Full Version: Need Support Please!
Hello I am new to the board and I need some support. Tuesday our landlord told us that we had to get rid of our dogs that we have owned for 5+ years. We loved them very much. We just moved here so we dont no anyone that could have taken them. So, we called the animal shelter, hoping they woulf find a nice friendly home. So they came out and got them. It hurts so bad, now i dont have them and i miss them so much. Its killing me to type this in as I can hardly see the monitor. I called today just to see how they were doing and the woman at the animal shelter said they have already been put to sleep. I thought i was going to die, I couldnt even say bye to her I just hung up the phone.They didnt even keep then for 24 hours before they put them to sleep!! I am so mad at myself, although there wasnt anything we could do , we dont have the money to move right now. I have a really bad headache b/c I have been crying so much. My hubby was a t work when I called to check on them so when he gets home I still have to tell him. I just want to know something...Does it hurt them when they are putting them to sleep? How do they do it? I need to know , maybe it will help me a bit, I just feel like my life is falling apart. My hubby is upset b/c he is the one that walked them out to the truck, & of course they jumped right in there , they loved to ride. Anyways he fill guilty b/c he thinks they were sitting there thinking we trusted you & got into the truck, how could you do this to us. Its tearing us up. Is there a certain way i should tell my hubby if i can make it out. Please help me. Thanks for reading.
I feel so bad for you, but youve come to the right place. Everyone here has lost a pet, and it doesn't matter how. We all loved our animals and i can tell that you do too. It doesn't hurt when they put them to sleep, they just inject them in there vein and they don't feel a thing. There heart stops and they don't wake up. I can understand the guilt your feeling, but you had no choice. Try and remember all the love you gave them for the last 5+ years. Guilt is a horrible thing, i still feel guilty for having my 13 years old Australian Shepherd put to sleep, but there was no hope for her. Then 23 hours later i had to have my 12 years old Siamese cat put to sleep. You always question yourslef wondering if there was more you could have done. But your dogs will always be with you in spirit and know that you did what you had to do. I'm sure telling your husband won't be easy, but you'll get through it together. Our animals are always around us, and some day we'll be with them again. I wish you a peaceful mind, and know that you can come to this web site any time.
Janet.
Janet.
I am so sorry for what you are going through. I don't know the shelter's reason for doing that so quickly, but I'm sure it was in the dogs' best interest. I know you will find that hard to believe, and your husband too. I've had to euthanise 2 of my cats since last May, and I chose to be there for both, as hard as it was for me. They went very peaceful, no pain or struggle. Some of us or our furbabies, should be so lucky to go so easy. I know that won't help you and your hubby now, but in time, it will get a little easier. Maybe, you could establish a memorial for yourselves, either by planting something beautiful, or by taking some photos that you have and framing them with a special poem. My memorials have helped me through, but I wasn't able to do it right away, so give you self time.
Peace, Love, and Prayers,
Michelle
Peace, Love, and Prayers,
Michelle
I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate it. Yes, it is hard I know I will make it through I just fill like I am going to go insane at times. I am sorry about all your pets. Yes I am mad at the shelter, but the didnt even keep them for 24 hours! I thought when we called them they would find them a home but they didnt. I am going to tell my hubby tonight when he gets in from work. Thanks for the suggestions on the memorial also...I think I will plant something in their memory. I never thought of that, but I am sure it will help alot. So, I will give it a try. I already have pictures out, and everytime I see them I just want to cry. Thanks Again!
~ehall
~ehall
That is truly tragic. It's one reason why we only support no-kill groups and shelters. If you want to know what euthanasia was like for Daddy Cat, I have a description at Daddy Cat's Tribute Page
I am absolutely horrified that all of you are blaming the shelter when they should have never been there in the first place 
. I thought all of you were animal lovers? How can you condone someone dumping their belovedbabies ? That is exactly why animal shelters are forced to kill animals, because of the numbers that are just dumped on them !! We are so quick to throw them away, then complain at the way someone else has to manage the problem! I don't feel sorry for ehall one bit, and I hope she does feel guilty. She should have at least looked into other options. There is a legal time limit on which someone has to convict you, she didn't even try to find another way out. According to her post she didn't even call to check on them for almost a week!! There is no excuse for it to me at all! Those babies were her responsibility and she failed them miserably. I hope she never gets any more pets, she doesn't deserve them! those animals trusted her and her husband, and that trust led them to their death.....
Don't worry about kicking me off the site for this post, I'm done with it anyways...I'm no longer interested in hearing the opinions of people who support such horrible treatment of animals.
. I thought all of you were animal lovers? How can you condone someone dumping their belovedbabies ? That is exactly why animal shelters are forced to kill animals, because of the numbers that are just dumped on them !! We are so quick to throw them away, then complain at the way someone else has to manage the problem! I don't feel sorry for ehall one bit, and I hope she does feel guilty. She should have at least looked into other options. There is a legal time limit on which someone has to convict you, she didn't even try to find another way out. According to her post she didn't even call to check on them for almost a week!! There is no excuse for it to me at all! Those babies were her responsibility and she failed them miserably. I hope she never gets any more pets, she doesn't deserve them! those animals trusted her and her husband, and that trust led them to their death.....Don't worry about kicking me off the site for this post, I'm done with it anyways...I'm no longer interested in hearing the opinions of people who support such horrible treatment of animals.
ehall,
It sounds like you didn't know how many animals most shelters have to deal with, and trusted them to be able to find homes for your dogs. These days, most shelters are severely overcrowded and understaffed.
It's a painful lesson to be sure. Maybe you can find a no kill shelter in your area and volunteer some time helping place other furries in their forever homes. It might be a way to honor your dogs' lives by helping ensure that others don't face the same fate.
Talk to your doggies. I believe they can still hear you. Tell them how sorry you are, and that you really believed they would be given good homes. Tell them that you will help educate people and help prevent other furries from facing the same fate. I think they will understand.
You can't have dogs where you live now, but you can still have the company than only furries can provide, and, help make the lives of a few homeless furries better in the process.
Tim
It sounds like you didn't know how many animals most shelters have to deal with, and trusted them to be able to find homes for your dogs. These days, most shelters are severely overcrowded and understaffed.
It's a painful lesson to be sure. Maybe you can find a no kill shelter in your area and volunteer some time helping place other furries in their forever homes. It might be a way to honor your dogs' lives by helping ensure that others don't face the same fate.
Talk to your doggies. I believe they can still hear you. Tell them how sorry you are, and that you really believed they would be given good homes. Tell them that you will help educate people and help prevent other furries from facing the same fate. I think they will understand.
You can't have dogs where you live now, but you can still have the company than only furries can provide, and, help make the lives of a few homeless furries better in the process.
Tim
I pretty much agree with Kim. Most areas have no-kill options available. I'd live on the street before I'd dump my dog off like that, and I think most of the grieving pet-owners on this site feel the same way. There's way too much information about pets being killed at county shelters for anyone who doesn't live in a cave not to know that.
These pets lived with eball for over five years, trusted her and her husband and were disposed of like so much trash, and now she feels bad, although the dogs are the ones who deserve the sympathy. I think pretty much every state has a pretty long time frame for evictions, the shortest ones being about 30 days, and rather than do an eviction, most landlords would at least give a reasonable time to find a placement.
I had a very hard time in the San Diego area finding a place which allowed a dog over 15-25 pounds, but it is doable, and I actually know people with really limited funds who've chosen to live in really old RVs rather than give up their dogs, even though San Diego has a number of no-kill options available.
There's also something strange about a shelter putting down dogs so quickly. They don't usually do that unless the dogs are ill or going to be serious placement issues. There may be some problems, such as serious aggressiveness, that triggered the landlord's reaction and resulted in the shelter's action.
I think in this case feeling really awful may, but I suspect won't, make eball more responsible the next time they consider taking on the responsibility for a creature who requires the financial security of proper veterinary care, a home, and the type of socialization and training which helps make them welcome in either rentals or new adoptive homes.
Eball, I can tell you that being euthanized was alot kinder death than jumping out the back of the truck in moving traffic.
(I have a feeling I'm going to be kicked off here, too, and the site was a wonderful help for me immediately following putting Mandy to sleep. As much as I think it's wonderful to have nonjudgmental support for the actual loss, I don't think supporting irresponsible behavior towards the pet is a good thing, and I think that's what eball is asking for. She is taking no responsibility, blames the shelter, etc., and wants relief from the guilt she knows she deserves. Ambivalence and guilt over euthanizing an elderly, injured, or sick pet is entirely different.)
Eball, QorquisDad offered you excellent advice. It's a lot better than planting a little memorial to make yourself feel better. Doing something that will help some other pet out in the memory of your own will honor them better, by actually doing something for someone else's welfare. It will show them you really learned something about caring for someone else rather than your own self-interest.
These pets lived with eball for over five years, trusted her and her husband and were disposed of like so much trash, and now she feels bad, although the dogs are the ones who deserve the sympathy. I think pretty much every state has a pretty long time frame for evictions, the shortest ones being about 30 days, and rather than do an eviction, most landlords would at least give a reasonable time to find a placement.
I had a very hard time in the San Diego area finding a place which allowed a dog over 15-25 pounds, but it is doable, and I actually know people with really limited funds who've chosen to live in really old RVs rather than give up their dogs, even though San Diego has a number of no-kill options available.
There's also something strange about a shelter putting down dogs so quickly. They don't usually do that unless the dogs are ill or going to be serious placement issues. There may be some problems, such as serious aggressiveness, that triggered the landlord's reaction and resulted in the shelter's action.
I think in this case feeling really awful may, but I suspect won't, make eball more responsible the next time they consider taking on the responsibility for a creature who requires the financial security of proper veterinary care, a home, and the type of socialization and training which helps make them welcome in either rentals or new adoptive homes.
Eball, I can tell you that being euthanized was alot kinder death than jumping out the back of the truck in moving traffic.
(I have a feeling I'm going to be kicked off here, too, and the site was a wonderful help for me immediately following putting Mandy to sleep. As much as I think it's wonderful to have nonjudgmental support for the actual loss, I don't think supporting irresponsible behavior towards the pet is a good thing, and I think that's what eball is asking for. She is taking no responsibility, blames the shelter, etc., and wants relief from the guilt she knows she deserves. Ambivalence and guilt over euthanizing an elderly, injured, or sick pet is entirely different.)
Eball, QorquisDad offered you excellent advice. It's a lot better than planting a little memorial to make yourself feel better. Doing something that will help some other pet out in the memory of your own will honor them better, by actually doing something for someone else's welfare. It will show them you really learned something about caring for someone else rather than your own self-interest.
Kim was right, on so many points and levels. Who doesn't know what happens to most of the animals in any shelter that isn't no-kill? Does anyone think it's some kind of happy, little hotel? Who, in the western world, could be that ignorant? I couldn't agree with Kim more...actually, I could. I already know more than I ever wanted to know about abandonment issues and it's every BIT as pervasive and shameful as that posting. I've heard all the excuses in the book for "surrendering" (yet another term deliberately designed to sanitize an inhumane act) animals, most of which are ultimately based upon selfish desires and unfeeling hearts. Who would be so foolish as to not research the policies of apartments re: pets long before one moved? What kind of a hole would one have to have lived in to not know this is a common problem with renting? I'll tell you one thing...NO one, NO cir%%stance would EVER allow me to part with my family members (I WALK the talk) because of some rule! I'd live in my car before that would ever happen, it's so completely out of the question! THAT'S what commitment means - to join, entrust, DO. Is that not what we're supposed to be DOING for our loved ones? Abandonment means to give up wholly, forsake or desert. Which of the two actions was taken in this case? And the most telling test: would you give up your human baby in such a case, especially to almost certain death? If not, then I suggest, like Kim, you have no business having an animal....that you believe they are NOT worth as much as this site implies they are. Love, too, is an ACTION, not just an emotion, a CHOICE, not a convenient whim. This woman's feeling of guilt is, in this case, WELL-placed and BELONGS with her, not alleviated by enabling her to repeat such atrocious behavior.
As to the means of those poor dogs' deaths, I hope no one is so naive as to believe that shelter animals are dumber than the ones we have loved, and don't suffer intense anxiety being in these warehouses shared with other scared animals. If anyone thinks they turn off their brains and feelings (gee, like the ones WE supposedly have) while waiting for the axe to fall, they're sadly mistaken. How is that when it's convenient to notice it, many say they are so in-tune with emotions (ours or others), and even other realms we can't sense ourselves, yet when it comes to their imminent death they somehow are once again just dumb animals that can't notice the 'smell' of fear and death in the air? How many times are their poor hearts broken when people pass by them, not returning them to those they trusted to care for them for the rest of their natural lives? How much compassion do you think they will be able to pick up from a vet. who has hardened themself in order to perform such killing day in and day out? Laying on a hard, cold, medically-smelling table, without their 'family' members even there to comfort them? And even if they don't understand what exactly is about to happen, can you really fool yourselves into believing that they won't be terribly frightened in their very final moments? IThere is NOTHING peaceful about such a death! If you can deny all this, you're not looking very deeply into your own hearts, nor is your compassion going where it belongs - to the ones who were so cruelly betrayed. The only act that might make their deaths meaningful at this point is if this woman LEARNS from her appropriate guilt, never repeating such things, maybe even learning enough to fight FOR all animals.
Kim's also right about another thing. who could then value the opinions from anyone supporting such a betrayal? I, for TWO, am pretty disgusted and am not sure I could trust my heart's pain to anyone condoning this.
As to the means of those poor dogs' deaths, I hope no one is so naive as to believe that shelter animals are dumber than the ones we have loved, and don't suffer intense anxiety being in these warehouses shared with other scared animals. If anyone thinks they turn off their brains and feelings (gee, like the ones WE supposedly have) while waiting for the axe to fall, they're sadly mistaken. How is that when it's convenient to notice it, many say they are so in-tune with emotions (ours or others), and even other realms we can't sense ourselves, yet when it comes to their imminent death they somehow are once again just dumb animals that can't notice the 'smell' of fear and death in the air? How many times are their poor hearts broken when people pass by them, not returning them to those they trusted to care for them for the rest of their natural lives? How much compassion do you think they will be able to pick up from a vet. who has hardened themself in order to perform such killing day in and day out? Laying on a hard, cold, medically-smelling table, without their 'family' members even there to comfort them? And even if they don't understand what exactly is about to happen, can you really fool yourselves into believing that they won't be terribly frightened in their very final moments? IThere is NOTHING peaceful about such a death! If you can deny all this, you're not looking very deeply into your own hearts, nor is your compassion going where it belongs - to the ones who were so cruelly betrayed. The only act that might make their deaths meaningful at this point is if this woman LEARNS from her appropriate guilt, never repeating such things, maybe even learning enough to fight FOR all animals.
Kim's also right about another thing. who could then value the opinions from anyone supporting such a betrayal? I, for TWO, am pretty disgusted and am not sure I could trust my heart's pain to anyone condoning this.
Sorry, I wrote "eball" rather than "ehall. Didn't have the right glasses on.
Ehall, if you have the slightest shred of a conscience, please do not get any more pets. They are not disposable objects that exist only for your pleasure and convenience and it doesn't sound like you're able to make the effort it can sometime take to care for them properly. Dogs are among the hardest pets to keep in unstable situations, and most responsible persons wait until they're sure they can provide what they need before adopting them. Even though financial situations change, people who really love their dogs, don't give them up to keep an apartment. Going through what your pets did is a high price for them to pay for your lack of commitment.
You can tell your husband that the shelter did what county shelters do. It put them down.
Ehall, if you have the slightest shred of a conscience, please do not get any more pets. They are not disposable objects that exist only for your pleasure and convenience and it doesn't sound like you're able to make the effort it can sometime take to care for them properly. Dogs are among the hardest pets to keep in unstable situations, and most responsible persons wait until they're sure they can provide what they need before adopting them. Even though financial situations change, people who really love their dogs, don't give them up to keep an apartment. Going through what your pets did is a high price for them to pay for your lack of commitment.
You can tell your husband that the shelter did what county shelters do. It put them down.
I really have been sitting on my hands on this one ever since it was posted. I wasn't sure if I could be honest with how I felt here... but after reading everyone's post I feel I HAVE to...
I think there are 3 distinct groups of people... people who don't have pets... people who have pets.. and people who are animal lovers. People who are not animal lovers should NOT have pets. When we got Freeway we lived in a rented house. We made good and sure it was ok to have him there before bringing him home. When we moved we took 3 extra weeks JUST to find a house that would allow us to bring him. We moved again, and again did the same.. and again once more. If it had come down to us not being able to bring him, we wouldn't have moved. He was (is) family and we would never leave him. I would have rather died myself then put him in a shelter. And now that my baby is gone I would give up everything I have to have him back. If it would have made a difference I would have given all my limbs, all my belongings, and moved heaven and earth to keep him here with me. My heart bleeds for him... Utterly and completely.. and the thought of EVER having given him up in life for ANY reason at all sickens me. I would never have even thought about it.... He was my baby... God's perfect gift to me. Why would anyone choose to give God's gift back.
Kim, I really hate to see you go. You really supported me on my hardest of days... and many others here as well... I truly respect what you do, and I know it isn't easy.. but it sadly must be done, due to human neglegence and lack of heart. Those precious baby's are lucky to have someone like you to make that horrible place a little brighter.. and little friendlier.. and I know you all do the very best you can to find each and every one of them a forever home.
Remember that dogs have souls.. dogs feel... dogs feel even more than we do... They are precious little souls who just need to be loved and taken care of as they cannot take care of themselves.. never ever take the responsibility of being a pet owner lightly. You would never give away your 5 year old child... why would you give away your 5 year old dogs.
This breaks my heart... it truly does... If they don't mean the world to you.. you shouldn't have them... I had more to say but I can no longer see the screen.
I think there are 3 distinct groups of people... people who don't have pets... people who have pets.. and people who are animal lovers. People who are not animal lovers should NOT have pets. When we got Freeway we lived in a rented house. We made good and sure it was ok to have him there before bringing him home. When we moved we took 3 extra weeks JUST to find a house that would allow us to bring him. We moved again, and again did the same.. and again once more. If it had come down to us not being able to bring him, we wouldn't have moved. He was (is) family and we would never leave him. I would have rather died myself then put him in a shelter. And now that my baby is gone I would give up everything I have to have him back. If it would have made a difference I would have given all my limbs, all my belongings, and moved heaven and earth to keep him here with me. My heart bleeds for him... Utterly and completely.. and the thought of EVER having given him up in life for ANY reason at all sickens me. I would never have even thought about it.... He was my baby... God's perfect gift to me. Why would anyone choose to give God's gift back.
Kim, I really hate to see you go. You really supported me on my hardest of days... and many others here as well... I truly respect what you do, and I know it isn't easy.. but it sadly must be done, due to human neglegence and lack of heart. Those precious baby's are lucky to have someone like you to make that horrible place a little brighter.. and little friendlier.. and I know you all do the very best you can to find each and every one of them a forever home.
Remember that dogs have souls.. dogs feel... dogs feel even more than we do... They are precious little souls who just need to be loved and taken care of as they cannot take care of themselves.. never ever take the responsibility of being a pet owner lightly. You would never give away your 5 year old child... why would you give away your 5 year old dogs.
This breaks my heart... it truly does... If they don't mean the world to you.. you shouldn't have them... I had more to say but I can no longer see the screen.
When I read the original post, I too felt agony at their decision. I just don't understand how anyone can give away their furkids to unknown people, no matter what the cir%%stances are. With that said, sometimes a lesson such as this is absorbed best when the person is guided so that they partially work through it themselves rather than bluntly laying the truth out there. In education, when I confront a kid with some transgression, they invariably become defensive and close up when I take the blunt approach. I only get through and accomplish something when I use tact and guide them towards a conclusion concerning their behavior. People can change their attitudes if approached in the right way. Just a thought.
Agreed Ken, however on a forum such as this it's very hard for most of us to calmly guide the person to the truth. We are all grieving the loss of our furbabys and would do anything at all to get them back and its completely devestating to see someone just give theirs away, for any reason. If they want to come to a forum such as this one with that story they absolutely must have expected the back lash they are getting. We are a group of animal lovers who are grieving and just trying to get through the pain of one more day without our babies here with us... I cannot, and will not.. sit back and say nothing... For those dogs deserved to have someone to speak up. To me this isn't about the owner its about those dogs. They didn't have to die. Had I read this 2 months ago I might have been able to be a little more soothing, although not much... but like I said... I would do anything to have mine back, while they gave theirs away. That stirs something in me.. and in a lot of us.
Sometimes the truth hurts... but it is what it is and they deserve to know it. If it's hurtful then I'm sorry.. sometimes life hurts. Unfortunately for all the pain the owners are going through, those dogs went through a million times more. Helplessly.
Sometimes the truth hurts... but it is what it is and they deserve to know it. If it's hurtful then I'm sorry.. sometimes life hurts. Unfortunately for all the pain the owners are going through, those dogs went through a million times more. Helplessly.
First i want to say that i dont approve of what ehall did, but it doesn't give me the right to judge her. Kim R, Until youve walked in her shoes, you can't say what you would or wouldn't do. You said you hope she does feel guilty, and that she should have looked into other options. I'm sure if she'd know the animal shelter would put them to sleep so quickly she would have done things differently. A lot of animals are adopted out. Where did it say that she didn't check on them for a week? I can't believe how cold and heartless you sound. You said that you were done with the site, because you were no longer interested in hearing the opinions of people who support such horrible treatment of animals. So that means me!
Mandy's mom you said that you would live on the street before youde dump your dog off like that. This site is supposed to be for people who are hurting after losing there pets, you said the site was a wonderful help for you and you think it's wonderful to have non judgmental support for the loss, but your being judgmental. It didn't sound like she wanted relief for the guilt that you said she deserves. Yes she went about everything the wrong way but it still doesn't mean that she didn't care and love her pets for 5 years.
Furkidlets mom you said that youd live in your car before you would ever let that happen. And that your not sure you could trust your hearts pain to anyone condoning this. Well until that happens you don't know what youde do.
This web site has been a lifesaver for me after losing Brandy and Furball. But there are too many people who are judgmental and who think that there views are the only ones that matter. That we should all think like they do, or where heartless. Like i said at the beginning of the letter, don't judge anyone until youve walked a mile in there shoes.
I'm sure i'll get a few "nice" letters after this.
Janet.
Mandy's mom you said that you would live on the street before youde dump your dog off like that. This site is supposed to be for people who are hurting after losing there pets, you said the site was a wonderful help for you and you think it's wonderful to have non judgmental support for the loss, but your being judgmental. It didn't sound like she wanted relief for the guilt that you said she deserves. Yes she went about everything the wrong way but it still doesn't mean that she didn't care and love her pets for 5 years.
Furkidlets mom you said that youd live in your car before you would ever let that happen. And that your not sure you could trust your hearts pain to anyone condoning this. Well until that happens you don't know what youde do.
This web site has been a lifesaver for me after losing Brandy and Furball. But there are too many people who are judgmental and who think that there views are the only ones that matter. That we should all think like they do, or where heartless. Like i said at the beginning of the letter, don't judge anyone until youve walked a mile in there shoes.
I'm sure i'll get a few "nice" letters after this.
Janet.
While I may not be able to predict all the details of what I'd do, I certainly DO know what I WOULDN'T do, given such a situation...one that I might add, I would work to not allow to happen in the first place...like using common sense before moving. The last time we moved, I wouldn't even settle for a house that didn't have a safe, natural , adjacent space where our cats could be taken for romps, as we'd had previously, nor where there was a cat bylaw requiring cats to be kept indoors. For 14 yrs we have put up with a huge commute to work and other such inconveniences to ourselves in order to provide a better life for our furkids...they always were number one priority.
A lot of animals are NOT adopted out - most are killed. This is the same ignorance of the facts that helps keep the killing wheel turning, a case in point of how sorely uneducated people are about these things and something that needs to be brought out into the open. Enough hiding already! The animals' lives depend on those who have the hootzpah to speak FOR them. Since I have been honored to be a good friend for many yrs with someone who runs her own private no-kill charity, do you really think I'd be making this heartbreaking stuff up just for fun? She cries herself to sleep far too many nights, and carries the burdens of the lies, deceit, excuses, ignorance, selfishness, cruelty and outright cold-heartedness that she sees and hears every single day in her life's mission to save as many animals as humanly possible. You and most people cannot even imagine how horrible it is unless you are in the 'business'. She used to be a pediatrician...and gave it all up to help the animals instead. I respect her and her work far too much to let something like this slide without blunt comment, as I've seen too how staying quiet has NO effect whatsoever. Do you think women got the right to vote by being 'nice' or complacent? Do you think the Jews would have been freed if everyone kept looking the other way? There are many who see this unending slaughter of animals as akin to the Holocaust, and with the numbers running in the MILLIONS EVERY YEAR FOR DECADES, what else COULD it be called? My friend is German herself, and often cites accurate comparisons between what her race did and what we (count me out of this part!) are doing to the animals. Slavery was also not disallowed without protest first. As for a gentler approach, I've seen my friend try this many times when attempting to deal with people who don't 'get' it and I have to say most don't even feel bad, and in fact, they sound PROUD of their uncaring, arrogant viewpoint until she's heard enough nonsense and tells it like it is, and that is normally the only time they seem to realize they've done something offensive. I don't claim to understand why this is, but I've heard it often enough to not trust they will change by molly-coddling them. I think human arrogance and self-deception has become so entrenched now that it takes a firmer voice to break through the walls of denial. And hey, unless we're all Buddha's already, of course there's going to be judgement. Without some, we never would have fought for basic HUMAN rights, never mind the animals. We are living in a somewhat free continent right now because someone judged something else as just plain wrong. Values. ethics and morals have eroded enough already in my opinion and I don't want to see them get any worse.
A lot of animals are NOT adopted out - most are killed. This is the same ignorance of the facts that helps keep the killing wheel turning, a case in point of how sorely uneducated people are about these things and something that needs to be brought out into the open. Enough hiding already! The animals' lives depend on those who have the hootzpah to speak FOR them. Since I have been honored to be a good friend for many yrs with someone who runs her own private no-kill charity, do you really think I'd be making this heartbreaking stuff up just for fun? She cries herself to sleep far too many nights, and carries the burdens of the lies, deceit, excuses, ignorance, selfishness, cruelty and outright cold-heartedness that she sees and hears every single day in her life's mission to save as many animals as humanly possible. You and most people cannot even imagine how horrible it is unless you are in the 'business'. She used to be a pediatrician...and gave it all up to help the animals instead. I respect her and her work far too much to let something like this slide without blunt comment, as I've seen too how staying quiet has NO effect whatsoever. Do you think women got the right to vote by being 'nice' or complacent? Do you think the Jews would have been freed if everyone kept looking the other way? There are many who see this unending slaughter of animals as akin to the Holocaust, and with the numbers running in the MILLIONS EVERY YEAR FOR DECADES, what else COULD it be called? My friend is German herself, and often cites accurate comparisons between what her race did and what we (count me out of this part!) are doing to the animals. Slavery was also not disallowed without protest first. As for a gentler approach, I've seen my friend try this many times when attempting to deal with people who don't 'get' it and I have to say most don't even feel bad, and in fact, they sound PROUD of their uncaring, arrogant viewpoint until she's heard enough nonsense and tells it like it is, and that is normally the only time they seem to realize they've done something offensive. I don't claim to understand why this is, but I've heard it often enough to not trust they will change by molly-coddling them. I think human arrogance and self-deception has become so entrenched now that it takes a firmer voice to break through the walls of denial. And hey, unless we're all Buddha's already, of course there's going to be judgement. Without some, we never would have fought for basic HUMAN rights, never mind the animals. We are living in a somewhat free continent right now because someone judged something else as just plain wrong. Values. ethics and morals have eroded enough already in my opinion and I don't want to see them get any worse.
If we don't have a voice for the poor defenseless animals, who will. They cannot talk. They cannot stand up for themsevles. They didn't even know what was happening. They are so trusting and humans are so hurtful and ignorant. I doubt that there's anyone out there who doesn't know what happens to most animals at a shelter that is forced to kill due to the insane numbers. And if one doesn't, they should educate themselves about it before putting their beloved pets there. You wouldn't put your mother in a retirement home before completely researching the place and checking it out beforehand, right? Same thing. I may not know what I would have done in this situation, but I sure as heck know what I would not have done. I have a feeling this thread will be closed but I hope it isn't. There are people out there who need to read it. However, I don't have anything more to say about it.. I've said my peace and I don't regret one word I said as it was all completely true. Do I wish I had the heart to be kind and loving in my approach as I may have been 2 months ago? Of couse, because that would mean that Freeway was still alive. Instead, I sit here with a broken heart wondering how in the world someone could throw away their babies like yesterday's trash. Loved or not, doesn't matter... Why don't we give our furkids the same consideration we would our parents or even our children who might need to go to a home of some kind. Not one person would not be outraged if it was children instead... why do we turn such a soft heart when it's an animal.
lets be sure to attack the PROBLEM/ISSUE and not the person please. this is a good discussion, please keep it on a level that is still supportive. thanks.
Jenn, I agree that we need to be a voice for the animals. My experience is that much of what is done against animals is due to what I call "benign stupidity". People keep cats outside and then are sorrowful when they are run over by a car. People release Easter bunnies into the woods thinking they wil live fine there. People call the pound to get an animal thinking that the pound will search for a nice home for the animal. They don't actually intend to harm the animals. They simply do not know better in one sense or another.
When I grew up, my parents were great examples of benign stupidity when it came to pets. Our pets were subjected to things that I would not dream of subjecting my pets to today. This benign stupidity was taught through example to me. I slowly learned to love and properly care for animals through a series of lessons over the years. When I lost a cat or had a
pet hurt because of my benign stupidity it altered my way of thinking about pets. A couple of nice animal lovers who talked with me in a non-attacking, friendly manner, got some key points across to me that also helped to mold my way of thinking about animals. If they had yelled at me for my stupidity I probably would have said "what a jerk" and not gotten the lesson.
The moral of this story is that for the past 25 years of teaching high school students I have, each year, changed some of my students' attitudes about animals. I do this through showing each year a copy of a public service local tv segment I did about Easter bunnies. I also tell them the story of my Tommy's rescue from the road and Sebastian's rescue from a dumpster. In each of these stories I impart to them through example the love and care I feel that people need to have towards all animals. During this 25 year period I have had several students decide to become vets because of what I modeled. A number decided to go into animal rescue or adoption volunteer work. Not a year has gone by that several pets were taken to the vet for illness after the kids were made more aware of their responsibility to keep their fufkids healthy. Each year one or two students change their mind about getting an Easter bunny that would probably be dumped or forgotten within a month or two. At least one student each year has brought their bunny inside where it was safer after hearing one of my bunny stories. They have heard about my arm tattoos of a bunny and a cat and ask to see them. They want to know why I have these tattoos and this gives a great opening for me to discuss animal rescue and my feelings for my own guys here.
Add up a conservative estimate of the influence I've had the past 25 years and you could say I'm responsible for 10 compassionate vets, 15 compassionate wildlife officers and zoo officials, saving 250 dogs, cats, hamsters, etc... that went to the vet instead of being allowed to die, 25 bunnies that were undoubtably happier and safer inside, and heaven knows how many hundreds of animals that were treated a little more thoughtfully and kindly by their owners.
This is not counting my family's own efforts in rescue and adoption. This is just the ripple effect of my modeling and showing caring for animals.
I'm not 'blowing my own horn' or claiming to be special. ANYONE can do this through the right type of interaction with people. Looking back, if I had been attacked by a neighbor for my stupid and careless treatment of a former outdoor cat we fed, it's quite possible that I would be a different, colder person today. I would have closed off to learning about the joy of animals. That would have meant that those 10 vets and 15 wildlife officers who show a little extra kindness towards their charges, those 25 happier bunnies, those hundreds of pets who are well, all of this would not have been. Now THAT would have been the real tragedy. Look at the ripple effect and take care in how you teach. Some, like me in the past, need guidance. Don't expect them to always learn what you want them to know about compassion towards furkids on their own. Some, like me, did not have that type of upbringing. The bottom line is this: respond in a blunt, hostile manner to those with "benign stupidity" and you may save a small number of pets that they decide to not have because of you. Respond in a level, calm manner that helps to direct them in the right direction and you may save thousands of pets over the years through their actions and the actions of those they influence and change. Think 'ripple effect', always 'ripple effect'.
When I grew up, my parents were great examples of benign stupidity when it came to pets. Our pets were subjected to things that I would not dream of subjecting my pets to today. This benign stupidity was taught through example to me. I slowly learned to love and properly care for animals through a series of lessons over the years. When I lost a cat or had a
pet hurt because of my benign stupidity it altered my way of thinking about pets. A couple of nice animal lovers who talked with me in a non-attacking, friendly manner, got some key points across to me that also helped to mold my way of thinking about animals. If they had yelled at me for my stupidity I probably would have said "what a jerk" and not gotten the lesson.
The moral of this story is that for the past 25 years of teaching high school students I have, each year, changed some of my students' attitudes about animals. I do this through showing each year a copy of a public service local tv segment I did about Easter bunnies. I also tell them the story of my Tommy's rescue from the road and Sebastian's rescue from a dumpster. In each of these stories I impart to them through example the love and care I feel that people need to have towards all animals. During this 25 year period I have had several students decide to become vets because of what I modeled. A number decided to go into animal rescue or adoption volunteer work. Not a year has gone by that several pets were taken to the vet for illness after the kids were made more aware of their responsibility to keep their fufkids healthy. Each year one or two students change their mind about getting an Easter bunny that would probably be dumped or forgotten within a month or two. At least one student each year has brought their bunny inside where it was safer after hearing one of my bunny stories. They have heard about my arm tattoos of a bunny and a cat and ask to see them. They want to know why I have these tattoos and this gives a great opening for me to discuss animal rescue and my feelings for my own guys here.
Add up a conservative estimate of the influence I've had the past 25 years and you could say I'm responsible for 10 compassionate vets, 15 compassionate wildlife officers and zoo officials, saving 250 dogs, cats, hamsters, etc... that went to the vet instead of being allowed to die, 25 bunnies that were undoubtably happier and safer inside, and heaven knows how many hundreds of animals that were treated a little more thoughtfully and kindly by their owners.
This is not counting my family's own efforts in rescue and adoption. This is just the ripple effect of my modeling and showing caring for animals.
I'm not 'blowing my own horn' or claiming to be special. ANYONE can do this through the right type of interaction with people. Looking back, if I had been attacked by a neighbor for my stupid and careless treatment of a former outdoor cat we fed, it's quite possible that I would be a different, colder person today. I would have closed off to learning about the joy of animals. That would have meant that those 10 vets and 15 wildlife officers who show a little extra kindness towards their charges, those 25 happier bunnies, those hundreds of pets who are well, all of this would not have been. Now THAT would have been the real tragedy. Look at the ripple effect and take care in how you teach. Some, like me in the past, need guidance. Don't expect them to always learn what you want them to know about compassion towards furkids on their own. Some, like me, did not have that type of upbringing. The bottom line is this: respond in a blunt, hostile manner to those with "benign stupidity" and you may save a small number of pets that they decide to not have because of you. Respond in a level, calm manner that helps to direct them in the right direction and you may save thousands of pets over the years through their actions and the actions of those they influence and change. Think 'ripple effect', always 'ripple effect'.
Since I have been addressed directly, I feel the need to respond. Janet, yes, I do mean you. As a matter of fact, I was utterly shocked to see you as one of those who "stroked" this person. I have followed your posts, and thought you were much different from reading how you felt about your animals. I was very dissappointed, even more so now, that you were so supportive of such behavior. Call it judgemental, call it whatever you want, but I HAVE walked in her shoes, as a matter of fact, and I did what I had to do. At the time my husband was in school and I was a vet tech. We had just gotten married, and my pittiful income was all we had. We were told six months after we began renting the house we were in that the people we rented from were selling it. We were told that we could stay as renters of the new owners, but they would not allow pets. It was very difficult to find someone who would rent to someone with an 80 pound Ger. Shep., so I got a second job to afford to board her at a pet resort (which was 2 hours away in Atlanta, but the only one that was good enough for my baby) until we could find another place to live that would accept animals. I'll even go another step further about sacrifices for our animals, and say that my baby at one point needed surgery on her eyes to have cataracts fixed or she would go blind. We were still in the same financial situation at the time, so I sold my car to pay for it, and took a cab to work until my husband graduated from school almost a year later. I would do it again in a heartbeat, and not think twice. This may make me crazy to some, but I love my babies more than anything, and I can talk the talk because I have walked the walk!! My husband is now a pharmacist and we now give very generously to our city shelter, which I also volunteer at,to take care of people's pets, like ehalls, so I feel like I am entitled to speak from every side of this situation!!! The details of when she called to check, etc. are not important, the fact that they ended up there at all is all that matters. You can't truly love your pets if you would just hand them over to a stranger...period!
Ehalls post not only disgusted me as a TRUE animal lover, it offended me. As someone who would literally give a limb for just ONE more day with my baby, of whom I gave my heart, soul, and every available resource to keep happy, and healthy for sixteen beautiful years, and still mourn her death almost a year after losing her despite everything we could possibly do for her. Jenn's comparison to the nursing home was perfect. If she truly loved these dogs, she would have done a better job at researching where they would go...
Kim
Ehalls post not only disgusted me as a TRUE animal lover, it offended me. As someone who would literally give a limb for just ONE more day with my baby, of whom I gave my heart, soul, and every available resource to keep happy, and healthy for sixteen beautiful years, and still mourn her death almost a year after losing her despite everything we could possibly do for her. Jenn's comparison to the nursing home was perfect. If she truly loved these dogs, she would have done a better job at researching where they would go...
Kim
Let me also add that for those of you who are comparing your pets euthanasia to the killing at shelters, it is a false comparison. There are many kill shelters out there that still use gas, which is a horrible death. I have been able to convince the shelter I am with to convert to killing by injection, which is at least a little better, until I can get them to convert to a no kill all together, but even the injectable is horrible for an animal in a shelter who is scared, and no doubt knows what is going to happen. These animals can sense it, I know from their body language, and are very confused and frightened as to what is going on and why these strangers are doing this to them...it is a terrible end for them, so please don't fool yourself into thinking it is somekind of quite, peaceful end for them. Our babies euthanasias are quite and peaceful because they are old/sick and know we are doing what is best for them and are comforted by our love for them and their trust in us. These animals in shelters that are being killed are healthy, vibrant babies that don't want to die, and will often struggle to get away because they know what is happening to them. Lets not candy coat what we have not seen with our own eyes, it only adds to the problem....
I've said it before somewhere else (can't remember exactly where now!) and I'll say it again, because it's really appropriate in this discussion. If anyone cares about these issues, or feels they don't know enough about them, there are a few 'must-reads' that have been around for years. One of the best books on the subject is "Disposable Animals: Ending the Tragedy of Throwaway Pets" by Craig Brestrup, formerly the executive director of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society in Washington; ANY article by Ed Duvin, but in particular, "In The Name of Mercy", and "Getting Out of the Killing Business" (you can find Ed at the Animal Lines website). Ed was an experienced shelter administrator; the article "Loving Them Too Much" by Elizabeth Forel; "When Elephants Weep" by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, more of an argument for animal sensibility in general. If you really want to get educated quick in the bigger picture of helping those who can't speak for themselves, you MUST check these out. The animals' lives depend on people being educated enough not to be fooled by the 'white noise' of society. And now I'm going to say a prayer for both those 2 dear doggies, and even for ehall, who I hope won't shirk her duty to their memories/former physical existence by ignoring all the emotionally-driven, yet necessary commentary we've provided here. Their relationship could still be salvaged even after the fact, in spiritual form, by a turn-around in her thinking and future restitution for how she handled this. Thanks to the few concerned folks here, not only for being angels-on-earth on behalf of those done wrong by, but also for restoring a bit of my faith that there are some members out there who do 'get' it. My two deeply-adored furkids, both my crossed-over boy and his surviving sister, also send their gratitude your way. 
As LS Support stated, Lets be sure to attack the problem/issue and not the person. To keep it on a level that is supportive. I thought this was a web site where people came to express there grief on losing a pet. You said you were shocked to see i was one of those who stroked this person, and that i was supportive of her behaviour. I never once said that i approved of what she did. I love all my animals and would do anything i could to keep them with me. But i wasn't in her situation. As Ken Albin stated when you respond to someone in a blunt hostile manner you may save a number of pets. But respond in a calm manner and you may save thousands of pets. You should have told her what she should have done. Not attacked her for what she did. I miss Brandy & Furball more than anything, and this web site has been a lifesaver for me. I'm sorry i did not live up to your expectations of what you thought i was like.
Janet.
Janet.
Janet,
My response was not meant to be an attack on you, just a reply on the comment you made "until you have walked in her shoes". I just wanted to let people know that I have been in her shoes, so I didn't see my comments as much "judgemental" as just "factual".
I don't doubt your love for your babies one bit, Janet. Your comments here haven't changed my opinion of you as a wonderful and loving pet owner one bit. Your babies were lucky to have you, and the ones you have now are lucky just the same. I just thought that your love for them was so deep, that you would feel the same about all animals, not just those that share your home, and do more in the way to fight for them.
I know the point of this website is to help those who are grieving the loss of their pet, as it has helped me a great deal. I just have a hard time trying to sooth someone who made such a decision (to say she didn't know that they could be killed is just to rediculous to entertain), when those of us are facing a pain of loss that we would have done anything in the world to prevent.
One might say "if you feel that way, then just don't respond to her". Trust me, I tried. I passed it by several times, but I just couldn't rest until I said how I felt. I couldn't live with the guilt myself of feeling like, by ignoring it, I too was failing these poor babies who had no voice in the situation. I am sorry if my responses came out harsh, I can't help that I may not be very good with words, but I am not sorry that I said how I feel.
Respectfully,
Kim
P.S.- Thank you to all of those who have e-mailed me thanking me for being their voice when they didn't have the courage to speak out, it's nice to have so much support when you feel like your on the chopping block!!
My response was not meant to be an attack on you, just a reply on the comment you made "until you have walked in her shoes". I just wanted to let people know that I have been in her shoes, so I didn't see my comments as much "judgemental" as just "factual".
I don't doubt your love for your babies one bit, Janet. Your comments here haven't changed my opinion of you as a wonderful and loving pet owner one bit. Your babies were lucky to have you, and the ones you have now are lucky just the same. I just thought that your love for them was so deep, that you would feel the same about all animals, not just those that share your home, and do more in the way to fight for them.
I know the point of this website is to help those who are grieving the loss of their pet, as it has helped me a great deal. I just have a hard time trying to sooth someone who made such a decision (to say she didn't know that they could be killed is just to rediculous to entertain), when those of us are facing a pain of loss that we would have done anything in the world to prevent.
One might say "if you feel that way, then just don't respond to her". Trust me, I tried. I passed it by several times, but I just couldn't rest until I said how I felt. I couldn't live with the guilt myself of feeling like, by ignoring it, I too was failing these poor babies who had no voice in the situation. I am sorry if my responses came out harsh, I can't help that I may not be very good with words, but I am not sorry that I said how I feel.
Respectfully,
Kim
P.S.- Thank you to all of those who have e-mailed me thanking me for being their voice when they didn't have the courage to speak out, it's nice to have so much support when you feel like your on the chopping block!!
Kim R,
I think we all let our emotions affect what and how we said it. I'm not attacking you for your opinions, i too agree that what she did was not right. My love for all animals is so deep that i would do whatever i could to help and save them. I have taken in many animals that would have gone to the animal shelter, and if i could not find there owners found good homes for them. I have had up to 4 dogs and 4 cats living in my home. And i hate the idea of any animal going through what they go through at the animal shelter. But all i saw in the letter from ehall was she had lost 2 dogs and was grieving. She should have tried to find homes for them or looked into other options, and she has to live with her descision. All animals should be loved and treated with care. I'd give up everything i own to have Brandy and Furball back for even just one day. I appologise for any harsh words i said to you, Jenn and Furkidlets Mom. It's obvious from all the posts i've read that you are true animal lovers and miss your kids more than anything. I will say a prayer for ehalls pets that they are now playing at the bridge with our pets.
Janet.
I think we all let our emotions affect what and how we said it. I'm not attacking you for your opinions, i too agree that what she did was not right. My love for all animals is so deep that i would do whatever i could to help and save them. I have taken in many animals that would have gone to the animal shelter, and if i could not find there owners found good homes for them. I have had up to 4 dogs and 4 cats living in my home. And i hate the idea of any animal going through what they go through at the animal shelter. But all i saw in the letter from ehall was she had lost 2 dogs and was grieving. She should have tried to find homes for them or looked into other options, and she has to live with her descision. All animals should be loved and treated with care. I'd give up everything i own to have Brandy and Furball back for even just one day. I appologise for any harsh words i said to you, Jenn and Furkidlets Mom. It's obvious from all the posts i've read that you are true animal lovers and miss your kids more than anything. I will say a prayer for ehalls pets that they are now playing at the bridge with our pets.
Janet.
Janet,
I agree. We are all very emotional to begin with, or we would not be here in the first place. Fuel that with such a strong issue and words are sure to fly. I, too, pray for those two precious babies for whom it is too late. I hope that maybe something was learned from all of this from those who don't know any better, and maybe we were able to save a life...who knows.
I do find some peace in knowing that those babies will now and forever know a happiness that they have never known before, and will never be abandoned or scared again. I'm sure even after all that they went through, they will still be waiting there to meet ehall when her time comes, because that is what our babies are best at....forgiveness and unconditional love....
Kim
I agree. We are all very emotional to begin with, or we would not be here in the first place. Fuel that with such a strong issue and words are sure to fly. I, too, pray for those two precious babies for whom it is too late. I hope that maybe something was learned from all of this from those who don't know any better, and maybe we were able to save a life...who knows.
I do find some peace in knowing that those babies will now and forever know a happiness that they have never known before, and will never be abandoned or scared again. I'm sure even after all that they went through, they will still be waiting there to meet ehall when her time comes, because that is what our babies are best at....forgiveness and unconditional love....
Kim
I personally think it's too much to ask for some of us newly grieving to be able to react calmly and in love to such a situation as this.. Like I said earlier, had this happened 2 months ago, I would have reacted differently, although my feelings would have been the same. Maybe I am being 'harsh' but how can I not be? Like Kim said, I would give a limb for one more day with Freeway - hell, one more MINUTE would be enough, take my right arm and just hand him to me in my left. We do what we must for our babies.. last summer when Freeway needed surgery (well over $1000, close to $2000 including previous visits and care afterwards) I worked double shifts for months to pay for it... 16 hour shifts, on my feet on concrete floor.. I was wiped.. but he had a fighting chance. And it gave me another 9 months with him.. I would do it all over again for another 9 minutes with him.. We are all emotional, but I believe deep down we are all loving caring people who's minds are NOT in tune with humans, but animals. If we see an animal who has been treated badly we jump... because it feels like people are taking advantage of the beautiful gift that God has bestowed upon us in our furry friends. I too tried SO hard to stay away from this one, to sit on my hands and shut my mouth as I KNEW my response would be harsh and full of raw anger and sadness.. but when thinking about this came down to not being able to sleep -- that's when I knew I had to post how I felt. People make wrong choices all the time... Unfortunately the animals suffer more than the humans ever could... what's important is that the humans go on with life and see the wrong and realize that while they can't go back, they can change things in the future. Every animal on this green earth deserves a chance to LIVE.. happy, healthy, with people who love them. It just breaks my heart when they don't get that chance. My home isn't big enough for them all, but darn it, my heart is. I hope that they feel that love, where ever they may be...
My apologies to anyone who didn't like the things I had to say, or rather, how I said them. I am sorry for any hurt I caused but I take nothing back... I will never stop being a voice for those who have none... possibly once my heart heals a bit I will be able to do so in a calmer matter.
My apologies to anyone who didn't like the things I had to say, or rather, how I said them. I am sorry for any hurt I caused but I take nothing back... I will never stop being a voice for those who have none... possibly once my heart heals a bit I will be able to do so in a calmer matter.
Janet, I think I should clarify what I meant when I said this site was an immense help to me. I didn't ask for nonjudgmental support or initiate a thread. I posted a response to Putty's owner, who had to euthanize her very loved cat on the same day that I had. I agreed to euthanize Mandy with great reluctance and only because the vet--not my usual vet--insisted that I would have been selfish and unfair to her to try alternatives. I am gradually coming to terms with this. She was 20 and had renal failure. Despite her age, I wasn't convinced that it was her time and, like many others here, I would have given anything for another day with her--if I wasn't gambling that she would be in pain during it. My guilt had to do with perhaps putting her down prematurely and every day that I ever missed giving her special attention, and they happened, as my dog (a Puli) is extremely time-consuming and demanding of attention, while Mandy tended to sleep most of the time and sometimes look irritated or annoyed if awakened.
I didn't get any specific resolution, because I didn't originate a post, although Putty's owner emailed me privately. What I did see was a group of persons who obviously cared deeply--and gave their pets the best of care--who, nonetheless, had guilt and ambivalence over the final act of euthanasia, done out of love. It helped me to take a step back, in the midst of the relentless agony, to recognize that even the best caretakers feel guilt and so that didn't mean that I had shortchanged her. (My vet back east used to say she wanted to come back as one of my cats. None of my neighbors in my new place really know me and couldn't offer the reassurance that she had the care she deserved. Luckily, I ran into my old bf, whom I hadn't seen for two years, who could reassure me, which helped. I felt like I had betrayed the only creature who really loved me. Max does, of course, but to Mandy I was the only person on earth.) A counsellor I went to said it was almost masochistic the extent to which I was punishing myself.
Anyway, I have learned a great deal from some of this discussion, as well as some of the other threads. I understand and agree with much of what Ken said, but I'm not sure that ehall will really gain anything from this to provide a ripple, and if she at least doesn't take on and abandon more pets after this, that will at least be a few spared. There are people like her all over the place, you meet them casually and they say, "oh I love your dog, I used to have one but I had to give it up to get an apartment" and then look to you for sympathy. It just reinforces that that's an acceptable behavior. Dogs bond so deeply that even if they're not euthanized, as in this case, they suffer immensely from abandonment. Some adjust better than others. Some recognize the amount of commitment adopters have and really bond well, but others will never be the same.
Ehall was quite resourceful in finding this site when SHE needed help, which leads me to believe she simply didn't make the effort to locate a safer placement for her dogs. She clearly has a computer and isn't living in a cave. Her post was concerned about her own needs, with complete denial of the needs of her pets. I agree with Kim that in this case the guilt may serve a necessary function.
We have all probably made mistakes with our pets, as Ken alludes to. I missed the early signs of kidney failure in my first cat and paid with a degree of pain that friends said had to be reliving the loss of my daughter. It was useless to explain that I loved her every bit as much as I would have loved a child. I learned to bring my pets to the vet for any possible problem and to just be relieved if it wasn't serious. I am now still upset that I didn't bring Mandy in earlier, despite a nasty flu, and have felt that I'm repeating a terrible error that I thought I had learned from. I'm gradually coming to terms with that, as I have an obligation to Max to continue fuctioning and not collapse into constant tears as I did for the first few days.
I am sorry that these dogs went through what they did and that ehall is learning retrospectively how much they meant to her life, but I can't with any honesty try to comfort her by saying she did what she could--if she could locate this site she could seek help for her dogs. I think if posters hadn't used that form of comfort I wouldn't have felt compelled to respond. I think the only thing that I could say in terms of offering support she requested would be that it is massively painful to lose someone who loves and trusts you and that perhaps if you help alleviate some other abandoned pet's pain, as in QuoquisDad's suggestions, your dogs will know that you would undo your actions if you had another chance.
What I'm realizing from this is that instead of spending money on an urn and cremation, or perhaps in addition, my best memorial to Mandy would be a contribution to our local no-kill agencies. I am somewhat active with some private Puli rescue, and have, like others on the site, rescued a number of pets myself. (Part of the guilt, as Mandy almost starved herself to death when I brought home two stray cats.) I think that rather than spending so much time in grief and self-recrimination, I should use that to make life better for animals at the shelter and hope Mandy's spirit knows this comes from love for her. (After I lost my daughter I volunteered at a Children's Hospital and found that it was very therapeutic to give the concentrated attention and caring that children really need to children who came from group homes or from families who lived far away and couldn't be with them.) Another option that occurred to me was to fund some classified ads regarding the likelihood of suppliers of pets to animal researchers "adopting" their "free to good homes" puppies and kittens.
I'm sorry, Janet, but there is a difference to me between "losing a pet" and voluntarily dropping them off, especially as older dogs, to a shelter whose stated policy is to put down animals with possible placement issues. If someone came to this site crying because they used their pet as target practice and then regretted it would you be able to stay "nonjudgmental"? (I am not saying that this is what ehall did, I'm sure she wanted to believe there were homes out there for older dogs and that getting rid of them with a clear conscience was as easy as just making a phone call.)
I hope ehall takes what she can out from all of these posts and recognizes through her loss just how much love our pets give to us. It is a huge responsibility to provide the type of care that level of trust requires. We have too little time with them to begin with, so we need to do our best to make the most of it.
I didn't get any specific resolution, because I didn't originate a post, although Putty's owner emailed me privately. What I did see was a group of persons who obviously cared deeply--and gave their pets the best of care--who, nonetheless, had guilt and ambivalence over the final act of euthanasia, done out of love. It helped me to take a step back, in the midst of the relentless agony, to recognize that even the best caretakers feel guilt and so that didn't mean that I had shortchanged her. (My vet back east used to say she wanted to come back as one of my cats. None of my neighbors in my new place really know me and couldn't offer the reassurance that she had the care she deserved. Luckily, I ran into my old bf, whom I hadn't seen for two years, who could reassure me, which helped. I felt like I had betrayed the only creature who really loved me. Max does, of course, but to Mandy I was the only person on earth.) A counsellor I went to said it was almost masochistic the extent to which I was punishing myself.
Anyway, I have learned a great deal from some of this discussion, as well as some of the other threads. I understand and agree with much of what Ken said, but I'm not sure that ehall will really gain anything from this to provide a ripple, and if she at least doesn't take on and abandon more pets after this, that will at least be a few spared. There are people like her all over the place, you meet them casually and they say, "oh I love your dog, I used to have one but I had to give it up to get an apartment" and then look to you for sympathy. It just reinforces that that's an acceptable behavior. Dogs bond so deeply that even if they're not euthanized, as in this case, they suffer immensely from abandonment. Some adjust better than others. Some recognize the amount of commitment adopters have and really bond well, but others will never be the same.
Ehall was quite resourceful in finding this site when SHE needed help, which leads me to believe she simply didn't make the effort to locate a safer placement for her dogs. She clearly has a computer and isn't living in a cave. Her post was concerned about her own needs, with complete denial of the needs of her pets. I agree with Kim that in this case the guilt may serve a necessary function.
We have all probably made mistakes with our pets, as Ken alludes to. I missed the early signs of kidney failure in my first cat and paid with a degree of pain that friends said had to be reliving the loss of my daughter. It was useless to explain that I loved her every bit as much as I would have loved a child. I learned to bring my pets to the vet for any possible problem and to just be relieved if it wasn't serious. I am now still upset that I didn't bring Mandy in earlier, despite a nasty flu, and have felt that I'm repeating a terrible error that I thought I had learned from. I'm gradually coming to terms with that, as I have an obligation to Max to continue fuctioning and not collapse into constant tears as I did for the first few days.
I am sorry that these dogs went through what they did and that ehall is learning retrospectively how much they meant to her life, but I can't with any honesty try to comfort her by saying she did what she could--if she could locate this site she could seek help for her dogs. I think if posters hadn't used that form of comfort I wouldn't have felt compelled to respond. I think the only thing that I could say in terms of offering support she requested would be that it is massively painful to lose someone who loves and trusts you and that perhaps if you help alleviate some other abandoned pet's pain, as in QuoquisDad's suggestions, your dogs will know that you would undo your actions if you had another chance.
What I'm realizing from this is that instead of spending money on an urn and cremation, or perhaps in addition, my best memorial to Mandy would be a contribution to our local no-kill agencies. I am somewhat active with some private Puli rescue, and have, like others on the site, rescued a number of pets myself. (Part of the guilt, as Mandy almost starved herself to death when I brought home two stray cats.) I think that rather than spending so much time in grief and self-recrimination, I should use that to make life better for animals at the shelter and hope Mandy's spirit knows this comes from love for her. (After I lost my daughter I volunteered at a Children's Hospital and found that it was very therapeutic to give the concentrated attention and caring that children really need to children who came from group homes or from families who lived far away and couldn't be with them.) Another option that occurred to me was to fund some classified ads regarding the likelihood of suppliers of pets to animal researchers "adopting" their "free to good homes" puppies and kittens.
I'm sorry, Janet, but there is a difference to me between "losing a pet" and voluntarily dropping them off, especially as older dogs, to a shelter whose stated policy is to put down animals with possible placement issues. If someone came to this site crying because they used their pet as target practice and then regretted it would you be able to stay "nonjudgmental"? (I am not saying that this is what ehall did, I'm sure she wanted to believe there were homes out there for older dogs and that getting rid of them with a clear conscience was as easy as just making a phone call.)
I hope ehall takes what she can out from all of these posts and recognizes through her loss just how much love our pets give to us. It is a huge responsibility to provide the type of care that level of trust requires. We have too little time with them to begin with, so we need to do our best to make the most of it.
Mandy'sMom.
VERY well said. I agree, I agree, I agree!!!
I should add that although I think you're most likely bang-on about the possible placement 'problems' with those 2 dogs, there are also too many shelters that pick and choose by arbitrary methods who will die and who will live, like purebreds over mixed breeds, age, who's cuter and other such biased criteria. And of course, I never agree with any shelter in the first place about animals seeming to be not good candidates for adoption, as often the slightest excuse is all they look for, eg. slight sniffles, fear-based aggression, etc. I know from my no-kill friend's shelter that actually MOST of those types, even most FERAL cats, come around to a most liveable, if not better, state once they've had some love and care showered upon them. But you're right, too, about 24 hours being quite abnormal.
I also wondered about the fact that this shelter PICKED THEM UP FOR HER, as that isn't normal in our parts; usually they're far too busy. I wonder if it was the common scenario my no-kill friend runs into, where the guardian (or more properly in this case, owner) refuses to even drive them to the shelter themselves....because the guilt runs higher if they have to face what they're doing, closer to home. My friend gets this all the time, even THOUGH she's no-kill. They just can't spare their precious time and expect, if she's a rescuer, SHE ought to do it FOR them. There's no end to this baseness.
I also have a feeling that ehall won't learn from any of our discourse because I imagine she simply went elsewhere as soon as her actions were questioned. But even if I'm right (and I'd rather NOT be with that!), I'm hoping all others who read or will read this thread will learn things, too.
VERY well said. I agree, I agree, I agree!!!
I should add that although I think you're most likely bang-on about the possible placement 'problems' with those 2 dogs, there are also too many shelters that pick and choose by arbitrary methods who will die and who will live, like purebreds over mixed breeds, age, who's cuter and other such biased criteria. And of course, I never agree with any shelter in the first place about animals seeming to be not good candidates for adoption, as often the slightest excuse is all they look for, eg. slight sniffles, fear-based aggression, etc. I know from my no-kill friend's shelter that actually MOST of those types, even most FERAL cats, come around to a most liveable, if not better, state once they've had some love and care showered upon them. But you're right, too, about 24 hours being quite abnormal.
I also wondered about the fact that this shelter PICKED THEM UP FOR HER, as that isn't normal in our parts; usually they're far too busy. I wonder if it was the common scenario my no-kill friend runs into, where the guardian (or more properly in this case, owner) refuses to even drive them to the shelter themselves....because the guilt runs higher if they have to face what they're doing, closer to home. My friend gets this all the time, even THOUGH she's no-kill. They just can't spare their precious time and expect, if she's a rescuer, SHE ought to do it FOR them. There's no end to this baseness.
I also have a feeling that ehall won't learn from any of our discourse because I imagine she simply went elsewhere as soon as her actions were questioned. But even if I'm right (and I'd rather NOT be with that!), I'm hoping all others who read or will read this thread will learn things, too.
i saw ehall was reading the board last night, no replies so i think s/he is gone now.
the board has been so volatile lately. i realize there are issues that are of great passion to some of you here, but please keep in mind the nature of the
site is to help and support. regardless if ehall may or may not have made a mistake in her actions, s/he did what was necessary to preserve her family's
well-being. chiding her for something s/he was obviously very upset about, after the fact, is something we can all hopefully avoid in the future.
the board has been so volatile lately. i realize there are issues that are of great passion to some of you here, but please keep in mind the nature of the
site is to help and support. regardless if ehall may or may not have made a mistake in her actions, s/he did what was necessary to preserve her family's
well-being. chiding her for something s/he was obviously very upset about, after the fact, is something we can all hopefully avoid in the future.
I'm sorry if I did what I had to do. I wish I had known about other choices believe me if i had known I would NEVER had called them. But now I know I did. I feel horrible, but at the time that was all I new that I could do because that was what the landlord suggested, b/c we told him that we would have to find them homes as we didnt no anyone that would be able to take them. This is the first time ever that I have had to do this and it has torn me up inside. I know that some of you dont understand, you say I had other means of finding them a home, well I had until the next day, I didnt know what to do as I have never been in this time of a situation before. I thought that shelters had a time limit to keep them before the did that. I honestly do not know why they did it so soon. They were very healthy, they werent sick or anything. It is very hard to go through this and I regret very much not looking any farther into it, otherwise I could still have them here with me, which is killing me. I just have to say, I came here for support and didnt get it. I feel really bad for all of you and what you have had to go through. Although I didnt get the support I did learn there are other methods, which I didnt no before, & I thank you all very much. I still hurt just like anyone else though, I have feeling too. I would have never ever blamed anyone for something like this, expecially in a situation like this. I'm sorry that some of you feel the way you do about it.
Aww that is so sad, No it doesn't hurt them at all, they pass on quickly and peacefully, they are usually sedated before being put to sleep, or atleast most of them are, I don't know how shelters do that.
These posts have brought up a questions I have had for a while. While I was living in Tampa, FL, the shelters went "no kill." In the pamphlet it stated that when the shelter was full, they would accept no more animals, and would try to teach you how to keep it. Does that mean that the normal pet owner just puts the pet out on the street?
I am a true animal lover, my pets are my children. I realize that most of us on this board are pet lovers like me, but I think we are the minority. I have never met anyone in real live that loves their pets like me. So I wonder how many pets in Tampa are just being thrown out on the street? Wouldn't it be better for the pet to be put down, rather then left outside, alone and afraid?
This post is not intended to cause a riot act. I have no intention of putting down my pets or sending them to a shelter. Since the death of my baby last month, I have adopted Bella Notte, our new dog from the Lied Animal Shelter (a kill shelter) here in Las Vegas. I just have concerns about the "no kill" idea, and wondered if anyone had any hard facts about any increase of pet abandonment in no kill counties.
I am a true animal lover, my pets are my children. I realize that most of us on this board are pet lovers like me, but I think we are the minority. I have never met anyone in real live that loves their pets like me. So I wonder how many pets in Tampa are just being thrown out on the street? Wouldn't it be better for the pet to be put down, rather then left outside, alone and afraid?
This post is not intended to cause a riot act. I have no intention of putting down my pets or sending them to a shelter. Since the death of my baby last month, I have adopted Bella Notte, our new dog from the Lied Animal Shelter (a kill shelter) here in Las Vegas. I just have concerns about the "no kill" idea, and wondered if anyone had any hard facts about any increase of pet abandonment in no kill counties.
Lady's Mom,
I'll try to answer your concerns as best I can. It's a good question, and one that, fairly, should be asked. Firstly, the 'normal' pet owner might go to a kill shelter, as most will accept any number of animals. While this may seem better, the reality behind this policy is that another animal will die in its place, so one animal's admission means another one's certain death. Or, the owner might let the animal loose, or they might try to give them away. I don't think you can predict which choice they will make unless they have already done these things before. One must keep in mind that people who would actively choose between only these choices would be just as likely to let an animal loose regardless of whether a shelter (of either kind) was available or not. To blame a (newer to society) no-kill for opting out of certain killing on this basis alone is not really fair. (no, I'm not saying you're doing that; just a general statement on my part) If not for the kill shelters promoting the now-entrenched idea of disposability in the first place, this attitude might not be as bad as it currently is. The idea of an animal first being promoted as having value, then killing that animal as easily as the words fall out of your mouth sends a mixed message that is not lost on the public.
I had stated previously that there are poorly-run no-kill shelters as well as well-run ones. If this shelter that you speak of (and did you visit any other ones to check their policies?) wasn't ALSO including a well of info. on how to find another home for the animal yourself, they've missed a crucial education point.
As for whether an animal is 'better off' at large or dead, that is something I think everyone needs to ask themselves. I think the most compelling argument against it is the obvious one. If I were that animal, I'd rather take my chances (which might turn out not too badly) on the street rather than have NO chances at all. I know many can suffer under bad conditions(whether on the street OR in a bad home!), however, I've also seen and heard of many who live for years (fixed feral cats for example) on their own without necessarily suffering unduly. (another point for fix-and-release feral cat programs) And you would have to ask yourself if you think an animal would rather have SOME undetermined time to live, or a probable very short time to live. And were it you, would you rather be in a place where you sense the death in the air, or outside and free, albeit possibly in perilous conditions.The idea that animals will SURELY suffer if living wild is a commonly used argument for kill shelters, which promote themselves as places of salvation, despite the fact that that salvation is in most cases lethal. To my mind, a cat on the streets at least has the chance of being rescued by someone in time (my neighbour's cat was formerly on their street for 2 YEARS before THEY moved in and took him in and that was about 15 years ago now - he actually became a sort of mascot in our neighbourhood;extra note - he was even declawed before being taken in and yet still survived and then flourished. Another one of their cats was found in a garbage can, and is still alive and well-loved) So if I were that cat, I'd rather have a hope of rescue rather than a death sentence. No one can claim that all animals at large are for certain suffering irremedially, which I believe is the only justification for true euthanasia.
While I don't have stats. on what you're after, I would guess that if a no-kill or kill shelter is also ACTIVELY promoting spay/neuter, (as a growing number of states are finally doing in collaboration with animal welfare groups; they may even have one of those mobile vans for free or subsidized spay/neuter days), then the numbers of street animals would be going down. If they don't, I'm not sure, but you might check out the Pet Savers website as they may either have, or be able to get you, those stats. It depends on whether anyone has funded the collecting of them or not, so far. I would also, as I have before on this thread, encourage you to read the book "Disposable Animals. Ending the Tragedy of Throwaway Pets" by Craig Bestrup, who is the Executive Director of the Progressive Animal Welfre Society. It is PACKED with information and discussion on just these sorts of issues. And as I always do, I would ask that you examine the question(s), substituting "human" for "animal". In this case, would you rather see a human living on the streets, or taken to a facility that will likely kill them as a 'cure' for their homelessness?
It may also help you to know that I personally know about 20 people (just in my tiny circle) who think as I do about animals. While I agree that we're still in the minority (although children likely would join in if not for adults changing their minds for them), I also think our attitudes are growing around the world. I'm glad to see you're thinking about these problems, even if there's no immediate solution to all of them, because too many people don't even go that far. And naturally, I'm happy to hear where you got your own furkids, as did I. I don't think it matters as much whether you get them from a kill or no-kill shelter (although next time I'd go no-kill, as they need the funds even more that the bigger, regular shelters, in ORDER to promote their philosophy to a larger audience), as long as you're saving the life of an animal that's already been abandoned once or more.
I'll try to answer your concerns as best I can. It's a good question, and one that, fairly, should be asked. Firstly, the 'normal' pet owner might go to a kill shelter, as most will accept any number of animals. While this may seem better, the reality behind this policy is that another animal will die in its place, so one animal's admission means another one's certain death. Or, the owner might let the animal loose, or they might try to give them away. I don't think you can predict which choice they will make unless they have already done these things before. One must keep in mind that people who would actively choose between only these choices would be just as likely to let an animal loose regardless of whether a shelter (of either kind) was available or not. To blame a (newer to society) no-kill for opting out of certain killing on this basis alone is not really fair. (no, I'm not saying you're doing that; just a general statement on my part) If not for the kill shelters promoting the now-entrenched idea of disposability in the first place, this attitude might not be as bad as it currently is. The idea of an animal first being promoted as having value, then killing that animal as easily as the words fall out of your mouth sends a mixed message that is not lost on the public.
I had stated previously that there are poorly-run no-kill shelters as well as well-run ones. If this shelter that you speak of (and did you visit any other ones to check their policies?) wasn't ALSO including a well of info. on how to find another home for the animal yourself, they've missed a crucial education point.
As for whether an animal is 'better off' at large or dead, that is something I think everyone needs to ask themselves. I think the most compelling argument against it is the obvious one. If I were that animal, I'd rather take my chances (which might turn out not too badly) on the street rather than have NO chances at all. I know many can suffer under bad conditions(whether on the street OR in a bad home!), however, I've also seen and heard of many who live for years (fixed feral cats for example) on their own without necessarily suffering unduly. (another point for fix-and-release feral cat programs) And you would have to ask yourself if you think an animal would rather have SOME undetermined time to live, or a probable very short time to live. And were it you, would you rather be in a place where you sense the death in the air, or outside and free, albeit possibly in perilous conditions.The idea that animals will SURELY suffer if living wild is a commonly used argument for kill shelters, which promote themselves as places of salvation, despite the fact that that salvation is in most cases lethal. To my mind, a cat on the streets at least has the chance of being rescued by someone in time (my neighbour's cat was formerly on their street for 2 YEARS before THEY moved in and took him in and that was about 15 years ago now - he actually became a sort of mascot in our neighbourhood;extra note - he was even declawed before being taken in and yet still survived and then flourished. Another one of their cats was found in a garbage can, and is still alive and well-loved) So if I were that cat, I'd rather have a hope of rescue rather than a death sentence. No one can claim that all animals at large are for certain suffering irremedially, which I believe is the only justification for true euthanasia.
While I don't have stats. on what you're after, I would guess that if a no-kill or kill shelter is also ACTIVELY promoting spay/neuter, (as a growing number of states are finally doing in collaboration with animal welfare groups; they may even have one of those mobile vans for free or subsidized spay/neuter days), then the numbers of street animals would be going down. If they don't, I'm not sure, but you might check out the Pet Savers website as they may either have, or be able to get you, those stats. It depends on whether anyone has funded the collecting of them or not, so far. I would also, as I have before on this thread, encourage you to read the book "Disposable Animals. Ending the Tragedy of Throwaway Pets" by Craig Bestrup, who is the Executive Director of the Progressive Animal Welfre Society. It is PACKED with information and discussion on just these sorts of issues. And as I always do, I would ask that you examine the question(s), substituting "human" for "animal". In this case, would you rather see a human living on the streets, or taken to a facility that will likely kill them as a 'cure' for their homelessness?
It may also help you to know that I personally know about 20 people (just in my tiny circle) who think as I do about animals. While I agree that we're still in the minority (although children likely would join in if not for adults changing their minds for them), I also think our attitudes are growing around the world. I'm glad to see you're thinking about these problems, even if there's no immediate solution to all of them, because too many people don't even go that far. And naturally, I'm happy to hear where you got your own furkids, as did I. I don't think it matters as much whether you get them from a kill or no-kill shelter (although next time I'd go no-kill, as they need the funds even more that the bigger, regular shelters, in ORDER to promote their philosophy to a larger audience), as long as you're saving the life of an animal that's already been abandoned once or more.
I agree with Kim R. 100%! Lisa
ehall, If you e-mail me your landlord's address, I'll send him a dog turd in the mail (I have plenty to spare). He'll never know where it came from.
Christine
Christine
Thanks Christine
I think he deserves a GREAT BIG box of it if you ask me.
I think he deserves a GREAT BIG box of it if you ask me.
I have to weigh in on this discussion because I too would live on the street rather than give up my babies. I have been evicted twice, years ago, for having pets and thankfully I own my own home now. But I did have to make a choice between my husband and my pets and guess what? I am single and very happy!
But I do want to mention something I learned while doing rescue work in San Diego and I hope to God it still isn't true. But they received so many animals that any under 6 weeks or over 3 years were put to sleep immediately. They aren't going to tell you that when you walk in the door but believe me it happens. Even though this was a few years ago, I still remember my first trip to that pound. We went into a room filled with cages from top to bottom and each cage had a litter of new kittens to young to be with out their mothers. We had to choose which kittens we could take and hand raise. The rest would be put to sleep. I can't remember how many kittens we stuffed into carriers but it was as many as possible. I cried for weeks after that and honestly that was the last time I made that trip.
I live in another state now and I know for a fact that the county shelter here sells animals to the University's medical and dental schools. Believe me when I say I am working hard to stop that practice. It goes on in a lot of areas. I have tried to make arrangements for my pets in case I die with family members. But they all know and I have expressed very clearly if for any reason my pets cannot be placed I would rather have them put to sleep by my vet than given up to a no kill shelter! There are still county shelters in my state that shoot animals because bullets are cheaper!
When you adopt a pet you make a commitment for LIFE!
But I do want to mention something I learned while doing rescue work in San Diego and I hope to God it still isn't true. But they received so many animals that any under 6 weeks or over 3 years were put to sleep immediately. They aren't going to tell you that when you walk in the door but believe me it happens. Even though this was a few years ago, I still remember my first trip to that pound. We went into a room filled with cages from top to bottom and each cage had a litter of new kittens to young to be with out their mothers. We had to choose which kittens we could take and hand raise. The rest would be put to sleep. I can't remember how many kittens we stuffed into carriers but it was as many as possible. I cried for weeks after that and honestly that was the last time I made that trip.
I live in another state now and I know for a fact that the county shelter here sells animals to the University's medical and dental schools. Believe me when I say I am working hard to stop that practice. It goes on in a lot of areas. I have tried to make arrangements for my pets in case I die with family members. But they all know and I have expressed very clearly if for any reason my pets cannot be placed I would rather have them put to sleep by my vet than given up to a no kill shelter! There are still county shelters in my state that shoot animals because bullets are cheaper!
When you adopt a pet you make a commitment for LIFE!
Pandora,
Thank you for your response to the ehall post
. Just when I feel so hopeless for the futures of all of our homeless furbabies, someone like you will come along and ease my mind 
. The part about the shelters not telling people their policies just makes me so angry !! If they told people this, they may make more of an effort to place the animal themselves, or at least not be so quick to get another one <_< . Our shelters make it too easy for people to dispose of their animals, therefore, the cycle never ends. I appreciate the work you have, and still do, to preserve the lives of our precious little babies, you are making a difference .
My favorite quote..."I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something that I can do" -Helen Keller
with love,
Kim R.
Thank you for your response to the ehall post
. Just when I feel so hopeless for the futures of all of our homeless furbabies, someone like you will come along and ease my mind . The part about the shelters not telling people their policies just makes me so angry !! If they told people this, they may make more of an effort to place the animal themselves, or at least not be so quick to get another one <_< . Our shelters make it too easy for people to dispose of their animals, therefore, the cycle never ends. I appreciate the work you have, and still do, to preserve the lives of our precious little babies, you are making a difference .My favorite quote..."I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something that I can do" -Helen Keller
with love,
Kim R.
Pandora,
Sorry, that was supposed to be a PM, since I'm really trying to make an effort to bite my tongue 
, but I clicked on the wrong button 
!! Thank God I somewhat controlled myself and didn't say anything nasty !
with love,
Kim
Sorry, that was supposed to be a PM, since I'm really trying to make an effort to bite my tongue , but I clicked on the wrong button !! Thank God I somewhat controlled myself and didn't say anything nasty !with love,
Kim
I was raised, and still currently reside, on a farm in rural Georgia.
this post has run its course, points been made it has been closed.
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