Letters to the Editor
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Personalize The Copy
This is the kind of writing that keeps me coming back to Salon.
Every day millions of animals perish worldwide without any human intervention. What difference could it make if a few of them are saved? I simply could not relate to Ellen's tears.
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Re: Worst Case Scenarios Happen All The Time
I never talked about sticking 12 pitbulls in my condo. "Animal activists" for some reason have to pull out bizarre worst case scenarios to defend their otherwise irrational opinion. Having apartment-sized dogs in apartments is sort of normal.
There are a lot of people that truly believe Irish Wolfhounds are, in fact, perfect apartment-sized animals. True, you aren't one of them. But how would a shelter know that? If someone claims to live on a farm -- should they just take their word for it?
And because YOU know you're a "good person" that means that the shelter should just take your word for it? No questions asked? No home visit? Nothing?
Well, that in fact was the usual policy.
And then a lot of bad people (or at least misguided pet owners) started doing a lot of bad things that hurt a lot of animals.
Every single dog in that shelter was being abused by someone who thought of themselves as "a good person." So in walks another one claiming, "Well just give me the dog. I'm a good person. Trust me."
And you may very well be. But the last person who said, "Just trust me. Give me the dog and don't ask any questions!" wound up abusing the animal.
The arguement of, "But I'm a good person!" just doesn't hold water.
NONE of the people that had their animals taken away from them because of abuse ever (not for one moment) ever thought they were doing anything wrong. So, no, logically it doesn't make any sense to just assume people are good pet owners.
It's fairly typical where I live to read in the newspaper once a month about some kind of animal abuse.
Every quote from the former pet owner is the same, "But I don't think I was doing anything wrong! What right do you have to tell me what I can and can't do with my animals?"
The counter-arguement is always, "But I would never do that!"
How does the shelter know that?
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it is true
I am a dog trainer and behavioral counselor in the NYC area. I have been working with dogs and their owners for over 15 years. Unfortunately, even I have come across the same idiocy that the writer and Ellen have encountered. I have worked with owners who adopted their dogs from private rescue groups, only to find that the dog is not a good match for them. The most memorable dog was the 1 year old beagle adopted out to an elderly person. She was unable to provide the dog with the exercise he needed. A close friend of mine was looking for a dog, and I knew it would be a good match. I contacted the rescue group, and they explained that they were in charge of the adoption, and I did not have the right to interfere. So much for helping the dog find a good home. It ceased to be about the dog the minute I explained who I was and how I hoped I could help. Recently I wrote a rescue group as a referral for a friend looking to adopt a dog. They refused her because she lived in the city and the dog needed exercise. I explained the beauty of dog runs and the social life this pup would have. No, they somehow knew better, and that was that.
There are great rescue groups out there who are all about the dogs and the people too. Then, there are the folks who have become embittered by the process and no longer care about the feelings of the folks wanting to adopt a dog, and act out odd power plays regarding the adoption. There are many private breeders who are so difficult to deal with that the prospective buyers turn to pet stores/puppy mills because it is easier than dealing with the breeders and their issues. The dog world is a kooky business. None of this is to say that the groups/breeders should not interview and screen potential adopters/buyers. Of course they should. They also need to have compassion and sensitivity, which is often lost in the process.
On the subject of pinch collars: I used to use them more than I do now, simply because there were less choices. I've never used choke collars. There are other great choices of collars out there that work better for most dogs. The gentle leader and the easy walk harness come to mind. The pinch collar does work for some dogs when other collars cannot be used (to short a snout, or too funny a body to fit a training harness on) Of course Ceasar Milan would advocate the prong collar as he is not a positive reinforcement trainer and also employs choke collars and other archaic practices. Instead of chastising the writer, perhaps the rescue group should have educated her as to the other collars she could use with her new dog.
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One more thing...
Something I forgot to mention in my original post, and I don't think anyone else has mentioned it either...
Reputable dog breeders routinely use a screening process for potential buyers. They generally insist on meeting the entire family (anyone who will be involved with caring for the dog) and ask any number of questions regarding the buyers' knowledge of the breed and of dog care. They also often require the same commitment as private adoption agencies in that if for some reason the buyer cannot keep the dog, they would like it returned to the breeder.
I almost bought a purebred. I was interested in a breed that is still relatively rare in the US and the community of owners of this breed were extremely tightknit and went out of their way to scrutinize potential buyers. I was asked to join a listserv with lots of info about the breed, to meet with a women who owned several dogs of that breed to see how I would interact with them, and I was asked a variety of questions about my lifestyle to be sure I could accommodate the breed. These particular dogs are very large and somewhat independent in nature, though very intelligent, they can be tough to train for that reason and need knowledgeable owners.
I happily complied with the process. If this was the breed I chose, after careful consideration on my part, I was happy to see that other owners were committed to these animals for life. They wanted to be sure that they found buyers who would not only love the dogs, but know how to care for them. They also wanted the opportunity to have the dogs returned if things should not work out in order to keep the dogs out of the very shelter/adoption systems we're all debating.
I didn't end up with the purebreed. I ended up with a $75 shelter dog who is an absolute joy. I only wish that I had been scrutinized half as much by the shelter as I was by the purebred group. Some posters seem to think a dog is a dog is a dog and should be fine in any home, but it just isn't so. Some dogs are fearful of children or men, some dogs chase and harm small animals including cats, some dogs can be left alone for hours and others have severe separation anxiety. Too often people buy/adopt dogs because they are "cute" and then end up returning them for behavorial issues that they should have been aware of in the first place.
Taking a bit of time in the beginning to assure a good match can save hearthache in the long run for both families and pets.