I am still new enough to the rescue world to be thin-skinned.
My strong personal feelings have not yet been separated from my professional sensibility (political correctness). I was raised in a household where no one kept their promises. I have always attributed my strong sense of duty to the pain I felt when time and again I experienced this type of betrayal. I did, do, and will always believe that the victim of a broken promise pays with a broken heart. This applies to both humans and dogs.
I do not want to believe that anyone gets a dog with the intention of later surrendering or abandoning it.
Regardless of what their motive is, they are making promises. They promise a dependent pet that they will look out for its best interest, and they promise not to infringe on the rest of the community by failing to take this responsibility seriously.
I believe: results equal intent.
National shelter statistics add up to an unimaginable number of broken promises and broken hearts. We kill over 5 million surrendered and abandoned dogs each year in this country. If this is the result then what was the intent?
This problem would be easier to understand if, when I met someone on the street with a new puppy, they just said, "This is Rover. I love him to death. He is going to be my best friend until it becomes inconvenient or costly to take care of him. When that happens I won't care whether he lives or dies." At least the honesty would be refreshing. I tire of hearing, "I didn't have a choice." Yea, you did!
There are truly legitimate reasons that a dog would and should be re-homed.
There are also very responsible pet owners who go to great lengths to properly re-home their dogs. We have, in recent years, made huge strides at educating and increasing pet owner's awareness. There are also many (though not enough) shelters, rescue organizations and sanctuaries assisting with adoptions. So why is the number of animals being destroyed still in the millions?
No matter how much information is available we cannot make someone learn. No matter how much cruelty is caused by someone's poor choice we cannot make them change. And we never will. And because we never will, they are not the problem. YOU are.
There are 74 million owned dogs in this country.
This means that there are more dog owners that know the difference between right and wrong than ones that don't. Millions of dogs are homeless because of those that don't know. But they are dying because of those that do. They are dying because most dog owners and so called dog lovers do nothing. Do you own a pet, call yourself an animal lover, think that it is wrong to kill so many homeless dogs?
If you are doing nothing about it then YOU are more to blame than the irresponsible, careless people who cast these dogs aside. Those that don't care will never help. If those that do care also do nothing then our children will grow up in a world where killing is a viable solution to any problem.
I will not apologize for my blunt honesty.
This is a problem that can be corrected. The solution will not come from a few people giving a lot. It will come from a lot of people giving a little. If every dog owner just gave $10 it would make a huge difference. If everyone that wanted a dog went to a shelter or rescue, instead of a breeder, it would change everything. If everyone that said they cared did something, volunteered time or gave a donation, this world would be a kinder place.
I have joined the ranks of those that work tirelessly to change something that is just plain wrong. I listen to my friends console themselves by saying: we can't save them all. They have to tell themselves this or they could not persevere. Each time they save one dog it gives them the courage to go on and save another. They are truly heroes. If not for them many more would die. But they are wrong. We can save them all. If we want to!
We need facilities where shelter and rescue dogs are rehabilitated and given the chance to find a home where they can live. This is what Last Chance for Love Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc. is all about (LCLRR.ORG). Our vision is of communities where people and pets come together for mutual benefit, always keeping the bold promise to care for each other.
YOU are the only one that can make it happen. Is the life of 5 million dogs worth $10 to you? We'll see.
Keywords: dogs rescue adoptions
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The Shelter Project: Yes, We Can Save Them All!
