stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Feb 16, 2007 14:18:51 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Alice on Feb 16, 2007 14:27:41 GMT -5
That's so sad!
Poor animals
|
|
WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
|
Post by WyckedWyre on Feb 16, 2007 14:41:57 GMT -5
It's NOT the shelter's fault. It's the fault of the irresponsible people who don't spay/neuter/microchip their pets. This includes so-called "BREEDERS" of purebreds who don't hip and eye certify their animals and who breed indiscrimanately for $. This includes all the folks who get a cute little puppy or kitten and then turn it in when it's 10 months old and not so cute anymore, the idiots who feel their kids need to "witness the miracle of birth". Place the blame directly where it belongs. Don't get me started. I was the Operations Manager at the Animal Humane Association of New Mexico for 14 years. I could tell you stories of neglect, abandonment and abuse that would break your heart. Shelter workers are some of the most maligned people in the world. They are underpaid and most do what they do for the love of animals. Sounds to me like the Las Vegas situation got out of control because they were reluctant to euthanize in a timely fashion and were were holding animals too long. So-called "NO-KILL" shelters either don't admit the unadoptable or ship their pets elsewhere for euthanasia. The sad-but-true fact is there are only so many homes. So the next time you think about getting a "PUREBRED" dog or cat from a petshop, or some backyard "BREEDER" advertising a litter in the newspaper, remember the millions of healthy adoptable intelligent hybrid dogs and cats who will be euthanized in our nation's shelters every year.  S |
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Feb 16, 2007 15:02:33 GMT -5
Susan- Yes You are right!!! I think what kinda set me off is the Humane Society letting it get so bad-
I worked in a Pet Store that started selling dogs- SOme were wonderful well bred pets- Some were- well lets say less than ideal animals- I ended up quiting after the owner and I had it out over the treatment of a dog- I am so glad I'm not in that part of the business anymore!
HI ALICE!!!!! nice to see you
|
|
|
|
Post by akansan on Feb 16, 2007 15:11:57 GMT -5
Susan, I agree with you.
Timely vaccines could have helped here, but they also stated that some of those animals were just put down because they hadn't been adopted within 120 days. One thing I loved about living in KC was the extraordinary number of shelters/agencies that were no-kill and the support system that allowed them to operate. But without the support system, there was no way they could remain no-kill.
|
|
earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
|
Post by earthdog on Feb 16, 2007 16:15:09 GMT -5
BS! It is their fault that so many had to be put down and all at once!
When the shelter screws up and doesnt follow guidelines that are set, then on this case you can't blame the breeders and such.
There are responsible breeders out there and responsible pet owners also.
If a person wants, let say a Japanese Chin, Maltese or even a Basenji, are you going to tell me that you can go to a shelter and find one of those? I don't think so, you'll be waiting a life time.
We go to the shelters pretty often, and you can always pick out a pitbull or a doberman or a mut. Last year we tried to go through a rescue to get a JRT and they said "no way" only because we have a big mutt that stays outside alot during the summer. He has a nice dog house, fresh food and water twice a day. He also comes inside when it rains or when the weather gets colder, below 55 degrees. The shelters and rescue places make it so hard sometimes to get a dog with all their questions and restrictions. Alot of the time they make a person go to a "backyard breeder".
|
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Feb 16, 2007 16:54:15 GMT -5
No matter how you look at it, it is sad.
Hi Alice, nice to see you popping in.
|
|
|
|
Post by BAZ on Feb 16, 2007 18:58:02 GMT -5
One year our town had to put down 1,200 dogs and cats, and on the Navajo Reservation 4,000, in one year! On the Rez the dogs run wild and breed. It is a sovereign nation so there isn't much the county animal control can do, volunteer vets often go out and spay and neuter dogs or euthanize those who are stricken with deadly diseases like distemper.
Do yourself and a stray animal some good and adopt from your local shelter before heading out to a puppy farm.
It isn't the shelters fault, they only have so much room and inconsiderate people buy or adopt animals then give them to the shelters or dump them after realizing they are "too much trouble". If it weren't for inconsiderate people this story in Vegas would have never materialized and shelters wouldn't be bursting at the seams with stray animals.
|
|
earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
|
Post by earthdog on Feb 16, 2007 19:38:48 GMT -5
If it isn't the shelters fault, then why didn't they euthanize them when the guidelines say to? Why weren't they vaccinating like the guidelines say?
The reason all those dogs/cats had to get euthanized is because they weren't following the rules or guidelines set in place. If they had followed the guidelines, they would have never made the news!!
|
|
WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
|
Post by WyckedWyre on Feb 16, 2007 20:44:25 GMT -5
Watch this video, please. Turn your speakers on. Click on English. brightlion.com/InHope/InHope.aspxEarth, obviously it was the Las Vegas shelter's fault that they let it get so out of hand. Why didn't they follow "the guidelines"? My guess would be a reluctance to kill animals. They held onto animals they shouldn't have in the hopes they would find homes. Why didn't they vaccinate? My guess would be a lack of funds. Most private shelters operate solely on donations. Were they responsible for creating the problem? No! Did they have to clean up the mess? Yes. Who suffered? The animals and the people who had to do it. Once again, irresposible, ignorant people create the problem. We live in a throw-away society. Don't like this one? Get another one. I wish every idiot who wants their kid to witness "the miracle of birth" would be forced to take their kid to the shelter to watch "the miracle of death" when the unwanted puppies and kittens have to be euthanized. I guarantee we had nearly every Breed of dog you could imagine go through our shelter - more Jack Russells than I could count. We worked with Breed Rescue groups and those people would take the "purebreds" out of the shelters and re-home them. Did they care about the rest of the animals? HELL, NO! All they cared about were the specific Breeds they worked for. The shelter workers were the only ones who cared about the rest of the animals. Are there responsible Breeders out there? Of course there are. People who care about bettering their chosen Breed, people who make certain their animals are healthy and have no genetic problems before they even go there. Unfortunately far more puppies come from horrendous puppy mills or folks just out to make a buck than "responsible" Breeders. I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I watched it happen for 14 years. It killed my soul, so don't tell me BULLSHIT.  S |
|
earthdog
Cave Dweller
Don't eat yellow snow
Member since June 2006
Posts: 2,731
|
Post by earthdog on Feb 16, 2007 21:09:18 GMT -5
I like that idea,
Maybe it would work.
Our first JRT, Lacy came from a puppy mill. We didn't know it when we went to see her as a 8 week old puppy, then we asked if we could see their kennels and the woman was happy to show us all her dogs, dirty and in small kennels stacked up.
We did feel good that we could bring a dog home from a place like that.
The shelter in Vegas must be one hell of a large shelter to house 1000 animals! The shelters around here only have maybe 20 or so dogs at the most and maybe 10/15 cats at any one time.
|
|
|
|
Post by parfive on Feb 17, 2007 0:10:54 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by rhodescabbin on Feb 17, 2007 2:59:44 GMT -5
WARNING-ADULTS ONLY VERY DISTURBING.
The world is a sick place beyond our imaginations!!! Back in the 80's I thought I had seen it all as a Cruelty Investigator. The last several years though I have been active in gathering intel on busting some of these sick bastards that are making these animal snuff videos.
The first time I was assigned a video by a grass roots group. It about made me sick it was 2 punks that mutilated a cat, he was an easy bust. I tracked the URL contacted the City Police and within two days they were in deep mud...
Man the 2nd one tuned into an International investigation (Not started by me) I jumped in before it went worldwide but it was this new sick minded video was called several names animal crushing, kitten stomping, usually a kitten and most always an Asian young lady with high heels would dance very and provocative around the victim for several minutes before starting the slow process of killing it with her heel...The first time I couldn't finish watching the video as rage filled me...By the time I did watch the whole video I was sick for a week...
She was finally busted but it started a new breed of sickos who actually enjoy and pay high dollars for these videos...
The other thing that shocked me was after 25 years of being out of Cruelty Investigations, I was so shocked to see that the dog and cat market was alive and well in China and other Asia countries...The same ole scenarios dogs and cats of all breeds stacked in cages, drug out, clubbed skinned, processed and those skins go right onto what many coats say (Fake Fur) but its not fake fur. If it feels so much like fur then it is. All they do is dye it...Cats are done the same way and investigators tracked the meat right to a frozen Chinese Food factories and stores, open markets...
One sting involved busting a shelter in the bay area for holding dogs and cats, come to find out the reason they were not being put to sleep was they were being sold to the Chinese and shipped over to be processed.
Its sick and I warn you any links or videos will haunt you so curiosity can cause disturbing changes in your whole life...Just know these things are happening. If you do watch the videos you will no doubt become active in trying to stop these crazies...
|
|
181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
|
Post by 181lizard on Feb 17, 2007 14:36:29 GMT -5
Oh guys...I can't go to page that set this whole thread off. Cruelty of any kind to animals...I just want to crawl into my bed & pull the covers over me & not come out. Just reading the horrid things that happen to animals makes me cry. I can't go into a shelter without crying. Mom asked me to go to local shelter about 8 years ago so she could visit animals. I did...but about 10 min. in I ran out sobbing. The animals were clean, happy, well fed...but my heart broke. I told her I couldn't ever go back unless I was taking one home with me.
One of the girls that works for me purchased a purebreed pitbull from a local pet shop. Paid $800 for it. I warned her about some of the problems that could happen because of breeding (inbreeding) or lack thereof. (puppie mills - hereditary issues & etc)
Fast forward 5 years...she just spent $5000 to have her girls legs & tendons repaired AND do a hip surgery. They're gonna fix the other hip down the road. Vet said it was mostly due to poor breeding. NOW she's pissed off. I told her it was a little late as the shop owner/breeder got what they wanted...a cash cow. BUT...she loves her girl.
|
|
MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
|
Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 17, 2007 19:31:39 GMT -5
I told myself that I was going to pass on this thread, but my conscientious has not allowed me to do that.
Mankind is responsible to "ALL" domestic dogs and cats no matter how they came to be. These are creations that we orchestrated for our own desires, so it's not right to just turn our backs when it's no longer convenient to have them around.Wolves can survive in the wild, dogs cannot. Lions can survive in the wild, tabby cats cannot. You can't breed all the "wild" out of creatures, and then think that they are not our problem.
Regardless of popular opinion, people are responsible for that which they have created! Unfortunately, dogs are much more devoted to us, than we seem to be to them.
Ron
|
|
jjckitti
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2007
Posts: 775
|
Post by jjckitti on Feb 18, 2007 18:40:13 GMT -5
Before I begin my reply, I would like to give my background. In highschool I worked at a pet store where I was infuriated that puppies from the same shipment of the same breed and opposite sex were being sold to the same owners... Obviously meaning the new owners intended to breed, or would be too stupid to spay and neuter. I left the pet store after high school and went to work for the Norfolk SPCA. At the time it was a kill shelter as we took in everything that came to our doorstep. I fostered many sick animals in my home that still ended up being euthanized for not being adopted. I fostered 8 kittens at one time all with upper respiratory (dropped off at our door step overnight in a bird cage) and even a pregnant momma that they were going to euthanize, but I took her in. Momma and all her 4 kittens were adopted, but not all the others I fostered were so lucky. Our shelter vaccinated every animal that came in for upper respiratory the day they came in and I also assisted in euthanasia. Since then I worked in Cat Hospital. My vet was very animal conscious and promoted spay and neuter for health reasons, as well as breeding reasons. Now that you know my background, and understand that I am very animal conscious and love animals more than people!! (not a PETA member!!) I will continue with our (me and Jonje) reply.
As far as the initial point of this post, the shelter that had to euthanize 1000 animals. It was the shelters fault!! How in the heck could they not have noticed that these animals had upper respiratory?? At the first sign of a sneeze or runny nose the animals should have been placed in quarantine!! They didnt notice until others came and pointed it out. Maybe the reason they were so over crowded is because the animals were so sick no one wanted to adopt them. I dont disagree that it was the irresponsible people who put them in the shelter in the first place, but having worked in a shelter, employees should know what they are doing!!
Also, to expand on earthdogs point of view: His dog lived mostly outdoors and that is why he couldnt get a dog!! EXACTLY!! The reason I will not adopt from our shelter is because a cat costs $75!! who in their right mind would pay that for non pure bred cat when they can go anywhere else and get one for FREE!! Their fees are outrageous. Also, at my shelter, your animal cannot go outdoors AT ALL without a leash or supervision. You can not let your dog outside alone even in a fenced yard. If you mark that you have a doggy door, you are Xed and not allowed to adopt!! A doggy door!! come on. The shelters make it so difficult to adopt now that no one even bothers any more. I've heard many times over from family and friends how they went to a shelter and were denied over stupid little things. Just because you have a doggy door, or your dog likes to be outside, does not make you a BAD owner!! But the shelter says you are. It used to be that you had to have a dog house in the back yard. Now if you have a dog house in your back yard, you are a bad owner who leaves your animal outside 24/7. You are not allowed to have a dog run. Your fence has to be a certain height, etc. etc. Im sure there are plenty more restrictions I have yet to hear of. I still support my shelter with whatever I can, but I won't adopt from them!! think about that. Our SPCA is now "no kill", but all that means is that when they are full, they turn down animals and send them to the Norfolk animal shelter. Now the SPCA gets to boast "no kill" while all the left overs get killed by the city and the city looks like the mean ones!!
While we wont buy from pet stores because of breeding mills and in breeding, I do believe that private breeders are a good thing. People adopting need to be conscious of what a good private breeder is as apposed to a bad one. If you go in the back and find kennels, and filth and sickness, then no, dont buy from them. However, if you go to a breeder, and are able to meet mom and dad and all the pups, and are allowed to see the breed papers for both parents and history on them, then you have a good breeder. You should be able to handle and pet all their animals, including the parents. I do not agree that breeders are bad, I think good breeders are good, and bad breeders are bad, you just have to know which is which!!
Now that I have ranted you may yell at me, but it wont change my opinion. I have lots of experience in many different areas of animal care. If you have the money to buy a kitten for $75 go right ahead, but I'd rather pick up the stray off the street that followed me home.
And just for the record... I have 4 cats. 2 rescued while I worked at the Cat Hospital both 5+ years at time of rescue, and 2 kittens that someone was going to take to the SPCA, and I said NO I'll take them, both 1 year old now.
Sorry for the rant, but animal care is a big concern for me, and I still blame the shelter for not noticing the illness to begin with.
Thanks, Joi
|
|
WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
|
Post by WyckedWyre on Feb 18, 2007 20:41:45 GMT -5
OK, here I go again... The latest post stated that $75 is too much to pay for a shelter cat. I haven't worked at the shelter for 8 years, I now am a Veterinary Technician and work for a "low cost" Veterinary Clinic which specializes in spaying and neutering. Let me tell you what that $75 you paid for your shelter cat gets you here in Albuquerque - A spay or neuter A Feline Leukemia test A deworming A microchip 1st FVRCP and a 1 year Rabies vaccine Let me tell you what we charge for those services at our "low cost" Veterinary Clinic. This is what you will pay a Veterinarian to do to your "free" cat (if you are a responsible pet owner). A spay or neuter - 87.00 Feline Leukemia test - $20.00 Deworming - $5.00 Microchip - $35.00 FVRCP vaccine - $10.00 1 year Rabies vaccine - $6.00 TOTAL-------------------------$163.00 *not including tax* for your "free" cat. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.... If finances are your only concern, what's the better deal? PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO. brightlion.com/InHope/InHope.aspxI don't disagree that the Las Vegas shelter let things get out of hand. if you had read my post, you would know that. You would also know that I made the same point about "No Kill" shelters. They simply ship the animals elsewhere to be euthanized. Here are some of the stupid reasons animals were admitted to our facility: "He doesn't match my couch" "He keeps falling in the swimming pool and he can't get out" "I just had a baby and I don't have time for him anymore" "I'm moving and I can't take him with me" Is it any wonder the adoption qualifications are so strict? Think seriously before you get a pet. It's a lifetime commitment. ???S |
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
|
Post by Sabre52 on Feb 18, 2007 22:27:18 GMT -5
I agree that is horrible. Our Humane Society in town here has even had that kind of trouble. A buddy of mine adopted this incredibly cute and nice little pup that came down with Parvo, after they'd all fallen in love with it of course. When it died they went down to the Humane Society and asked what the heck and they said they hadn't vacinated the little fellow at all. That plus crowded conditions almost guarantees a problem. Very irresponsible in my book!....mel
|
|
|
|
Post by lbowman1 on Feb 18, 2007 22:58:45 GMT -5
I'm a bird person and one thing that most responsible birders agree on is DON'T adopt a bird if you can't afford it no matter how cute or how desperate the bird is. That goes beyond the initial cost of the bird which can be considerable. It also includes the price of the correct cage which can be hundreds of dollars, the correct diet which can run into some money if it's an exotic species with special needs, toys which the bird needs to keep from going stir crazy and ripping it's feathers out, and also a "new bird" exam and yearly check ups from an avian vet which are usually pretty expensive and run about the same price whether it's cockatoo or a parakeet. Even a parakeet can wind up costing a pretty penny all total if it becomes ill. It's best for the bird though that if you can't afford to take proper care of it don't take it home. You have to do the math first and really be honest with yourself about whether you can afford that bird.
One problem with birds is that so many are caught in the wild and illegally imported. Impulse buying of birds encourages such practices. Even though so many birds suffer it's still best to say no. But if you can afford it adopting through a reputable breeder is the way to go to get a healthy bird. The reputable ones tend to breed fewer birds and only use the best stock for breeding in an effort to maintain the quality of the gene pool. If you have the time and patience a bird rescue organization is the next best choice. Unfortunately, there are "birdie mills" just like puppie mills. Over crowded aviaries tend to breed inbred birds with birth defects and encourage the spread of diseases and they are best to be avoided.
Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. It's not the birds' fault. It's the crummy humans trying to make a fast buck.
Lori
|
|
|
|
Post by takilasunrise on Feb 19, 2007 10:05:03 GMT -5
When it comes down to it, fault can be placed on everyone and every association that is irresponsbile! Why is there so much finger-pointing at one or the other? You can blame the backyard breeders and the puppy mills (they're in it to make easy money), and you can blame the shelters, humane societies, rescues, etc. for making it so hard to adopt an animal that you turn to the backyard breeders and puppy mills so you can acquire a pet. Yes, it's easy to go find a dog to buy, but I have adopted several dogs over the years to "save" a dog. But if you don't fit their criteria, they reject you, so guess what, I now know what I need to lie about on the application. And yes, there are definitely irresponsible pet owners out there that don't spay/neuter, don't get their shots, don't take care or feed them, etc., etc. And I understand why the shelters want to make sure they are getting a good home for their animals. It's a vicious circle! I AM a good and responsible pet owner. Yes, we lost a dog a month ago, but it was an accident. But I sure as heck didn't tell the shelter about him. My dad owned a pet store in Souther Calif. for years! He sold fish and birds on a regular basis. But he would not sell kittens or puppies very often. Only when someone would come in with a litter and beg him to take them when they couldn't get rid of them. When we adopted Sadie last week from the humane society, we paid $120.00 for her. Yes, it was a good deal for pure-bred that was also spayed and given all her shots (she was already micro-chipped). But we have also seen fees of $300.00+ charged by some of the rescues, etc. If you're looking to buy a pure-bred from a breeder, you're more than likely willing to pay that kind of money, but you're also getting papers for that dog. Not from a rescue or a humane society! $300.00 for a mutt? You gto to be kidding, plus you have no idea what "problems" are coming with the dogs. Yes, there are people out there that just should NOT be a pet owner (just like there are people out there that shouldn't be parents, but we don't stop them from having babies!). And the reason they get rid of them is very, very sad. There probably is no solution, except to keep educating people. The humane society in Las Vegas obviously has their hands full if they had that many animals to put down, but if they had followed their guidelines and paid a little extra attention to the animals that are surrendered, then all those other animals would not have had to be destroyed. City ordinances need to be enforced. Where we live, you are only allowed to have 3 dogs. The neighbor behind us has at least 5-6 dogs (pure-breds) and at one point, she had a litter on top of that! I'm sure they are taken care of well, but, she is still in violation of the law. Instead of people picketing abortions on the street corners with pictures of aborted fetuses, maybe someone needs to picket about the destroying of innocent animals because people don't spay/neuter their animals!
|
|
S
S
