What We Can Learn From Kill Shelters

There's nothing glamorous about open-intake shelters that take in unwanted dogs from the community. In many cases, most of the dogs that walk in the door don't walk back out. That's the sad reality of the state of pet overpopulation in the United States.

I recommend that everyone takes a walk through their local animal control at least once--it's important to educate yourself on the system in your community. Despite the fact that the thought of coming face to face with such an institution makes many dog lovers' stomachs turn, there are actually a few things that we can learn from these open-intake shelters.

1. Any breed can end up there

 Contrary to popular belief, dogs of all breeds are euthanized on a daily basis in our nation's shelters. Purebred dogs make up a large percentage of dogs found in shelters. Although you may not have the fancy pedigree to go along with the dog, (and who cares about that, anyways?) you can still find a dog that has the breed characteristics and temperament you're looking for.

2. The staff is not the problem

 I've seen far too many cases where shelter staff is blamed and harassed for euthanasia in their shelter. While there are certainly cases in which shelter staff has done something wrong or there is corruption in the county's system (you'll find a perfect example below!), in most cases, shelter staff are the dogs' biggest advocates. I know many animal control officers who go above and beyond to help the dogs that they pick up in the field. They have no control over how many owners dump dogs at the shelter or how many unwanted dogs are picked up as strays--they can only do their part to try to get the dogs out alive.

3. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with the dogs there

 If you've ever read some of the reasons people surrender their dogs to a shelter, some of them will literally make you want to laugh...or cry. I've seen dogs surrendered because the dog tried to sleep in the bed with a child, because an 8-week-old puppy couldn't go an 8-hour day without toileting in the house, because the family was going on vacation and couldn't be bothered to find somewhere for the dog to stay for a week--I could go on and on. You'd be surprised how few dogs are actually surrendered for real behavioral issues.

4. Something has to change

Don't get me wrong--there's nothing better than the feeling of saving a dog from a high-kill shelter. But despite the best efforts of adopters and rescue groups, that empty cage will soon be replaced with a new dog in need of a home. We're just putting a flimsy bandaid on a wound that won't stop bleeding.

Educating people about responsible pet ownership and the extraordinary need to spay and neuter is the only way to truly solve this problem. There are too many abandoned dogs and unwanted litter, and not enough homes.

5. Change is possible and it starts with you

Even huge county shelters can turn the corner. A perfect example is Fulton County Animal Control here in Atlanta, one of the most overcrowded shelters I had ever seen. The shelter used to be managed by an extremely corrupt non-profit organization. But 2 years ago, Lifeline Animal Project took over operations and everything has changed. The euthanasia rate has gone from 60% to 17%, thanks to the dedication of staff, volunteers, and the general public. The shelter has implemented a "retention counseling" program that helps educate the public and keep more dogs in their homes and out of the shelter. This type of education is critical to keeping the shelter's intake numbers down and helping people have better relationships with their dogs.

Do your part and please spay and neuter your pets, or keep them safely contained where they don't have any chance of causing unwanted litters. Take it a step further and get involved in a local organization that's committed to educating the general public about responsible pet ownership.

It can and will make a difference!