rule.

The overall message we need to get across is this...spay and neuter your pet unless you are a bonafide reputable successful breeder selling offspring that will never end up in a shelter. Those of us who work in rescue thank you. That is all. I'll get off my soapbox now, but those of you who know me know I would chime in here somewhere.

 

[welsummerchicks]

And some people want a purebred dog. They want to know what characteristics and temperament, more or less, the dog will have. I think it's very unfair to berate anyone who doesn't get a shelter dog, and put them down as the written piece does.

I think the written piece is emotional hystrionics and is not a good idea to beat people over the head with this idea of they have to get a shelter dog or they are doing something wrong. What people need to hear is more like this:

1. Do not get ANY dog - shelter dog, pet shop dog, breeder dog, UNLESS you are prepared to take care of it for 12-18 years, and as far as you can predict the future, can and will be able to afford the veterinary care, vaccinations, worming, emergency care, feed, and the time to walk and train it. Having any pet is expensive, it takes time and effort and money.

2. Do not breed your pet quality dog; spay or neuter your pet quality dog. There are enough pet quality puppies in the world already.

3. Choose the type, breed, age, size wisely. Always choose a dog that you are completely sure you can control in any situation. Err on the side of a smaller dog than you think you can handle. A small, sick frail person should not get a very active, big, aggressive dog.

4. All dogs of any breed, can be startled, teased or threatened into biting by children, other dogs, aggressive adults or sudden noises - do not assume every dog will always be perfectly safe unsupervised with your small children.

5. Do not assume a young child will take proper care of the dog. Many children cannot or will not.

6. Large breeds are appealing. However, they eat more, require a larger car, a larger bed, they poop bigger, and they can be more difficult to control. Think very carefully before you buy a large or giant dog.

7. Plan on being a good neighbor. Keep your dog leashed. Do not let your dog run at large. Clean up after your dog when you walk it on the sidewalks and parks.

8. Plan on training your dog. Sign up for a professionally taught class if you have not had luck training dogs in the past.

9. Think about where you get your dog. You might be able to get a dog from a shelter, or from a breeder who helps place dogs in trouble. THink about what sort of dog business you want to support. Puppy mills and pet shops often sell dogs that aren't properly socialized or started, and these dogs often wind up in trouble.

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
Arabianequine: Not true. In my state, I can legally shoot my dog. I cannot abuse it. There is a difference. Dogs are recognized as property under the law and I can dispose of my property. I do not HAVE to surrender my property to a shelter, etc. I can bring my dog to the vet and ask him to put it down and 95% will abide by my wishes. Perhaps you live in a state where they are regulating your property, but not here. Also, if the neighbors dog is attacking my livestock I have the legal right to shoot it. The day I cannot decide the fate of my animals is the day I will never keep one again.

Just because it is legal does not mean I would do it. To me it would be abuse if for a selfish reason or act because of what you think of shelters. If the dog was not suffering or in pain. You don't have to give to a shelter but regardless of what the laws are I think it is wrong to kill an animal when perfectly healthy for your own reasons. I do not consider them as property necessarily either my animals are my friends, kids, and just like people to me I would not treat them any different and give them the best chance at life possible. Find a home before shelter fine but too kill it cause you think no one would treat it as good as you at a shelter and not try to find a home is not right.

I sat in a on a court case where dogs were killed by a neighbor of someone's because it was attacking and that was here in Washington I understand that to protect yourself and others.

I am merely pointing out that it is legal and not how you stated in your first post. Each person has a moral character that they live by (or not). Animals are viewed as property under the law. There is a reason for that. If they were not then their status becomes elevated to, say, companions. What is the value of your companion? In the case of your vet making a fatal error during a surgery, or a neighbor recklessly running over your dog or shooting it, what is the value of a companion? $25K, $75K, $100K or $1 million? Can you see where that is going to go? I understand you are very attached to your animals and take very good care of them. I do too. There are, however, times when a dog must be put down and it is the owner's choice to make that decision. That's all I was trying to point out.

 

[isadream]

Quote:
I agree totally!! I will always have purebreds until they are outlawed!!

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

All my animals with the exception of my snakes and livestock (chickens & ducks) are rescues of a sort. My 2 dogs - one came from a mama that was abandoned by my sister's neighbor (my sister took her in - about to pop pregnant) and my pup was on deaths door being the runt of 13 (or 14? can't remember) puppies - so we took her @ 4 weeks old and raised her. The other was from a mama dog again abandoned and uncared for by my uncle's neighbors and the dog had her puppies under his shed. My uncle had to call animal control because 2 pups had died from the rain that had flooded under the shed - I took 1 pup - the runt (she was 5 weeks old) and raised her. My cats 1 is a direct rescue from off the road, 1 was found with his 2 litermates under my house (feral cat's kittens) I bottle fed them and kept 1. the other cat was the result of my rescued siamese getting loose right before her scheduled spaying and going feral again (she was a caught feral @ 8 week - got loose @ about 1 yr old) and was loose for about 5 months before i managed to catch her again (though she already had had the kittens) so after a few days of feeding her yummies in the house each day and letting her go out after a couple hours of inside time - she brought the kittens to the house...I kept 1 out of 4 kittens and got them all fixed @ 4 months old and rehomed them.

I foster dogs/cats from time to time as well. From puppies/kittens as young as 2 weeks - adults tied out or in a box left on the side of the road to die...

My cockatiels were left in the "drop off" cages of my local shelter and friend who works there called me and asked if I knew anyone who could/would adopt them. - so I took them in.

However we've also owned purebred dogs - but again only 1 was purposely gotten - the others were given to the family for various reasons from a champion sired doberman who was going to be destroyed because he bit a trashman (who antagonized him and dog finally got loose and had his way) if he wasn't rehomed in the country, to a rottie who had lost his leg to a car and the owner didn't want him anymore - didn't like dealing with a 'handicapped dog'.

Only dog we ever got on purpose was a Purebred Collie - my mom went to buy the pup and they gave my mom Sheba (collie) for my brother who was wheelchair bound.

Now I am on the waiting list for a breeder a few hours away to get another collie - and I've waited years to get another collie, and found a breeder who is reasonably priced, great reviews, good bloodlines, and a personable friendly person to deal with - with great dogs (went out and met them already in person). So sometime in winter probably I will be buying a collie puppy.

Rescue dogs make great dogs, some of my best family dogs have been rescues, but the doberman and the collie were just as great. It all depends on an individual animal.

I support rescues and adopting a shelter pet - but I also support doing your research and finding the best breed and breeder to what would fit your family and household.

I wish there was no reason for shelters, but until people stop allowing animals to breed prolifically - then there will be a need for shelters and the death of hundreds, thousands, and millions of these animals every day, month, and year.