Working Together!

As of late, I have had several people ask me if I could take their dog or puppies, and find them homes. Unfortunately, I am not able to offer this service. What people need to know is that I am technically a pound, not a shelter. So what is the difference?

Well, a shelter generally survives on donations and grants. Most often, they are no-kill, which means they do not euthanize their animals. They keep them until they find homes for them. This is not always the case, but most often they have the ability to keep animals for a longer period of time than I do. They are also often afilliated with people who will provide foster homes for animals until a more permanent placement can be found. The larger shelters often have their own veterinarian either on premises, or on call, which means that the animals you might get from them will have already been spayed or neutered, and be up to date on their shots. Many shelters will also micro-chip their animals prior to adoption, and they charge a larger adoption fee. Often shelters will require you to go through a home check prior to adoption, and they will require you fill out an application. And they usually have a much larger animal capacity than I do.

Pounds, like mine, are generally controlled by a City or County government. This means we usually have a limited budget, and for this reason, are unable to provide many of the services a shelter might be able to provide, like spaying or neutering prior to adoption. We usually have a smaller animal capacity than a shelter, and since we are regulated by our respective City or County governmental bodies, we will have limits on how long we may keep an animal before we are forced to euthanize them.

The other main difference, is that a shelter will welcome animals from private citizens unable to care for or keep their pets...often for a donation of some kind. The Kansas Humane Society in Wichita is a good example of this. City or County pounds, more often than not, can only take in the animals they catch running loose...and as I just mentioned, then only keep them for a short period of time. Since our space is usually very limited ( I only have 12 cages ) we are forced to move our animals in and out much faster...one way or the other.

While I do make every effort to find homes for every dog & cat coming through our pound, the sad truth is, there are too many animals for the number of potential homes available! Somewhere between 4-5 million dogs are euthanized every year in this country. So try as I might, the truth is I just can't save them all. No one can!

But you can help! How? By having your dog or cat spayed or neutered for starters! While it is true that you can find pure-breds in many shelters, they are far out numbered by the mixed breeds. And I think we all know how the breeds get mixed! The other way you can help is by working with your local pound or shelter. Be a volunteer! This doesn't mean you have to clean out the dirty cages, although I'm sure that would be much appreciated! No, what many...most...of the dogs I have need, is love & attention! They need socialization, training, and someone to just sit & pet them for a while, or maybe take them for a walk outside!

And finally, in my case, work with me to find a home for your pet, instead of dumping them out in the country, or just turning them loose and hope I will find them! While I may not be able to take your dog right away, in many cases, I might be able to help find a suitable foster home or animal rescue that can! It may take a little longer, but if you ever truly loved & cared for your pet...then surely you would think it worth the wait.

I'm willing to bet your pet would think so!