One of the worst animal shelters I've seen

17 years ago

I saw a dog on this website that I would have loved to have. I looked at their list of their adoptable OLD dogs .

http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/adoption_rescue/69120.html

I Was excited ! I Went there --- I Was shocked !! The website is so phony ...I was appalled at the conditions of the actual kennel .

I'll condense the story ... Starting --- the kennel was in one of those half circle old military barracks with the corregated metal all over. There had to be 20 or more dogs in there - each had a little chain link fence enclosure with a drain. NO Pads to lay on - nothing. I Went in -- the stench of Pee overwhelmed me.I couldn't hear myself think because of the barking. I YELLED that I came to see a certain dog.I was to wait in the hallway

( a 6 x 9 space )till they brought her out.This dog hasen't been combed in at least a year ... and all she wanted was OUT . She didn't care about me -- she clawed at the door. They brought another dog ot to see me and it was the same thing - she wanted out. I guess this little old lady runs this shelter with the help of volunteers . After meeting her - I know she means well in her heart - she knows all her dogs and their personalities ...but this "Shelter " is horrid. I doubt if any one of these dogs will be adopted. This just splits my heart -- I know she means well --- but .............

WHat do you think ?

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Comments (11)

annzgw
17 years ago
I'd contact the local SPCA and ask what steps can be taken to check if the lady meets all the requirements to be classified a 'shelter'. Sounds more like a hoarder.
Datdog
17 years ago
I think that often times good intentions go bad plain and simple. I'm not a fan of no kill shelters. Many of them just warehouse dogs/cats for years on end. In my mind this is no life for a animal.

If you are appalled by the conditions of the kennel I suggest you offer your services and volunteer. Make a difference and offer your time or money. You could be the one responsible for making a change in the lives of these animals.
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laurief_gw
17 years ago
Your description sounds a lot like our local "shelter". Our facility has been inspected by the state ag dept. and cited a number of times, yet nothing is ever done to improve things, and they maintain their license as a "shelter". Inspections mean nothing. The govt is happy to warehouse homeless animals. They're not going to rock the boat as long as someone else is doing the dirty work at no expense to the state.

As far as I'm concerned, these types of facilities are the places from which animals need to be rescued, and that's exactly how I viewed it when I adopted an adult dog from the local dump ... er ... shelter many years ago.

Laurie
User
17 years ago
If you feel it is that bad call the SPCA or Animal Control and keep calling.

I am with you, I would rather adopt an old dog and spoil it rotten for its last years than adopt a pup that could easily find a home.

If these people are really treating these old dogs so bad. Tell someone who can do something about it.
cynthia_gw
17 years ago
"This dog hasen't been combed in at least a year ... and all she wanted was OUT . She didn't care about me -- she clawed at the door. They brought another dog ot to see me and it was the same thing - she wanted out. "

So which one did you adopt? You were looking for needy senior dogs and it sounds like you found them.
toomuchglass
Original Author
17 years ago
None of the dogs wanted anything to do with me. None were friendly.I didn't dare take one home as much as I would have loved to. In all honesty - I don't think I could work there . The smell was making me sick. I don't want to get the lady in trouble - but I really think she is a "Hoarder" not a rescue-er . I'm going to keep checking on her.
laurief_gw
17 years ago
In that sort of setting, the dogs are going to be so stressed and miserable that all they can think about is what you described - they wanted OUT! Unfortunately, a dog in that state of mind cannot be fairly evaluated for friendliness or "normal" behaviors. That doesn't mean there aren't canine treasures amidst the despair.

I urge you to return to that facility and take the dog in which you were initially interested outside for a long walk and some quality time away from the building. Give her the opportunity to expend some pent up energy and get away from the mayhem long enough so that she CAN focus on you and show you who she really is. You may just find out that she IS friendly and would be a perfect new addition to your family. Imagine how wonderful you would feel if you could save just one animal from that place.

Please, go back and give that needy girl another chance to impress you.

Laurie
laurief_gw
17 years ago
I just checked out the link you provided in your initial post and followed it to their site at Petfinder. Both web pages make a plea for foster homes, even if the foster can only keep an animal over a weekend. You might consider offering to foster the dog that interested you next weekend and see how she responds in your own home. Of course it'd be darn difficult to return her to that place if she didn't work out, but at least you'd be giving her a chance.

Laurie
Meghane
17 years ago
I put this link on another shelter thread, but it's a good one. From the Humane Society, it helps you work through how to get a shelter to clean up.
Good luck with that though. Most juristictions are so overwhelmed by stray animals that if anyone is hoarding animals that's less for them to worry about. If she is a hoarder, and is arrested for it, all those animals will have to be cared for by the county shelter until she is brought to trial. This overwhelms most county shelters for months, to the point where they pretty much have to euthanize every other stray dog brought in as soon as their required stay is over.
It's a tough situation.

Here is a link that might be useful: HSUS shelter concern guidelines
biwako_of_abi
17 years ago
It is appalling, but I wouldn't slam the entire website. When I clicked to bring up Local cats and dogs, entering my zip code, I got pictures of animals in the local shelters here in So. Cal., at least two of which I have visited in the past and found to be well-run. What a shame that the one you visited had, in a sense, spoiled the dogs for adoption because of its poor conditions! It does sound like an overwhelmed hoarder's place.
I also wondered whether it wouldn't be worth taking the dog you were interested in, on a trial or fostering basis. Of course, your family or home or other pets there already may not make that sort of gamble feasible.
toomuchglass
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all for your replies .Meghane -I'm definately going to check out that website.

One of the worst animal shelters I've seen

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One of the worst animal shelters I've seen

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