During the period of this last week in a small region of southwest Missouri we saw hundreds of dogs in various states of crisis, danger, dumped, surrendered mainly unwanted. The rescue dog network scrambled to find urgent fosters, transport and hopefully rescue for so many dogs in extremely poor shape. Multiple litters of puppies on the side of the road, most emaciated with some falling into the lowest of the poor on body conformation scales. They all come from somewhere, someone knows their story but somehow they become unwanted.
We can pick up all the dogs today and there will be another group of crisis dogs tomorrow. How do we get to the core of the problem? What exactly is the problem, where are these dogs coming from?
While those of us active in the land of rescue rush to find placement for the volumes of unwanted dogs the rescue pages are riddled with pleas for help. Powerhouse networkers Emailing, texting, calling and flooding social media posts seeking shelter for the current class of unwanted.
As you scroll through the social media posts there is another flood of dog pictures only this time it’s puppy posts. Of course they are the cutest sweetest puppies, honestly is there ever an ugly puppy? The post says are looking for their ‘Fur-ever’ home, they will be ready in a couple of weeks. They are likely a multi/mix breed of dogs. They seem so wanted and who wouldn’t want a puppy?
The post may say the dogs are looking to be rehomed. It all seems so innocent. This type of language confuses the issue that these dogs could be an oops breeding and their people are simply looking for good homes. The fact at least in the southwest Missouri area these dogs are bred on purpose, in a backyard environment, no genetic testing, no papers, no vetting and very likely include a several hundred dollar price tag. How could just a couple of sweet back yard puppies that the people sell for several hundred dollars not find themselves in the perfect loving environment? These are obviously not the same dogs the rescue people are scrambling to find placement for right?
Sadly in many instances these are the same dog, the wanted puppy that comes home to a new collar, bed and bag of puppy food spirals into a shoe chewing, carpet destroying problem. Many people rise to the occasion they sign up for puppy training classes, use redirection and love their new dog.
Then there are the others, it becomes so stressful the puppy they brought home has not fit into the picture they visioned they wind up outside on a leash, locked in a crate all day or surrendered or dumped.
Those of us in the animal advocate community see this every day. We are in the trenches we keep up the good work to hopefully make a dent. We are absolutely committed to limit suffering, we drive in snow storms to pick up dogs we sit in the forest to trap dogs, we dart through traffic to catch dogs. We will stop at nothing to help.
So what can you do?
I’m asking for 10%, I don’t need you to do all the crazy things we do I just need 10%. I need you to spay and neuter your pets. I need you to share with your family and neighbors the benefits, which there are so many, of spay and neuter. I need you to be purposeful about where you get your pets and educate those around you with the same information. Most of all the best thing is to be diligent about the commitment to your pet. This 10% of your effort will create a difference.