I’m always a little surprised that I have to answer this seemingly simple question — why should we follow a dog or cat to the shelter, not the store or the breeders who imagine themselves to be breeders, without which the breed become extinct?

The answer seems on the surface: taking a pet from a shelter you save their life. Buying animal stuff someone’s pocket and generally support the business of blood. And no pathos in this. It is rather the opposite — the harsh prose of life.

But usually this simple answer should be five rather stereotypical questions:
— I want a puppy and shelters all old!
— I want a pedigree, is there such?
— There are all adults with formed characters, but what if she was going to bite?
— In a shelter good dogs and cats do not give, so the problem was the previous owners, you know what?
— Why do I have to take the rap for the problems of others and can’t just buy, I’m a dog (cat), no?

Hereafter, I will use the word “adopt” in relation to dogs and cats. I know that it annoys many, but a) in the United States adopt the word applies to people and animals, b) the documents and dogs and cats have names and their human owners — well, this is not an adoption…

they are patiently waiting © photo by Marina Sokolova

The shelters are not puppies and kittens

A year in the United States are euthanized, more than a million dogs and cats. Roughly every 10-12 seconds in some of the asylums of the country the painful death of an animal. According to the rules in the American orphanage, the animal can die a painful death. Everyone gets two shots, but in practice, dogs and cats often earn only one — the staff of the shelters have no time to bother with anyone… don’t want to describe what happens after this injection, but the death is always painful. And it’s not hopelessly old and sick cats and dogs. Often it is puppies and kittens or dogs and cats in the Prime of life — kind, loyal, ready to love their owners till death. But they get put down literally by the ton. Those puppies are cute as the picture, including. In each shelter there is a very tiny animals. An exception is a special institution specializing in old and/or sick animals, people with disabilities.

In shelters, there’s purebred animals

What do you think, where are the animals in the shelters in such numbers? The answer again on the surface — they are thrown, thrown like garbage. Employees of any shelter you can go to list the main — moving and can’t take it with you (read: not want), old and nothing to heal, we moved to the apartment where the dog can not keep (often this applies to NYCHA and the dog breed “pit bull”). Throw all in a row. Today in shelters USA you can find a dog of almost any breed. Yes, there is no the latest novelties. But it is temporary. Breed and high price when buying a puppy is not a guarantee that the dog will not be in a shelter.

The other day I visited a very small facility where volunteers rescue abandoned dog and cats. Took out my new dog. Offhand there were pit bulls, English bulldog, boxer, Staffordshire, Shih Tzu, Yorkie and Chihuahua, there cried a Beagle and nervously gnawed the iron bars of the cage Golden Retriever…

By the way Chihuahuas and pit bulls are two of the most popular breeds of dogs in American shelters… And if the first is more often adopted, the latter more likely to be killed. Don’t know when it will turn this shameful page in American history, but while we’re watching here is a tragedy — uncontrolled pit bulls are bred in the back alleys for illegal dog fighting, and as actively as bred to kill quite often during dog fights, and even score those who want to fight pit bulls hardly resist when they are hit people, Yes, all the rest of the stereotypes.

Dogs of this breed are thrown out into the streets or are in shelters hundreds a day.
— We have the third and fourth pit bulls. Both of the shelter, told me Natalia and David Hersh, a young couple from new Jersey. — Our daughter soon two years, and it appeared after we started them. Today they are her best friends.
— Do they ask, and not afraid to keep in the house already with two dogs fighting breed and a small child? — I say I am.
— Constantly! — David says. — People live in a world of stereotypes and myths and think they know all.

Family Hersh with Tyson and Chloe © photo Marina Sokolova

 

These dogs dog recommended for families with young children and the elderly. They have a high threshold for pain. And if to advance the dog breed paw or tail, it will not jump and will not cling to you, because you hurt her — it will feel bad to begin with. Secondly, they are not just a patient, they are very patient, do not go to any comparison with, for example, galericinae fees. Watch old American movies, advertisements, photographs — there is a circle pit bulls, why had not there been so many attacks as of now?

Yes, photos are 100 and 120 years ago, which clogged the Internet, surprise. For tiny children sitting on the pit, lay on them, pull ears and tails. They were considered dogs nannies, im a long time trusted children. Why, then, were not recorded is the number of attacks by dogs of this breed?

Newspapers already came out properly. And what about the movies David is right. The famous movie «The Little Rascals» and various commercials made the breed even more popular. Puppies pit bulls began to buy up like hotcakes. That eventually led to what we have now — currently, pit bulls are the most common breed in the United States. And the most unnecessary…

If you dig into the press, it is possible to detect some interesting facts. For example, to note exactly when the press started to demonize this breed. It happened about 30 years ago. By the time pit bulls in the country was already very much. And they were used not only as nurses, and for dog fighting… Pete became a breed for the poor.. And today, when such “entertainment” has long been prohibited, in the press no-no, the video will flicker with the next RAID rescue pit bulls from the farm where they were grown and nasascifiles on dog fighting.

Usually they are hiding in the woods. There, on chains under rain and scorching sun, tied to trees, barrels or tires, sit dozens of dogs. Then puppies, then in a quiet victim of the other dogs work out the tactics of attack… This is hell, which is not yet the big business politicians.

Scarlett and Tyson get along well © photo by Marina Sokolova

— My friend was bitten by a poodle — continues to tell David. And bit decent. For the sake of jokes, he called into a local television station and said that he was bitten by a poodle. Yes, said he, we will send a film crew. But no one came. He called again, say, how is it that a dog bit me! Yes, Yes, answered him again and again no one came. He bided his time, called the third and said that he was bitten by a pit bull. Journalists with both the chain broke down, the address where to go, please urgently give us an interview! What is it?

A poorly bred dog bites regardless of breed. And when talking about Pitbul who was bitten, then at all everything is transparent in 99% of cases, family violence, drugs, alcohol, the dog was beaten, beside her beaten children, women… Because a pit bull should try to bring to such a condition that he will throw and bite. Their packs are killing people slaughtered with sticks and hands, and dogs of this breed do not resist, because that’s what was bred this breed if the puppy rushed at the man, growled, then killed the entire brood often. Eventually got the dog, which the man never sees the enemy. But if the dog is driven to nervous exhaustion, to the bestial state, what with her demand? By the way, to upset, make ill can be a dog of any breed. It would wish.

The words of David is beautifully illustrated with examples from the press. Here is just one:
— 18 August 2007 — a dog (Labrador cross) attacked the 70-year-old man taken to hospital in critical condition, the dog shot by police who arrived on the scene. The incident was reported by a local newspaper — was printed in one article.
— August 19 2007 — 16-month-old baby died after he was attacked by a dog (written in the original, which is mixed breeds, but it is not specified what exactly). Two articles in the local press.
— 20 Aug 2007 — six-year-old taken to hospital after he was bitten by a dog of medium size (again, of unknown breed, or rather mixture). One article in the local newspaper.
— August 21, 2007 — the 59-year-old woman was attacked by two pit bulls at home, then hospitalized with multiple not dangerous to life injuries. This attack was covered in 230 articles and stories, and, at the Federal level or across the country. About it told the giants such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox.

Scarlett and Tyson © photo from personal archive of the family of Hersh

Do I need something else there to add? Unlikely. However, the example of the family of Hersh can debunk the third stereotype. After all, they took in a shelter not just adult dogs, and adult dogs of fighting breeds. Tyson at that time was six, Chloe two from her, by the way, has already refused three times and returned three times to the shelter. Both of them were candidates for euthanasia in the near future.
— Chloe, apparently, were beaten, and, in families where there were children. Or children were beaten. She was afraid the kids terribly. Hid from them, sometimes scares from horror. She was afraid to come to our daughter one day came to smell, saw that we were watching her, and with horror, jumped — says Natasha. — She wrote to us on the carpet… well, it was filled so that not describe. Two years passed and the unfortunate dog not gone. Tyson from the very beginning was the perfect dog. He immediately realized that we take him out forever, saving, and took us in an instant. By the way Tyson we took because our very first Petrolia was dying of cancer. The doctors said two weeks, a month… When we brought him in, then Lexie came in such a rage that fully lived another six months. Then we adopted Bella, unfortunately, it turned out to be lymphoma… We’ve been treating her, but not saved. And then it was the turn of Chloe. At first she Tyson very much, he even growled at her, but now these two are inseparable, if one goes to the vet, the second is experiencing. They are parrots and lovebirds.

I also take from a shelter a adult dog. My recently adopted girl Shih Tzu for seven years. And I have always the same feeling — as if you came home a stranger to a child of three. Yes, he can be whiny, yelling, or Vice versa sullenly silent. But almost 100% of its behavior in the near future depends on the adult who’s next.

«You came for me?» © photo Marina Sokolova

In shelters all animals with problems

I have already said that in the shelter give everyone. Tired gave. Chewed boots gave, and so on. Here the problem is that animals are often abandoned on the street, brought to a shelter and give without further ADO… If the former owners informed about their Pets at least something to find for them new owners it would be much easier.

But dogs and cats can not speak, but because all of the shelters they are tested for aggression, compatibility with other animals, check out their reaction to sudden movements and clapping… This “assessment” often leads to the fact that the animal is euthanized.

A simple example is brought in a dog from the street that lived there for a month that was bullied by all and Sundry, given a bowl of food and then tried to take — “weaning food” one of the important validation criteria. Hungry and downtrodden dog may growl, protecting his food, and she can easily put the stamp “aggressive.”

In shelter, you can find dogs of any breed © photo Marina Sokolova

In such cases, often assisted by volunteers truly Holy people! They come in to the shelter, take the dogs for a walk, stroking, talking, taking pictures of them and post on your social networks, looking for new owners, they return so the dogs faith in people and relieve them of those same cliches. Facebook is, for example, a page of one such volunteer , Second Chance Rescue NYC Dogs. Check out these photos — they are dogs that are about to be murdered, look into their eyes, read the characteristics of to them from volunteers, and think — is it worth it to go out and buy a shaggy friend, when you can save the same?

By the way, the volunteers in the truest sense in dogs ears — almost everyone lives at home for a few pieces adopted.

Saying “shelters are no good animals”, more often implied — all patients. But it is not so. First to get can anyone, even the most favored and beloved dog are not immune from renal failure or cancer.

Second dogs in the shelter often rent due to disease, Yes, but in the shelter they are usually treated free of charge. The same Pete Tyson was thrown out because he has grown a bump on his ear, which had to be cut. In the shelter of his surgery and today is a healthy dog.

The third — “torturer” from a shelter not weaker, and usually healthier than a puppy with Puppy Mill, which you buy in the store.

In such circumstances bred and contain Puppy Mills farms

Never heard of Puppy Mills? Then open the photos from there to Google. It is a farm that breeds those cute puppies that you then are touched by in stores, and are paying thousands of dollars — after all, a thoroughbred, and out of the store! Let’s see what pain and hell I have dogs that just do what they breed. Such dog farm — the shame of the United States. Still legally at the highest level, they are not prohibited. The authorities of some States are struggling with them in other ways, for example, in California, new Jersey etc. in pet stores prohibited from selling puppies from breeders, only shelter. That policy States only won — the number of puppies in animal shelters have declined.

Buying a puppy at a pet store, you have to understand that most likely, he was born and raised in the dirty cage from a tortured mother, which is used as a conveyor belt for producing pups. That such mother, after she stops getting pregnant, thrown out as a useless rag full of such dogs in shelters, get rid of them in a cruel way. Your nice little puppy before you take to the store, drugged, then put in carton, from top to distribute the same sleepy puppies, and lucky. But not everyone wakes up, not everyone will be running to the store… Not a big sorrow — farm works 24 hours a day and there will be new pripady. The owners of Puppy Mills sell puppies to pet stores quite cheaply. And already they are for the animal who had never seen a vet, you will be asked a decent amount. Tell me, again, without pathos, that it is not a support business in the blood?

Husky farm

 

No, no, Yes will be shown in the media information about the latest RAID on some kind of dog farm. Dozens, if not hundreds of dogs usually are removed in one such RAID. And all these beautiful puppies and their moms and dads go straight to those same shelters where they can safely adopt, by the way, it will be still cheaper than to buy the same puppy, but at the pet store.

Why so many shelters require adopters?

Yes. To buy a dog easier. In any pet store you have when buying will not ask anything. Paid and taken. As a normal product.
At the shelter you will be asked to fill out a form, asked to give sureties (though not all) — they will call you will be asked to pay a fee and then will give an animal that is already sterilized and which is inserted under the skin microchip.

All these actions are aimed only at one thing — to protect the dog from unscrupulous owners.
You fill in the form and thus cease to be the anonymous owner. Agree, it’s hard to just throw the dog outside when she’s under the skin microchip, which can be used to set the name and address of the owner.

The price for dog in the shelter, usually lower than in pet shop. In new York she is from 175 to 500 dollars. It all depends on the condition of the animal, the older it is, the price is lower. Inexpensive usually cost dogs, which has several times returned. The money received from adoptive parents, are going to pay the bills of orphanages, primarily from vets. If you’re going to buy a puppy of a pit bull, so what do you care who pays — store, reproducer or shelter who takes the money only for transactions and saving the life of the animal?

© photo Marina Sokolova

And Yes, the adopted animals will never bear offspring. Shelters US crammed useless dogs and cats, the whole world is flooded with them — why? Where to produce more? The myth that every dog and cat should at least once to breed, otherwise they will hurt no more than a myth. The myth that sterilization is harmful, too, is nothing more than a myth.
But this is a proven fact — the more sale of dogs and cats, the more of them in the shelters and on the streets, and the less they adopt.

Why do I have to take the rap for problems that were not created?

For some reason, when it comes to talking about what we need to sort the trash, because the planet is choking on garbage and together, we have sane people there is no question about it.
We know that the debris cannot be left in the woods after yourself that you can not throw it on the sidewalk, not to throw garbage in the ocean or sea… But when it comes to animals, many are beginning to harp on that issue, they are irrelevant, but because the dog or cat prefer to buy.

Look — the President of France took the dog to the shelter, all of Hollywood — all these star handsome and beautiful, millionaires — adopt dogs, often with disabilities. In Manhattan on leashes walking proud “corterier” — their owners don’t need prestige or a fashionable breed to show their status. But the further departure from the good of the district, the more purebred dogs on a leash. In new York it is usually those pit bulls… Car (on credit), dear phone (in credit) and pedigree dog — a common set of loser.

Remember that taking away one animal from a shelter, you save two: the one who take, and who will come in his place. After all, with places in American shelters is a problem, healthy and young dogs and cats are euthanized for one simple reason — there is nowhere to place “fresh” just arrived.

And Yes, if you decide to take out a shelter dog, please note dogs black. For some inexplicable psychological reasons they are adopted less frequently than others. Animal rights activists even made a few videos about that dog of black colour in shelters as invisible, and therefore die more often.

And no pathos. Only the harsh prose of life.

taking away one animal from a shelter, you save two: the one who take, and who will come in his place. © photo Marina Sokolova

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