Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2014 12:20:40 GMT -5
so when your DH knew she was going to be put down, why didn't he at least take her to a vet and have it done while she was around someone who loved her instead of leaving her in a cold shelter where nobody gave a damn? I can't imagine dropping a family member off a shelter to be euthanized, scared and alone. Shelter workers give a damn. They work at a shelter because they love animals and they hate people. A decade later and my dh still has nightmares about his work at the shelter, but I promise you every single one of those people loved animals. Comments like this really doesn't do anything but make you feel better about yourself, and Mutt or anyone who has relinquished an animal feel bad and get defensive. Very, very few people go into adopting an animal with the expectation that they could give them up but it happens. I don't see any reason to make people feel worse about a shitty situation. you need to take a look at some of the shelters in the south - maybe I should have said those running the shelters don't give a damn. usually there are limited volunteers (because management doesn't want them there) and they can only do so much but are constrained by management. take a look at clayton county GA shelter and columbus county NC shelter. however, as I said, once her DH was told outright that the dog would be put down, why wouldn't he have taken it to a vet - where he could remain with the dog while it was put down rather than having the dog be put down without any family around?
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Aug 11, 2014 12:25:53 GMT -5
however, as I said, once her DH was told outright that the dog would be put down, why wouldn't he have taken it to a vet - where he could remain with the dog while it was put down rather than having the dog be put down without any family around? Because sometimes people don't always think clearly when presented with something unexpected.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 11, 2014 12:28:24 GMT -5
That's quite helpful. (and obviously tragic). *Most* shelter workers give a damn, and every single one of them I met did. Most of them could have done a lot more good for their cause if they knocked the chip off their shoulders about how much people suck. A friend of mine works at a shelter in Austin and from what she has told me, they vet their employees more thoroughly than many parents vet their childcare givers. I guarantee you that the shelter workers give a damn.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 11, 2014 12:31:25 GMT -5
however, as I said, once her DH was told outright that the dog would be put down, why wouldn't he have taken it to a vet - where he could remain with the dog while it was put down rather than having the dog be put down without any family around?
Does it make you feel good to make someone feel like shit for a situation that was out of her control, after the fact?
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Aug 11, 2014 12:31:33 GMT -5
YOu're not helping ARchie. I appreciate the sentiment, but no one helps Archie these days.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 11, 2014 12:33:37 GMT -5
however, as I said, once her DH was told outright that the dog would be put down, why wouldn't he have taken it to a vet - where he could remain with the dog while it was put down rather than having the dog be put down without any family around? Because sometimes people don't always think clearly when presented with something unexpected. He was also on 15 hydrocodones A DAY. Then he would run out and go through withdrawls - diarrhea, shakes, upset stomach - until his prescription could be refilled. I had nights I slept with DD on the floor in the living room. I had to take DD to work with me and send DS to spend the day with the neighbor a couple days after my mom left while DH went through withdrawls. We were stressed to the max. If we could do it over, would we have changed things? Absolutely, I would have called the place we adopted her from. I would have called out my so-called friend on facebook and said "Margo, Help!" since she was posting so much about the no-kill shelter in the area, but never once posted on my pleas on facebook for help with dog. DH was sick to his stomach about the whole thing and he was so upset months later when he told me. But none of that helps now - 17 months after the fact.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 11, 2014 12:34:37 GMT -5
Shelter workers give a damn. They work at a shelter because they love animals and they hate people. A decade later and my dh still has nightmares about his work at the shelter, but I promise you every single one of those people loved animals. Comments like this really doesn't do anything but make you feel better about yourself, and Mutt or anyone who has relinquished an animal feel bad and get defensive. Very, very few people go into adopting an animal with the expectation that they could give them up but it happens. I don't see any reason to make people feel worse about a shitty situation. you need to take a look at some of the shelters in the south - maybe I should have said those running the shelters don't give a damn. usually there are limited volunteers (because management doesn't want them there) and they can only do so much but are constrained by management. take a look at clayton county GA shelter and columbus county NC shelter. however, as I said, once her DH was told outright that the dog would be put down, why wouldn't he have taken it to a vet - where he could remain with the dog while it was put down rather than having the dog be put down without any family around? Shelters in poor areas in my experience still care, but have very limited tools available to them. New Mexico and Nevada shelters used to transfer animals up to shelters here and that was a very different world. I know there are tragic cases and that is awful, but Mutt lives near a big city. I'm assuming actual shelters, not something run out of someones home. While I don't think this was the case in Mutt's situation (She has listed her reasons many times and it all comes down to being out of personal resources), but financial cost is a huge consideration. It's $150 to have an animal euthanized where dh works, and that doesn't include getting ashes back. I know there are cheaper places out there, but free or low cost euthanasia is something that our shelters are known for because not everyone can afford to do a euthanasia at the vet.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Aug 11, 2014 13:07:59 GMT -5
Rae, I'll be honest, I've had to put 4 animals down in the last 10 years. I go to the vet so I can be there with them but I'm such a wreck that the cost is the least of my concerns. The first time they kept asking me if I wanted the ashes - I remember being asked like 4 different times. I still don't get that but the other 3 times they didn't so maybe someone clued them in? I did tell DH when we went in for the 2nd one that he was to block that question from me and I didn't much care how. That was my Thea. And Mutt - that's not meant to be critical.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2014 13:14:35 GMT -5
you need to take a look at some of the shelters in the south - maybe I should have said those running the shelters don't give a damn. usually there are limited volunteers (because management doesn't want them there) and they can only do so much but are constrained by management. take a look at clayton county GA shelter and columbus county NC shelter. however, as I said, once her DH was told outright that the dog would be put down, why wouldn't he have taken it to a vet - where he could remain with the dog while it was put down rather than having the dog be put down without any family around? Shelters in poor areas in my experience still care, but have very limited tools available to them. New Mexico and Nevada shelters used to transfer animals up to shelters here and that was a very different world. I know there are tragic cases and that is awful, but Mutt lives near a big city. I'm assuming actual shelters, not something run out of someones home. While I don't think this was the case in Mutt's situation (She has listed her reasons many times and it all comes down to being out of personal resources), but financial cost is a huge consideration. It's $150 to have an animal euthanized where dh works, and that doesn't include getting ashes back. I know there are cheaper places out there, but free or low cost euthanasia is something that our shelters are known for because not everyone can afford to do a euthanasia at the vet. so would you say that shelter management that kicked out a group that facilitated between rescue groups and shelter animals cares about the animals? 2 days after they decided they wouldn't allow volunteers, they put down 22 animals. the volunteer group had managed to lower the euthanasia rate from over 4000 animals in 2011 to less than 1000 last year and only about 200 so far this year (these numbers included bite dogs and sick/injured dogs). does that sound like a shelter that has management that wants to save dogs?
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 11, 2014 14:02:09 GMT -5
Shelters in poor areas in my experience still care, but have very limited tools available to them. New Mexico and Nevada shelters used to transfer animals up to shelters here and that was a very different world. I know there are tragic cases and that is awful, but Mutt lives near a big city. I'm assuming actual shelters, not something run out of someones home. While I don't think this was the case in Mutt's situation (She has listed her reasons many times and it all comes down to being out of personal resources), but financial cost is a huge consideration. It's $150 to have an animal euthanized where dh works, and that doesn't include getting ashes back. I know there are cheaper places out there, but free or low cost euthanasia is something that our shelters are known for because not everyone can afford to do a euthanasia at the vet. so would you say that shelter management that kicked out a group that facilitated between rescue groups and shelter animals cares about the animals? 2 days after they decided they wouldn't allow volunteers, they put down 22 animals. the volunteer group had managed to lower the euthanasia rate from over 4000 animals in 2011 to less than 1000 last year and only about 200 so far this year (these numbers included bite dogs and sick/injured dogs). does that sound like a shelter that has management that wants to save dogs? I'm obviously not familiar with the specifics of the situation like you are. I would wonder what the costs were and if that was a driving factor? Was the program sustainable? Even volunteer based costs the program money, or were there liability concerns about adopting out animals who had previous bites on their record? Or did management get in a tizzy with the volunteer group and acted without thinking? My experience with shelter workers and volunteers are that they really do care, but they didn't always have a firm foot hold in reality. One coworker actually believed that people should put a child up for adoption instead of relinquishing an animal, because the dog was their first... I can easily believe that the people running the shelter aren't that sharp, and are seriously lacking in people skills leading to bad management decisions. It is a lot harder for me to believe that their goal is to euthanize more adoptable animals.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2014 14:09:57 GMT -5
so would you say that shelter management that kicked out a group that facilitated between rescue groups and shelter animals cares about the animals? 2 days after they decided they wouldn't allow volunteers, they put down 22 animals. the volunteer group had managed to lower the euthanasia rate from over 4000 animals in 2011 to less than 1000 last year and only about 200 so far this year (these numbers included bite dogs and sick/injured dogs). does that sound like a shelter that has management that wants to save dogs? I'm obviously not familiar with the specifics of the situation like you are. I would wonder what the costs were and if that was a driving factor? Was the program sustainable? Even volunteer based costs the program money, or were there liability concerns about adopting out animals who had previous bites on their record? Or did management get in a tizzy with the volunteer group and acted without thinking? My experience with shelter workers and volunteers are that they really do care, but they didn't always have a firm foot hold in reality. One coworker actually believed that people should put a child up for adoption instead of relinquishing an animal, because the dog was their first... I can easily believe that the people running the shelter aren't that sharp, and are seriously lacking in people skills leading to bad management decisions. It is a lot harder for me to believe that their goal is to euthanize more adoptable animals. what costs? doesn't cost anything for a group to facilitate a rescue coming in and pulling dogs (and bite dogs were NOT available for adoption or rescue). this group also raised money for additional outdoor kennels, vaccinations so animals could be held longer, and vet costs for dogs that came in injured and needed to go to the vet immediately. shelter management had no interest in getting dogs out. in the latest twist, this shelter now allows the paid workers to euthanize animals WITHOUT any vet supervision and using a painful abdominal stick method that can take a long time for the animal to die. does that sound like management cares about animals? so as I said, not all animal shelters have the best interest of animals at heart. yeah the person who said put the kid up for adoption sounds a little looney tunes....
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goldensam
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Post by goldensam on Aug 11, 2014 15:24:00 GMT -5
That's quite helpful. (and obviously tragic). *Most* shelter workers give a damn, and every single one of them I met did. Most of them could have done a lot more good for their cause if they knocked the chip off their shoulders about how much people suck. A friend of mine works at a shelter in Austin and from what she has told me, they vet their employees more thoroughly than many parents vet their childcare givers. I guarantee you that the shelter workers give a damn. Austin is striving to be no-kill. That is not the norm for shelters across Texas.
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goldensam
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Post by goldensam on Aug 11, 2014 16:02:30 GMT -5
Shelter workers give a damn. They work at a shelter because they love animals and they hate people. A decade later and my dh still has nightmares about his work at the shelter, but I promise you every single one of those people loved animals. Comments like this really doesn't do anything but make you feel better about yourself, and Mutt or anyone who has relinquished an animal feel bad and get defensive. Very, very few people go into adopting an animal with the expectation that they could give them up but it happens. I don't see any reason to make people feel worse about a shitty situation. you need to take a look at some of the shelters in the south - maybe I should have said those running the shelters don't give a damn. usually there are limited volunteers (because management doesn't want them there) and they can only do so much but are constrained by management. take a look at clayton county GA shelter and columbus county NC shelter. This is my experience with shelters in my part of the world. There are always great volunteers that want to help but in many cases, they aren't allowed to by the people who run it. My city has an epidemic of over 1.3 million stray pets. Our shelters have extremely high kill rates.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 11, 2014 16:34:29 GMT -5
I'm obviously not familiar with the specifics of the situation like you are. I would wonder what the costs were and if that was a driving factor? Was the program sustainable? Even volunteer based costs the program money, or were there liability concerns about adopting out animals who had previous bites on their record? Or did management get in a tizzy with the volunteer group and acted without thinking? My experience with shelter workers and volunteers are that they really do care, but they didn't always have a firm foot hold in reality. One coworker actually believed that people should put a child up for adoption instead of relinquishing an animal, because the dog was their first... I can easily believe that the people running the shelter aren't that sharp, and are seriously lacking in people skills leading to bad management decisions. It is a lot harder for me to believe that their goal is to euthanize more adoptable animals. what costs? doesn't cost anything for a group to facilitate a rescue coming in and pulling dogs (and bite dogs were NOT available for adoption or rescue). this group also raised money for additional outdoor kennels, vaccinations so animals could be held longer, and vet costs for dogs that came in injured and needed to go to the vet immediately. shelter management had no interest in getting dogs out. in the latest twist, this shelter now allows the paid workers to euthanize animals WITHOUT any vet supervision and using a painful abdominal stick method that can take a long time for the animal to die. does that sound like management cares about animals? so as I said, not all animal shelters have the best interest of animals at heart. yeah the person who said put the kid up for adoption sounds a little looney tunes.... I don't know what to tell you. It sounds like a bad situation all the way around. The shelter dh worked at primary goal was to cut down on how many animals were euthanized, not by becoming a no-kill shelter, but by getting every animal possible spayed/neutered and cutting down on how many animals need homes. Most no-kill shelters around here also refuse relinquishments when they are full which means that animals are let loose in the streets or parks to fend for themselves (become dinner or road kill), so I'm really not a fan of those shelters. I'm also not a fan of shelters that keep unadoptable animals in cages for months or years because they are no-kill. I guess my point is that unless this is a county run shelter in an area that has very low job prospects why do you think people apply to work there? The pay is low, the work would be absolutely awful (I wouldn't allow dh to sit on any furniture when he came home from work until he had changed his clothes and showered because I didn't want shelter stink getting all over), its emotionally and physically difficult. People take those jobs because they love the mission, or have a calling. And because the hate people, and figure they won't have to deal with many of them working at an animal shelter. That actually is probably reason #1.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 11, 2014 19:08:14 GMT -5
were any of these attacks reported to animal control? after the first one they would have been given requirements to follow (most likely muzzle while in public). after the second one the dog may have been put down or may have been given another chance if the owners got training. If none of the attacks were reported then the victims also share some blame. I know that dog laws are very, very local. I looked up ours and it was very vague and very relaxed. This is the type of thing that living in a libertarian, gun toting state doesn't spend too much time on. I didn't see anything about being muzzled or any other specifics. It just said that you have to prove it is "vicious" and then they will lock it up for 3 days. Animal control was called on the last round. I saw them come to the house, but they didn't take the dog - so whatever our law is, it doesn't include mandatory isolation. I don't know if the other two were reported. I would guess not. I think the three of them together tell a much worse story than just one out of control day/situation.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2014 19:15:20 GMT -5
were any of these attacks reported to animal control? after the first one they would have been given requirements to follow (most likely muzzle while in public). after the second one the dog may have been put down or may have been given another chance if the owners got training. If none of the attacks were reported then the victims also share some blame. I know that dog laws are very, very local. I looked up ours and it was very vague and very relaxed. This is the type of thing that living in a libertarian, gun toting state doesn't spend too much time on. I didn't see anything about being muzzled or any other specifics. It just said that you have to prove it is "vicious" and then they will lock it up for 3 days. Animal control was called on the last round. I saw them come to the house, but they didn't take the dog - so whatever our law is, it doesn't include mandatory isolation. I don't know if the other two were reported. I would guess not. I think the three of them together tell a much worse story than just one out of control day/situation. right, so if animal control was only called this last time, the dog has 1 bite on its record, not 3. I think it's only a matter of time before the dog bites again....as far as I'm concerned, it's the owner's fault, but of course the dog will pay the price.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 12, 2014 8:11:55 GMT -5
There are three documented cases of the dog biting. Is the documentation all in same place? I don't know. Maybe there are only a few people who know of all three incidences. I'm sure it will come out in the lawsuit.
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Aug 12, 2014 9:51:45 GMT -5
::The pay is low, the work would be absolutely awful::
There are tons of jobs like this. In most cases the reason someone took the job is "I couldn't find anything better". It sounds a lot better to say "I have a calling to help animals" though, than it does to say "I have no real skills to be employable anywhere better than this". That doesn't mean nobody has the passion to simply want to help, but the idea that everyone does because that's the only kind of person who would take the job doesn't hold. People take all kinds of crappy low paying jobs because they need cash and can't get anything else.
It's like saying people take jobs at McDonald's because they just have a passion for food.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2014 9:54:27 GMT -5
::The pay is low, the work would be absolutely awful:: There are tons of jobs like this. In most cases the reason someone took the job is "I couldn't find anything better". It sounds a lot better to say "I have a calling to help animals" though, than it does to say "I have no real skills to be employable anywhere better than this". That doesn't mean nobody has the passion to simply want to help, but the idea that everyone does because that's the only kind of person who would take the job doesn't hold. People take all kinds of crappy low paying jobs because they need cash and can't get anything else. It's like saying people take jobs at McDonald's because they just have a passion for food. OMG the world is ending....I agree with this.
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Aug 12, 2014 9:57:12 GMT -5
::The pay is low, the work would be absolutely awful:: There are tons of jobs like this. In most cases the reason someone took the job is "I couldn't find anything better". It sounds a lot better to say "I have a calling to help animals" though, than it does to say "I have no real skills to be employable anywhere better than this". That doesn't mean nobody has the passion to simply want to help, but the idea that everyone does because that's the only kind of person who would take the job doesn't hold. People take all kinds of crappy low paying jobs because they need cash and can't get anything else. It's like saying people take jobs at McDonald's because they just have a passion for food. OMG the world is ending....I agree with this. Embrace the dark side little one!
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Aug 12, 2014 10:01:38 GMT -5
OMG the world is ending....I agree with this. Embrace the dark side little one! Do you have cookies?
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 12, 2014 10:11:09 GMT -5
::The pay is low, the work would be absolutely awful:: There are tons of jobs like this. In most cases the reason someone took the job is "I couldn't find anything better". It sounds a lot better to say "I have a calling to help animals" though, than it does to say "I have no real skills to be employable anywhere better than this". That doesn't mean nobody has the passion to simply want to help, but the idea that everyone does because that's the only kind of person who would take the job doesn't hold. People take all kinds of crappy low paying jobs because they need cash and can't get anything else. It's like saying people take jobs at McDonald's because they just have a passion for food. Depending on the job market I agree. Dh worked at a shelter at a time when he and most of his coworkers could have gotten a multitude of jobs that paid better and didn't include killing animals in the job description.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2014 10:13:24 GMT -5
::The pay is low, the work would be absolutely awful:: There are tons of jobs like this. In most cases the reason someone took the job is "I couldn't find anything better". It sounds a lot better to say "I have a calling to help animals" though, than it does to say "I have no real skills to be employable anywhere better than this". That doesn't mean nobody has the passion to simply want to help, but the idea that everyone does because that's the only kind of person who would take the job doesn't hold. People take all kinds of crappy low paying jobs because they need cash and can't get anything else. It's like saying people take jobs at McDonald's because they just have a passion for food. Depending on the job market I agree. Dh worked at a shelter at a time when he and most of his coworkers could have gotten a multitude of jobs that paid better and didn't include killing animals in the job description. I wonder if anyone's done any correlation between the way the shelter is run/animals treated and the local job market? meaning if people are taking the jobs because they love animals and want to make a difference, rather than the local economy sucks, then the shelter is better run/promotes adoption and rescue/etc.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 12, 2014 10:30:27 GMT -5
Depending on the job market I agree. Dh worked at a shelter at a time when he and most of his coworkers could have gotten a multitude of jobs that paid better and didn't include killing animals in the job description. I wonder if anyone's done any correlation between the way the shelter is run/animals treated and the local job market? meaning if people are taking the jobs because they love animals and want to make a difference, rather than the local economy sucks, then the shelter is better run/promotes adoption and rescue/etc. Maybe where he worked was an anomaly. It was almost like a cult. Everyone adopts or fosters the animals that they don't want to see put down and our house looked like a small animal shelter with different litters in every room. It was rare for employees to only have 1 or 2 animals of their own. Dh says I bring too much work home with me, but that was an entirely different level. I've forbidden him to work in a shelter environment again (or I guess I should say I have set a boundary ) because he brings too many animals home and I just can't handle that anymore.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Aug 12, 2014 10:41:35 GMT -5
Yeah, I used to volunteer at a no kill cat shelter. I fostered a momma cat when she had kittens (and we added 2 more stray kittens that she accepted and mommied) and then surprised EVERYONE by returning all the kittens. But I ended up keeping Momma cat. She stayed to have her milk dry up and get fixed and I just kept her. I asked about doing the paperwork and stuff but everyone (including the director) said don't worry about it - usually we pay you for fostering in kittens. She was an awesome cat who ended up having liver issues (and was abused by my other cat, who I tried to rehome for what felt like forever but was actually 1.5+ years) Ok, now I'm officially sad about my Thea.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Aug 12, 2014 13:21:14 GMT -5
::The pay is low, the work would be absolutely awful:: There are tons of jobs like this. In most cases the reason someone took the job is "I couldn't find anything better". It sounds a lot better to say "I have a calling to help animals" though, than it does to say "I have no real skills to be employable anywhere better than this". That doesn't mean nobody has the passion to simply want to help, but the idea that everyone does because that's the only kind of person who would take the job doesn't hold. People take all kinds of crappy low paying jobs because they need cash and can't get anything else. It's like saying people take jobs at McDonald's because they just have a passion for food. Depending on the job market I agree. Dh worked at a shelter at a time when he and most of his coworkers could have gotten a multitude of jobs that paid better and didn't include killing animals in the job description. My friend that works at the animal shelter wanted to go to vet school, but never got accepted. She worked with animals when we worked together and if she wanted to get back into the field, she'd have no problems doing so. However, her husband has his own business and she does the stuff that he needs done, which kind of precludes her from getting another full time job. Her work at the animal shelter allows her to work with the animals part time, and still be 'on call' for her DH. She was telling me the process that she went through to be allowed to work there. They don't just let anyone volunteer, and was telling me that one of the volunteers was fired because he didn't follow the very explicit instructions for working with certain dogs. I'm sure it was to protect the facility's liability, but she made it sound like their goal is to try to make every dog a success in their adoption.
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grumpyhermit
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Post by grumpyhermit on Aug 12, 2014 14:57:33 GMT -5
People that work in shelters, or with rescue organizations, can very quickly become jaded when it comes to people "disposing" of their pets, and the variety of "excuses".
In a perfect world only those that truly love animals would work in shelters; this is not always the case. In some ways the people that love the animals the most are the ones that have the hardest time with it. Day after day they see people dropping off their pets, who a lot of these workers view as members of the family, because they have become an inconvenience. It wears on you.
When you tell someone, in all honesty, that their pet has NO chance of being adopted, and their response is to shrug and surrender anyway, it pisses you off. You have taken on the responsibility of the dog - it is YOUR responsibility to take care of it, even if that means euthanizing it. Shelters are high stress environments for animals, and really should be a last resort. The real treats are pretty up front about it - they don't care, they just want the dog gone, and don't want to pay the money to have it euthanized. Oh and can they look at the puppies?
Hindsight is always lovely. Obviously singlemominmd's comments are no longer helpful in muttley's case, but it could very well prove useful for someone that has yet to go through this experience. If it is clear that you have to put your dog/cat/whatever down - at least have the decency to do it yourself with your vet. I have seen owner's rationalize a shelter surrender as "at least giving them a chance." Here's a tip - if your dog is a biter, it has no chance - at least not at any reputable shelter; rescues are a slightly different story.
I know a lot of people are fans of the no kill shelters - which sound lovely - but do some research - they are not always all they are cracked up to be. If I had a problem dog I would have it put to sleep before I would send it to most no kill shelters.
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midjd
Administrator
Your Money Admin
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:09:23 GMT -5
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Post by midjd on Aug 12, 2014 15:29:28 GMT -5
Then singlemom should start a new thread titled "what to do when you need to surrender a pet." I don't think info buried on the second or third page of a thread about dog bites (and in direct response to muttley's post) is going to be very helpful to lurkers. JMO.
And for what it's worth, having an animal euthanized is not always as simple as just taking them to the vet. I took my very sick 14yo dog to the vet last year to have her put to sleep - the vet said he wouldn't do that without "giving her a chance" and sent me home with $300 worth of meds (this was on a Saturday). She continued to get worse, and died in the car Monday morning on our way back to the vet. So having an animal euthanized may not be as easy as it sounds. I am still mad at myself - and at that stupid vet - for making her suffer 36 hours longer than she needed to.
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Wisconsin Beth
Distinguished Associate
No, we don't walk away. But when we're holding on to something precious, we run.
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:59:36 GMT -5
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Aug 12, 2014 15:42:20 GMT -5
Wow Mid - I'd be looking for a new vet.
My vet has sent me to the Emergency Vet for Thea and Pepper because he felt more tests were needed and I think here the vets feed into the EV clinic for more serious issues. And he didn't charge for the visits. Thea has liver issues and Pepper had a rapid growing cancer. My Cocoa was 13/14 and having mobility issues. And then she just seemed to be in pain almost all the time.
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muttleynfelix
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Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:32:52 GMT -5
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 12, 2014 15:50:46 GMT -5
Well odds of someone having a 2 month old and a husband going through major surgery and taking enough narcotic pain meds that normal people are passed out on a daily basis is pretty slim. That said, our dog had not bit anyone yet. It was coming to that point and we were trying very hard to find a home for her before it came to that. I feel very much that people we know in real life abandoned us on our quest to do this. I feel like when I post for a week that ok we are going to have to do this and then AFTER we actually do it when someone posts why don't you call the place that you adopted her from. That reaks of someone wanting to cast judgement instead of help. Anyway, we called the shelter ahead of time. They said yes she could be rehomed to a home without little kids. They changed their tune when DH took her in. I think DH was just shocked. Anyway, point being if you really want to be helpful and keep animals out of shelters/from being euthanized. Then offer help help. ANd not just in general, but the people in your lives that are having a hard time that due to changes in family circumstances may not be able to continue to care for their pets. Offer to help them. Hell, we had friends that took it upon themselves to mow our yard last year because DH couldn't do it and I couldn't figure out how to do it and work and care for the kids. They just showed up and did it. That is was what people who actually help do. They do something. I will forever be bitter at Margo for never once offering to help while posting pictures/talking about the no-kill shelter on facebook. Slactivism at its best. Post something to "raise awareness" without having to do a damn thing. Go you.
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