No Kill Shelters

by The K9 Guy, 08-16-16

Over the past few months I have noticed more than a few news stories related to aggressive dogs in shelters. In a few stories workers were injured by the dogs in their care, in other stories people are being injured by dogs that were adopted out. In one story from last weekend, a VA shelter is under fire for adopting out a number of dogs that have injured people. While shelters provide critical service to our communities and homeless animals, the reality is not all dogs are good pets.

To be sure, problem dogs in shelters are likely far and few between - I see as many problems dogs from breeders as from shelters. However, "no kill" advocacy is flawed IMO. As a firefighter for 30 years, there were often incidents where "needs would exceed resources". In those cases, making decisions based on what actions would provide the best outcomes for the most people defined professionalism. Shelter workers that are "professionals" also understand hard decisions need to be made. They will use their limited resources to help the greatest number of dogs.

With today's explosion of social media, it's easy to find individuals posting stories regarding behaviorally challenged dogs they wish to see saved. These timid or aggressive dogs are often said to come from an abusive past, and just "need a "chance". Well, good stories get more traffic, but most rescue animals actually have little background information (most are strays). I actually believe anxious and aggressive dogs are more likely to come from problem parents (genetics, if they can be tracked down), vs problem pasts. And of dogs that actually sustained abuse, most are very resilient and move forward quite well.

So today, I thought I'd offer a few items for consideration from my world as a trainer...

True rescue and shelter professionals know they will have to prioritize where their resources go. Shelters doing the hardest work will always have to put down animals. It's unfortunate, but it's our world. Don't criticize them, they need your support. Adopt and donate locally!
Shelter animals make great pets, but choose wisely. Take them out for a walk, get to know their personality, and decide whether they'll be a good match for you and your family. You can always adopt more than one!
Getting a dog from a breeder is no guarantee you will have a good dog. It's simply a guarantee you'll have a particular breed. Good breeders breed for temperament and health, not medals and awards.
Every dog benefits from education. If you want your dog to have their best life, train them! Once you live with a trained dog you'll never go without it.