next »

[duchess_of_malfi]

Maybe someone has mentioned this, but I didn't see it:  surrender fees.  Every shelter does not require a fee, but many do.

[zarathustra]

Maybe someone has mentioned this, but I didn't see it:  surrender fees.  Every shelter does not require a fee, but many do.

Yes, I was surprised that all the shelters around here have them, even if you are dropping off a stray you've found. 

[macaroon]

Maybe someone has mentioned this, but I didn't see it:  surrender fees.  Every shelter does not require a fee, but many do.

Yes, I was surprised that all the shelters around here have them, even if you are dropping off a stray you've found. 

Sometimes, Animal Control (which typically has a "kill" shelter) will take them for free.  That's a bit different from an Animal Rescue.  I'd love it if euthanasia was provided free of charge through animal control.   I know it is in some communities, but not most.   It's not attractive, but at least it isn't cruel. 

[indianalitchick]

The local humane society charges $50 to take in a pet, and the local no-kill shelter is full.  I agree that many of these animals are dumped because of financial difficulties.  I'm unemployed and had to take my cat to the emergency vet, which cost me $460.  Luckily I have savings and am single, but if I was trying to support a family I can see how spending that much on a pet would cause one to have a second thought.

[redding]

I once befriended the next-door dog as a young and idealistic college student.  She was the sweetest do you could imagine, and was kept chained up outside her urban house.  The owners were fine with my playing with her and I once gave her a complete bath and "trim" (to get rid of dreadlocks in her long fur) without asking.  I would bring her sausages and meatballs from the Italian restaurant where I worked (yummy!) to supplement her really meager diet.

One day she got loose, and animal control asked if she was mine.  The neighbors weren't home, and the animal control folks said that if I claimed her, she'd be mine.  I took her, kept her in the house, and we sneaked out at night for park/walk time.  It was like she knew she had to be sneaky and quick so the neighbors (with whom I shared a driveway) wouldn't see her.

I put in a note at the Humane society that she was available, since I was leaving for grad school in a few months and couldn't keep her.  By a miracle, a family was interested within a few days. We went for an interview with the family, kids, and "Butterbeans," the family's other dog.  They all got on like a house on fire.  She was renamend from "Fluffy" to "Buffy," and AFAIK is still doing well.

I know now that this kind of outcome is rare, but it was such an amazing experience at the time.  I really would like to give kudos to everyone who takes responsibility for so many abandoned animals.  It's really rough, but can occasionally end well.