An overtaxed humane society has called out pet owners for giving up on their pets too easily, and everyone is taking notice. According to their now-viral Facebook post, “We are long overdue to address some things with the community. The number of messages we are getting every week from people wanting to surrender their dog because they “don’t have time for it anymore.”
The Fulton County Humane Society, which is located in Northwestern Ohio and serves 42,000 people in the mostly rural area, went on to list other reasons people gave for surrendering animals, “It killed our cat” or “it bit my child” or “I can’t have it where I live” is OUT OF CONTROL. The dog you chose to get and now don’t find so darling because it isn’t a puppy anymore, is not our problem. A dog that bit a child can’t be placed with another family and just “hope for the best.” You need to contact your veterinarian, not us.” Which seemingly suggests that putting an animal down is the preferred solution to surrendering it to the shelter. “We can’t take dogs with a bite history. We can’t take dogs with major behavioral issues because we will NOT irresponsibly place them with someone else.”
The agency suggested that people think hard before getting a pet, “If you think you won’t have time for it in a year, DON’T GET ONE. If you know your landlord says you can’t have a dog and yet you get one anyway, then expect us to take it when you are getting evicted, THINK AGAIN. Some dogs require hiring a trainer. Be financially prepared to do so! Owning a dog means having the time, money, and patience for it.”
The posts called on pet owners to research their breeds. “Shepherds, huskies, herding breeds, and pit mixes are filling up in shelters because people either don’t understand what their breed entails and dispose of them when the going gets tough, or Joe Schmo didn’t spay or neuter his pittie that he lets run the neighborhood, so now we have yet another litter of puppies that can’t be placed because rescues are literally BURSTING at the seams with them.”
The post went on to say that they understand that some people must surrender animals. “Life events happen. People become ill or pass away, have a home fire, or have to move into long-term care. Those are the surrenders we need to be able to focus our energy on.
We really need everyone to get their act together. Get your animals fixed. Don’t get pets you won’t want in a year. Help us channel our resources where they are best served, serving our community to help dogs and cats that are TRULY in need of rescue, not just a dog that became yesterday’s news because he or she grew up. Let’s do better! These are living creatures. We owe it to them to be better humans and care for them as they deserve. If you can’t do that, please, don’t get one.”
