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« Thoughts on celebrating success | Main | The undeniable value of being open on holidays »

October 13, 2016

Comments

jan

When shelters are empty what happens then? Do they ship in dogs from elsewhere? import dogs from overseas.. bills still have to be paid..what should shelters do when they are empty? or nearly so

Brent

KC Pet Project is an open admission shelter serving Kansas City, MO -- and a population of half a million people. With an average intake of 27 animals per day coming in from the community, it doesn't take long for those kennels to fill up quickly :( Therefore, we have to treat each day with a since of urgency in saving lives.

Liz

Hi,
I would also like to point out something that was left out of the article. I have suggested doing this at the shelter I volunteer at, and they'll often tell me "If they can't pay an adoption fee, how can they afford to have a pet at all?"

This is an unfair and untrue assumption. People shouldn't assume that the only reason someone adopts a pet at a shelter on a "free" day (or very low cost) is because they can't afford the fee, thus meaning they can't afford future pet care.

One of my cats I got free from a shelter last year. After adopting her and bringing her to my vet for her first vaccinations, it was discovered she had coccidia (thanks for telling me!). I paid a lot to treat her, and she was tested and recovered. Adoption fees are not indicative of the care an animal will receive post adoption.

Brent

Great point Liz. We've seen little indication that the financial well-being of our adopters drops when we do adoption specials -- or that having a lot of $$ is an indicator of the love and compassion people have for their pets.

Liz

Exactly! Thanks Brent!

Cheryl Huerta

I'm with Liz who suggested that just because there is no adoption fee doesn't mean that likely people will adopt who can't afford an animal or that won't be excellent pet owners.

I'm fairly new to the animal welfare community, to advocacy, to rescue and to how animal shelters are run. In the five years I've been an active part of this community I have noticed, sadly, that some rescuers and shelter administrators have the idea that if someone is low income that they shouldn't have a pet because they can't afford some of the things that people who have more money can; therefore that means that their pets 'will' suffer at some point due to their inability to pay for services or goods for their pets. I believe that today little by little that 'assumption' is being dis-proven by people like the HSUS's 'Pets for Life' program who are finding low income people love their pets as much as anyone else, that they want the same excellent quality of life for their pets as anyone else and that given a chance they prove to be excellent pet owners.

In my personal opinion it serves the animals and the community much better to include low income people in the adoption process and to put into place low/no cost programs to assist them be responsible pet owners. Discounting an entire segment of the population because we don't 'believe' they have the same ethics when it comes to keeping a pet as we do is not good for dogs that end up euthanized because they weren't adopted and it's not good for the community.

Just my humble opinion...

josph

By adopting from a shelter, you are providing an animal with the second chance they deserve. Many have been rescued from horrific circumstances such as cruelty, neglect, and abandonment, or quite simply their owners were no longer able to look after them due to illness or a change in the situation.

Henry

What a great picture! Thank you for sharing with us :)

Take care,
Henry

Gail

Guess I have a different opinion. Pets cost money....Ive seen so many suffer because their owners couldn't afford treatment.

Shana

Hi Brent, I'm just seeing this post and I'm thrilled you wrote it. I watch shelters and rescues in my area adopt out dogs to most anyone who comes in for a dog available for adoption. All of the Clear the Shelter events are maddening and my thoughts go to the dogs that will end up in abusive homes, neglected, abandoned on the street, or returned (if the organization accepts returns). I have been vocal about this because dogs are not being saved if they are placed in homes without conducting the necessary due diligence and following up after adoptions. I understand that shelters are full but that does not make it okay to send out dogs to their deaths (or to abusive homes, etc.).

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