Common Myths that are Portrayed on Shelter Dogs

So, next time you want to add a dog to your family or your pack, adopt don’t shop — you’ll save a life and find a faithful friend at the same time.

What is your favorite dog rescue organization in your area and why?

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Because most emergency shelters for humans are unable to house animals, many beloved pets required temporary placement in animal shelters.  With shelters closest to the fires filled beyond capacity, surrounding agencies sprang into action, taking in hundreds (if not thousands) of displaced pets.

There are many ways you can help, but the best gift you can give is cash. It may seem like a nice gesture to donate food or dog beds but overtaxed agencies usually do not have the manpower or facilities to manage such tangible gifts.

Because wildfires by their nature affect relatively smaller areas than hurricanes, local and regional animal welfare organizations do the bulk of the work. We’ve scoured the Web to find the most effective organizations who can benefit from your help.

Napa Humane

Sonoma Humane Society and its Amazon Wish List.

Sonoma County Animal Services

Marin Humane

KQED’s “California Report” offers a list of additional agencies.

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When Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria struck, it wasn’t just people who were affected. With flooding through parts of Texas, Louisiana, Florida and the Caribbean displacing tens of thousands of people it’s easy to forget the many household pets also caught up in the disaster.

Shelters from other areas across the US have taken in pets to reduce the load in shelters hit by the flooding — and remember, in many cases, these are not abandoned or lost dogs and cats. Rather, many emergency shelters for humans do not allow pets, so it becomes necessary to place them temporarily in animal shelters.

There are many ways to help out, but remember this one important word of advice: In disasters like this, the best gift you can give is cash. It may seem like a nice gesture to donate tangible things instead, like clothing or food, but quite often areas hit by disaster do not have the means to store or distribute such goods, so they wind up being wasted.

America’s leading animal welfare organizations have responded quickly to the disasters and you can help their efforts with donations:

The ASPCA’s Field Investigation and Response Fund supports all of thethe ASPCA’s life-saving efforts for animals in disaster and cruelty situations, including Irma, Harvey and Maria. Donate here.  The ASPCA recently added a donation page for Puerto Rico.

The Humane Society of the United State’s Disaster Relief Fund is helping animals affected by all three hurricanes and future disasters. Donate here.

Best Friends Animal Society is also helping those affected by the hurricanes.  Donate here.

AKC Reunite’s Pet Disaster Relief Funds helps local emergency management provide animal care services immediately after a disaster.  Donate here.

There are many, many smaller and more local organizations that can also use your support.

GoFundMe lists a number of grass roots campaigns to raise funds for hurricane relief. You can see a list of opportunities for Irma here, a similar list for Harvey and a new list for Maria.  Please keep in mind that these appeals may not be tax-deductible — and always use your wisdom when deciding where and how to donate.

Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida helped relief efforts in Texas and Puerto Rico, but its facilities were severely damaged by Irma.

Safe Animal Shelter near Jacksonville, Florida suffered flood damage and needs donations to get back into operation.

The Houston Pet Set, a 501(c)(3) umbrella organization, has also set up a Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund that’s accepting monetary contributions online.

Daisy Cares is looking for volunteers, as well as accepting donations of dog food and supplies, and monetary donations through their website.

Elite Daily offers a short list of Puerto Rico-based organizations that can use your support.

The Lafayette, Louisiana Daily Advertiser offers this list of shelters and rescue orgs ready to provide emergency housing to displaced pets:

Austin Pets Alive
Animal Rescue of New Orleans
San Antonio Humane Society
SPCA of Texas

Among natural disasters, hurricane induced floods arguably have some of the most devastating long-term effects, and it could be months or several years before things return to normal in the flooded areas, so the need for assistance will be ongoing. Sadly, the aftermath won’t go away just because the story fades from the news, but every bit we do to help now will make things easier later.

Are you in the area affected by Harvey, Irma or Maria, or affiliated with a shelter or rescue involved in helping animals in the flood zones? Or do you know of other charities that are helping out? Let us know in the comments below.

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As reported by the website LAist, Best Friends Animal Society of Los Angeles already puts this number at 89.4%, so the city is well on the way to success — but they aren’t quite there yet.

Speaking of the process, the Director of Policy and Legislation for city councilmember Paul Koretz, Jeff Ebenstein, told local radio station KABC, “It’s not going to happen over night but we increased funding to spay and neuter, that was a big part of it. We also put a ban on puppy mills in the city of Los Angeles that require all pet stores to use shelter animals.”

The resolution itself begins optimistically and sets a target of less than eight months from now:

“WHEREAS, while the no-kill goal is in sight and potentially within reach, there is more to be done in order to save all of the adoptable and healthy animals in the department’s care and jurisdiction.

“NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Los Angeles reconfirms its commitment to achieving the accepted no-kill live release for all healthy and adoptable dogs and cats at Los Angeles Animal Services by December 31, 2017, or by as soon thereafter as possible; and

“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Los Angeles work in collaboration with the No Kill Los Angeles coalition, other rescuers and rescue organizations, humane organizations and the general public to develop a comprehensive strategy to reach and maintain a life-saving rate consistent with accepted no-kill standards.”

Of course, a resolution is one thing and a result is another, but residents of Los Angeles — and all communities with shelters — can help the process along toward the 90% goal. For example:

1. Spay and neuter your pets.
   Unless you’re a licensed, professional breeder, there’s no good reason for any of your dogs to have puppies — and don’t think that it can’t happen if you have one dog that never leaves your house. As they say, “love will find a way.” So will an intact male dog when there’s a female in heat anywhere in the neighborhood. Get your dogs (and cats) spayed or neutered.
    
2. Adopt, don’t shop.
   Every dog (or cat) rescued from a shelter is one less potential victim of euthanization, and frees up a spot for another dog to stay alive. Also, by investing your money in shelters instead of with breeders and pet shops, you’re helping to pay for the survival of future dogs.
    
3. Consider older dogs, not puppies.
   Adult dogs can be a much better fit than a puppy if you don’t have the time to properly train a young dog — which is pretty much a 24/7 job. They can also start out already trained and socialized. Senior dogs can be ideal for senior citizens or people with conditions that limit their mobility or activity level.
    
4. Consider “imperfect” dogs.
   Dogs aren’t hindered by handicaps, like hearing or vision loss, or the amputation of a limb. They go on being dogs, but these are the dogs that are often overlooked at adoption time. If you do see such a dog at a shelter, consider rescuing them. You’ll find them to be just as loving and loyal. They are also at much higher risk of being un-adopted and killed, so you’re guaranteed to save a life this way. And remember: “imperfect” is a human judgment, not a dog reality!
    
5. Never surrender your dog to a shelter.
   If you absolutely have to give up your dog, there are better alternatives that won’t put your dog on a kill list and, again, will leave a shelter spot open for another dog. Options range from no-kill private rescues, to friends and family, to interviewing to find prospective adopters.

Currently, Austin is the biggest city in the U.S. to have made the successful transition to no-kill. At over four times its population, the city of Los Angeles would smash that record while proving that it is possible for a huge urban area to make its shelters humane and pave the way for the behemoth that is the County of Los Angeles to do the same. At 10.12 million people, it’s the largest county in the country. Turning the county no-kill would have an enormous and positive impact on the rest of the country.

You can find a list of resources for making your own shelters no-kill, whether you live in a small, rural area, or a huge city, at the Best Friends website.

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Checklist of homing needs
Once you have determined that it’s impossible to keep or bring your dog with you, the top priority is to assess your dog’s needs. You may want to write an all-inclusive list of requirements for your dog’s ideal new home without “editing” yourself while you brainstorm. Once you have written all the items you can think of, go through and determine what is non-negotiable for your dog’s unique needs, and write an ad using those top “must-haves”.

Getting your dog ready
Keep in mind that it’s not only what your dog needs, but what prospective adopters will be looking for, so highlight your dog’s best traits in the ad as well. Therefore, make sure that your dog is transition-ready with veterinary care, is spayed or neutered, and freshly groomed.

Advertising
Pre-existing, trusted connections like your friends, neighbors, local veterinarians, and social communities are a good foundation to begin your search. Once you’ve put the word out in these venues, you can also advertise in less familiar places by putting up flyers in local businesses and ads in small and large local publications. Online you can find pet home-matching sites like Petfinder.com.

Interviewing prospects
You may ask your local pet rescue for the questions they use to screen prospective adopters. By interviewing prospects over the phone first, you can eliminate poor matches.

Once you determine that a prospect is worth meeting, it’s safest and easiest for both parties to find a neutral location to introduce your dog, like a park or pet-friendly coffee shop or café with outdoor seating. If the prospect has children, it is best that they come so you can observe how they get along. If there’s potential, consider conducting a second interview in the prospective adopter’s home so you can see how your dog responds to the environment.

Always listen to your own instincts and don’t fall into the trap of being desperate to rush giving away your dog. Never give your dog away “free to the right person.” Your dog is valuable, so find a reasonable price and stick to your guns.

Transitioning pet and people
Once you’ve chosen a new caregiver, if your dog has a shyer temperament, you may want them to get as acquainted with the new people as much as possible before saying the final good-bye by having the prospective adopter visit the dog at your home. However, don’t make repeat visits to the adopter’s home — when you leave for good, it could actually be more traumatic for your dog. Usually, you’ll minimize your own grief and your dog’s by making the transition as quickly as possible.

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The last thing Josephine Chalfino wanted to do was surrender her dog to a shelter. After all, Lucy, a chow, had been her best friend for ten years. But when her landlord suddenly demanded a $200 pet deposit Josephine, a senior on a low fixed income living in Los Angeles, felt she had no choice.

“It was horrible. I’ve had her such a long time, and she’s a good dog,” Chalfino says. “I was crying, and when I was giving her up, I felt like Lucy was crying too.”

North Central Shelter’s Intervention Program

Luckily for Josephine and Lucy, it was the first day of the North Central Shelter Intervention Program. Launched in November 2013 by founder Kerry Lowe Armstrong, the program started with two volunteers manning a table in the lobby twice a week with the goal of preventing surrenders to an already overcrowded municipal shelter.

“There’s a misconception that people dump their dog at a shelter because they’re heartless and don’t care, but it’s not that simple,” Armstrong says. “There’s always a deeper reason, and many times they do it with a heavy heart after a lot of thought.”

Intervening can mean anything from helping with medical costs to finding pro bono legal counsel to contend with landlord issues.

For Chalfino, the program provided the pet deposit and helped with renter’s insurance. For the owner of a sick husky, it was payment for diagnostic blood work. When a blind fifteen year-old poodle escaped its family’s yard for the first time and ended up at the shelter, North Central Shelter Intervention Program stepped in when the dog’s owner couldn’t afford the redemption fees.

“People are generally surprised that there is an option besides surrendering their beloved pet. Sometimes they’re embarrassed to not be able to afford something to help their pet, but across the board people are grateful,” Armstrong says.

Other times, it’s a matter of directing pet owners to the proper resources, such as free or low-cost spay and neuter vouchers and medical care. “We’re here to let people know there’s an option and how they can help themselves,” Armstrong says.

After receiving a grant from Found Animals Foundation, that table in the lobby is now staffed four days a week with a bilingual employee and several volunteers. In six months, the North Central Shelter Intervention Program has helped more than two hundred pets avoid being surrendered or exit the shelter safely.

Armstrong hopes to expand the program to six days a week at the shelter, as well as offering training classes for dogs with behavioral issues and ongoing free spay and neuter clinics. “We really need to cut down on pet overpopulation, and we would like to be of service to communities near our shelter,” she says.

South Central Intervention Program

The program was modeled after the highly successful South Central Intervention Program, operated by the nonprofit Downtown Dog Rescue. Since April 2013, that program has helped more than 2,600 pets and their owners through free spay and neuter, wellness care, basic medical care, free dog food, and individual and group dog-training classes at South L.A. parks.

“This is not a pet problem, it’s a poverty problem, at least where we’re located,” says Lori Weise, founder of Downtown Dog Rescue. “Anywhere in U.S. where people are living at or below poverty line, if they need to get vaccines, or spay or neuter their dog or cat, or comply with some ordinance, that can be a major obstacle if it hits them at the wrong time of the month.”

The program also works directly within communities to provide practical solutions to seemingly simple problems, such as fixing broken fences that let dogs escape and eventually end up in shelters.

“A lot of people do not plan for these pets. They’ll find a dog under a wheel well of their car, or their neighbors will move out, or maybe their son will go to jail and leave a dog behind,” Weise says. “These are people who love animals, but, unfortunately, most of them are low to no income.”

Despite the poverty and oftentimes violence found in these neighborhoods, most of the owners Weise interacts with are extremely committed to their dogs.

“I’ve had two cases of women telling me that they couldn’t fail their children, that they were going to keep the dog in the family at any cost,” Weise says. “Gentle, sweet people are the vast majority of our clients.”

That’s also the case at the North Central Shelter, according to Armstrong. “People whom we’ve helped will stop by to say hi with their dog or to show us photos and videos,” she says.

The very first North Central Shelter Intervention Program client still drops by on occasion to deliver homemade tamales. “I don’t know how else to thank them,” Chalfino says. “They’re my guardian angels.”

For more information, please “like” the North Central Shelter Intervention Program Facebook page and visit Home Dog LA.

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