What about the un-happy endings?

[justin]

I am a monthly contributing guardian, but I am seriously rethinking in what way my contribution is helping at all. I guess I became enraged with the SPCA this morning when I saw the story of Baxter, a St. Bernard who, the SPCA executed instead of allowing a family that wanted him to adopt him. The family was fully qualified...it's not just Baxter though, I know this happens probably to hundreds of thousands of animals.

I've personally seen it first hand, people I know getting rejected from adopting from the SPCA...its sickening. I believe a lot of people volunteer their time with great intention for the animals in the shelters, but there are far too many self righteous jerks in the SPCA who think that they are better than anyone else, adopting out an animal is a power play to these people.

I live in Raleigh, NC, I've been to the SPCA Adoption Center here...the woman I spoke with was the snobbiest, most conceited %$#@ I've delt with in a long time.

As much as I dislike thinking about it, my babies are getting up there in dog years. I've been a great, loving pet companion for many years, raised a few dogs, cats and other species and quite frankly, I'm concerned that after they pass and I would like to adopt another, that the SPCA, with all the red tape the entity has created, will reject me. We have a baby in the house now.

One of my dogs now would have never passed that test on Animal Cops where they shove a stick in the dogs face while its trying to eat. Wouldnt you be a tad miffed too if you were trying to eat and someone was shoving a stick in your face? But I worked with him and he's no longer posessive/agressive...if he'd been at the SPCA, they would've killed him in a week.

I realize not every animal in the shelters will be rescued, but I think the SPCA is shamefully drifting from its founder's mission statement.

[Emma]

I'm sorry to hear about that, I know their are many conceited jerks out there, but try to keep hope.

[Jenny]

Just a note to mention that the SPCA and ASPCA are two different organizations. I've heard quite a few SPCA horror stories, and been involved in one, but the ASPCA seems pretty fantastic from everything I've seen.

[Cynthia]

I volunteer for the ASPCA shelter in NYC. As you have seen on the Animal Precinct series, some dogs and cats are euthanized for severe behavioral issues that cannot be resolved, or that would present a danger to themselves, other dogs, or the community. Euthanization is always the last resort, and is decided upon by the behavioral staff, qualified volunteers, and the veterinary staff. There is usually an open staff hearing for anyone who wants to try something else, at least 2 weeks prior to the euthanization. It is done very rarely, and never lightly. I myself took a foster cat to my home who was going to be euthanized. She's been here a year.

[Cynthia]

If the family was "fully qualified", then what was the basis of the Humane Society's rejection? And if you have a baby in the house now, it is imperative that you listen to what their behavioral evaluation of any of their pets is. Not only your baby's life, but the life of the animal you adopt is at stake.

It is unfortunate that many animals are euthanized due to behavior issues. I'm not sure whether that was the case with Baxter. I do know that because we have become such a litigious society, if an animal is adopted out to a family and that family isn't what the dog needs behaviorally, and the dog bites or kills someone, the shelter can be sued. Many shelters are running on volunteers and a shoestring budget and can barely afford basic food and shelter for the animals in their care. One lawsuit from a bad placement can shut down a shelter and that means death for MANY animals.

The sad fact is that there are simply not enough fully qualified homes for so many of the "behaviorally challenged" animals in shelters. It would be truly cruel to place a dog in a home where he would live his life becoming more and more aggressive in the hands of people who simply don't know how to handle him.

I'm not trying to defend shelters, but I do volunteer for one (the ASPCA here in NYC) and it is of paramount importance that dogs with issues be properly evaluated and properly placed, for their own welfare and the welfare of the community. If that sounds snobbish, it's not. I love dogs and cats and believe every one of them should have the RIGHT home. There's just not that many experienced dog (or cat) people ready to take on a pet with severe issues.

[Alis]

I agree with you 100% Cynthia.

[justin]

http://www.bakelblog.com/nobodys_business/2007/09/farewell-baxter.html

there's the source.

1. The shelters should take more action to mandate solid waivers that take away their liability once the animal has transfered ownership.

2. Yes, I am well aware of how many bad pet owners there are out there, but sometimes it seems as if though shelters I have delt with and volunteered with brand everyone as such unless they're part of the same elite circle.

Maybe there should be sort of like a boot camp that the dogs can go to to be trained for a couple of months. It would not only open up space in the shelters themselves, but it would increase every pet's chance of adoption or even going into a profession of some kind. Sure, you're probably thinking about the funding, corners could easily be cut. Like free t-shirts...I got a free ASPCA t-shirt when I became a guardian...things like that could save millions of dollars, they're basically things to make people feel better about themselves and dont really do anything to help, like owning a Prius.

[Cynthia]

Justin, unfortunately, with the right judge and the right jury, any "solid waiver" can be disregarded and a settlement made to bankrupt a shelter.

Every shelter I have volunteered with that is called a "no kill" shelter has, in fact, euthanized dogs for both health and behavioral reasons. I doubt that Baxter was euthanized simply because he couldn't be adopted. It is entirely possible that he manifested some behavioral issues that made him unadoptable. It happens in shelters all the time. And in this case it might have happened to this guy's 2 and 4 year old daughters, rather than in the shelter.

As for your suggestion of a "boot camp", where would the money for such a massive undertaking come from? There's not enough money for shelters now. Where would the trained, qualified behaviorists to staff it come from? There's not enough of them now. Most shelters are over 50% staffed by volunteers. And the free t-shirt you mention from joining the ASPCA? Those actually are an in-kind donation by the manufacturer.

This blogger didn't help shelter animals when he posted this. He hurt them. He swore at the shelter director in front of his children and wife. That tells me a lot right there. At the ASPCA shelter, security would have escorted him out immediately and/or the police would have been called, and he would have been banned from adopting an animal. If someone cursed me or a volunteer or a staff member, that wouldn't make me want to adopt one of our animals out to them.

There are 2 sides to every story. Like I said, they didn't euthanize Baxter just because he didn't get adopted. Animals in shelters with unknown backgrounds sometimes can become a danger to staff, visitors, and other dogs. Euthanizing is never done lightly.

Really do some thinking about your continued use of the word "elite". It's demeaning to any of us who are taking the side of the Maine SPCA (and by extension, the side of the animals).

[Cynthia]

Oh and BTW, would YOU adopt a dog to someone who said "F--- you"?

I wonder if he said that to anyone at the adoption agency when he adopted his kids. That kind of thing is a red flag.

[justin]

I used the word "elite" once. It must have resonated...

Ok, so the guy used the "f" word...LOOK at the circumstance there. It's akin to the scene from the movie Anger Management when he's on the plane, and he asked for a headset and everyone's telling him to calm down until he finally does just blow up. He probably just couldnt comprehend the total ABSURDITY of what was going on.

Look, just do me a favor and take an hour, just an hour to reflect on how many people...just from your personal experience...who were rejected from adopting a pet, what trivial reasons were there for adopting that pet, and what happened to that animal.

[Sarah]

i couldn't agree more! i had to have my friend adopt my dog for me 7 years ago. and i was a volunteer at the very same shelter. i was told "i don't make enough money" i just wanted to save a life. i am a firm believer that pets are just as precious as humans and i intend to keep all my animals until "their time" i was so pissed that my dog that i pay for, walk, feed, and most of all LOVE is really my friend's dog because i must not be rich enough to have my own pets! you totally nailed it- it's a power trip to these bastards

[Cynthia]

Sarah, if you were a volunteer at the shelter, you know why shelters decline people from adopting if from their income level it is determined that they cannot afford the basic food and veterinary care costs for an animal. There are people who post here all the time that they cannot afford emergency care for their animals because they have kids, or they're broke, etc. etc. so an animal has to suffer in pain or be sick until they can scrape the money together.

Yesterday I was volunteering in adoptions and someone wanted very badly to adopt a cat with a heart murmur. They were denied that cat because they're on public assistance. It was no insult to them, but a cat who gets ill because of a heart murmur can cost the owner thousands in vet bills, and they simply couldn't afford it. So they found another kitty instead.

It's really easy to say "you totally nailed it - it's a power trip to these bastards" and not have any shame at the completely dishonest way you got your dog. I'm sure you're in a different position now financially and your dog is well taken care of, but that was very dishonest and was not in the best interest of the animal at that time.

[justin]

"It's really easy to say "you totally nailed it - it's a power trip to these bastards" and not have any shame at the completely dishonest way you got your dog. I'm sure you're in a different position now financially and your dog is well taken care of, but that was very dishonest and was not in the best interest of the animal at that time."

Cynthia...completely self-righteous comment. She got her dog in such a "dishonst and shameful" way because you elitist (yes, that's you) people...I dont know if you just become desensitized to an animal being put down, you become this bureaucratic droid or if you get some sort of kicks out of denying perfectly suitable people because you have no other form of power fullfillment in your lives. I dont know. What I do know is that calling on someone like Sarah to find shame in the way she saved her dog, YOU should be ashamed of yourself.

Wealth does not equal affection, care and love. There is pet insurance out there now if that's the major concern.