The One with the Humane Society
This weekend I attended volunteer orientation at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City (HSGKC). I learned a couple of things, found a dog I want to take home, and left feeling better than I've felt in a long time.
First, the things I learned: All the Humane Societies in the US aren't connected. I thought it was kinda like McDonald's. But each one is a separate not-for-profit, and therefore must raise it's own funds. Apparently, grants are few and far between. They mostly rely on folks donating their personal funds. I also learned that the HSGKC is a no-kill shelter (yeah!) and that Wayside Waifs is not. Which is exactly opposite of what I've always heard. Apparently, WW has the contract with the city, so when they run out of space, they euthanize. WW is where Chandler's parents took Jesse, their Llasso and Candi and Bart took Jenny, their cocker spaniel. Very sad.
Now, for the dog I want to take home: Bobo, the basset hound (of course) / terrier mix. So funny! All the other dogs are going nuts, jumping and barking. But not Bobo. He's chilled. Hangin' in this crib. Occassionally letting out a good, deep woof.
I stayed an hour longer than I was supposed to, and I left feeling so great I missed my turn to get back home! So I'm looking forward to more Saturday mornings with the doggies. I'll get to walk and play with the dogs, reinforce their basic obedience, and occassionally go to the PetSmart with them and help them get adopted.
posted by Monica at
3:05 PM
7 Comments:
A no-kill shelter isn't always a good thing. But it's good that you're enjoying your volunteer work. I loved it when I was doing it, but it's hard. I wanted to take home a different dog every week!! :)
By
Rachel, at 1:32 PM
I know. I'm a little worried about that. I haven't been back since my mom's been here. I'll keep you posted on my favorites though.
No-kill shelter is a bad thing b/c? They keep dogs around that have behavioral problems and will have a really hard time getting placed?
By
Monica, at 10:50 AM
They keep dogs around that have such bad behavioral problems that they will never be placed and live out their lives living in a tiny pen getting walked maybe once a day if someone is brave enough to come to the cage. The no-kill shelters take in so many dogs that they don't have enough resources to work with the dogs so their lives have no hope of improvement. If they are going to live the rest of their lives miserable, should we really force them to go on living? It's a tough decision, I know, which is why I would never want to be a shelter administrator.
You probably don't have this problem as much in the Midwest, at least from what I hear, but shelters in places like Los Angeles and New York and Boston etc. have so many unplaceable dogs in their shelters now that it's really hard to adopt a dog as a pet. Most of the good pets have been spayed and neutered so the only dogs coming into shelters are mean street dogs who have been bred to be aggressive and protect yards in the ghetto or street fight for money. It's a really sad situation. In the northeast, they're importing dogs from the South, just so they'll have adoptable pets, and all these unplaceable dogs are living out their lives without any interaction in small pens filled with their urine and feces and stuff.
Many people have very passionate opinions about this that go either way, but my personal opinion is that if life isn't worth living, why are we keeping the animal alive.
I understand why it's a good thing when good pets aren't dying needlessly. There are just always two sides to every story.
By
Rachel, at 4:28 PM
That is really sad. This place is pretty nice. Each pen is pretty big, with both an inside and an outside, with a door they must shut at night. The cages were all pretty clean, I only saw one poop pile. There's only about 20 dogs (right now at least, I think they can hold up to 50?), and they have pretty big yards they can run around in, when they get to go out.
The dog I played with had been at the shelter for 2 years. She's a really sweet, fun dog but she doesn't like other dogs. Fine with people though. So I would hate to see a dog like that go down.
But what you're saying makes a lot of sense. And people probably stop supporting the shelters too, if every time they go they only see aggresive, mean dogs. It's interesting to me that often personal opinion or feelings, however strong, don't always mesh with what should happen "politically." You hate to see dogs going down b/c there's no room or not enough love in that area to take them. But should we force them to live there lives in a tiny box, in their own poo. That's inhumane as well.
By
Monica, at 7:59 AM
You're right. And it is hard to put down a dog with a small behavior problem. But do you know how hard it is to have a dog who hates other dogs? If you are the average pet owner, without money for a trainer or any idea about dog body language etc., you can't take that dog for walks ever because you lose control every time you encounter another dog. You can't go to the dog park or have friends with dogs over. Pretty soon your dog is always confined to the backyard, never going on walks, which makes it even worse when it is out. Then, if you do walk your dog, it has to be at 5 a.m. Most people won't get that far. If you do manage to give this dog a decent life for the rest of his life, you won't be getting another one like him because people want dogs who will just follow them loyally and listen to what they say. It's very embarrassing to have a dog that doesn't like other dogs, or worse, other people. If the aggression is serious, it might even attack another dog and then the shelter is liable for law suits, which can cause the shelter to close, leaving more dogs with no place to go.
It's just a really tough situation all around.
By
Rachel, at 11:07 AM
It's all about education. These are very valid points that most people probably wouldn't think about (including me obviously!). Hopefully the shelter employees are well-versed when they talk to someone about adopting Gemini.
By
Monica, at 2:10 PM
Absolutely. Unfortunately, many people don't take the time to educate themselves before getting a dog. Especially in LA, people want dogs as accessories -- no barking, digging, shedding, pooing, etc. I always tell people when they say all that and then ask me what breed to get, "a stuffed animal."
By
Rachel, at 8:38 AM
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