# Humane Society Rant **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 26, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647 "2014-09-26T16:03:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/21 "2014-09-26T21:04:30Z")
TroutMan - You’re making up ridiculous excuses. Saying “we’re not sure” doesn’t take any more resources than saying “she’s healthy.” ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/22 "2014-09-26T22:35:20Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Basically true, but having worked for a local shelter for six years, I’ll say that they’re more than a lobbying organization; they’re also an educational clearinghouse. Local shelters have access to a huge [professional library of best practices via HSUS](http://www.animalsheltering.org/resources/all-topics/standard-operating-procedures.html), and we relied heavily on this library when designing our own best practices documents. Maybe we didn’t get money, but the free advice we got was invaluable. Good to know, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/23 "2014-09-26T23:53:37Z")
Little Bird, you have my sympathy. My LLD (Little Deaf Dog) is the first Shelter dog I have ever owned. My other 8 were all purebreds. I wanted an older, small dog, preferably a terrier. So LLD seemed perfect. Except I discovered he was deaf, something the shelter missed. Also that his vision is starting to fail due to age. I knew his teeth were in bad shape, but not $400’s worth of bad shape, with more to come. Could the shelter have done more? I really don’t know. A couple of handclaps behind LLD would have done the trick. But right now they are showing a dog with food aggression, which they say isn’t suitable for a home with children. So the dog won’t bite the adult hand that feeds it? And the neighbors’ dog was released with zero information about its having been abused and therefore head shy, and what behavioral problems could surface due to the different temperaments of the dogs making up the “mix”. So I think shelters do the best they can, but often it isn’t enough. I agree that you should take this puppy back. Do your homework and decide on a breed that will be good with your son, and then look for an honest-to-goodness serious breeder. You have time and your son needs a good dog to grow up with. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/24 "2014-09-27T23:37:29Z")
> [@Little\_Bird](#): > > Me: “Great, I’m supposed to tell my 3 year old we’re taking his dog back to the shelter to get put down. That will go over well.” No, don’t take her back. As you said, your child (and maybe you) have already bonded with her. Explain to the child that she has medical problems, and that you are going to have the vet help her, but she might not live very long. “So we have to make sure she has a happy life as long as we can”. (Not a bad lesson for kids to learn.) Then spend what you can on her, and accept that you may eventually have to turn down some expensive treatments. Remember, even if you eventually have to put her to sleep, at least her last months/years were better than she had before. But do ask your Vet about costs, and whether he can reduce his prices some for this case – many Vets will. As far as the shelter, you should at least ask them to refund part or all of your adoption fee, to apply to her medical problems. That’s not an unreasonable request. Also, it sounds like you were talking to a low-level worker at the shelter. If you want to get this policy changed, you need to go higher up. Look on their website for a list of their Board members, and write them a letter. Keep it calm & reasonable, identify the problem, and suggest a desired solution. Like insisting their workers/Vet do a bit more extensive screening for pre-existing health problems before deciding that an animal is adoptable and releasing it for placement. Concentrate on the policy-level for the whole shelter, rather than your specific case. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/25 "2014-09-29T20:10:14Z")
This is a perfect example why the promotion of pets is wrong. It results in the proliferation of unwanted animals of which the majority are ultimately euthanized and burned. Every time there’s a movie or TV show with a cute dog or cat, thousands of households run out and get a pet. That demand spurs the development of puppy and kitten mills which are horrible in and of themselves…but I would bet that significant percentage of those thousands of pets bought, get abandoned. A horrible cycle. The local humane societies try to stand in the gap, but in some way their own marketing fosters the same cycle of demand. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/26 "2014-09-29T20:31:43Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > (SPAY AND NEUTER, PEOPLE, DAMN IT) if only that was possible then world wouldn’t be overpopulated. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/27 "2014-09-29T22:01:34Z")
Yes, **Omar** , it would never have occurred to me that I could own my very own cat if I hadn’t seen it on a TV show that one time. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/28 "2014-09-29T22:21:11Z")
Pet ownership, pet rescue, pet everything is so complex (because of the shifting and passionate sands of morality involved) that almost any blanket statement anyone can make is going to be half wrong. Know how to acquire a healthy, long-lived, trouble-free pet? No? Guess what? NO ONE does, really. The reason way-less-than-optimal animals like the OP’s are offered is because, well, they can be. Pets are somewhere between livestock and children in western minds. Used to be more like livestock but they are ever-creeping up toward being like children. If the OP’s dog was offered at a livestock auction she’d have no bids. If she was offered at an orphanage? There just are no easy answers. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/29 "2014-09-29T22:41:31Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > No, don’t take her back. > As you said, your child (and maybe you) have already bonded with her. > > Explain to the child that she has medical problems, and that you are going to have the vet help her, but she might not live very long. “So we have to make sure she has a happy life as long as we can”. (Not a bad lesson for kids to learn.) > > Then spend what you can on her, and accept that you may eventually have to turn down some expensive treatments. Remember, even if you eventually have to put her to sleep, at least her last months/years were better than she had before. > But do ask your Vet about costs, and whether he can reduce his prices some for this case – many Vets will. > > As far as the shelter, you should at least ask them to refund part or all of your adoption fee, to apply to her medical problems. That’s not an unreasonable request. > > Also, it sounds like you were talking to a low-level worker at the shelter. If you want to get this policy changed, you need to go higher up. Look on their website for a list of their Board members, and write them a letter. Keep it calm & reasonable, identify the problem, and suggest a desired solution. Like insisting their workers/Vet do a bit more extensive screening for pre-existing health problems before deciding that an animal is adoptable and releasing it for placement. Concentrate on the policy-level for the whole shelter, rather than your specific case. This, all of this. (I agree that it is entirely reasonable to ask for your adoption fee back.) Please don’t take the dog back unless you are really entirely unable to pay for the medical care. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/30 "2014-09-30T10:59:05Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > No, even if they legitimately are incapable of finding and disclosing issues due to lack of staffing or money or whatever excuse, it’s still a shitty way to run a shelter and does a tremendous disservice to both the adoptive families and the animals taken into their care. Families getting hit with fees they didn’t know about and animals with medical conditions either left untreated or just abandoned because the family couldn’t handle the animal’s undisclosed conditions. This doesn’t require any blinders or insistence that there was intentional deception. Half-assing the job for [excuse] is still half-assing the job only now you can say it wasn’t your fault. I mean, come on, right? If you hear this story, are you likely to go to your shelter and adopt a dog, knowing they have no problems lying or being incompetent? This is a horrible way to run things. I mean, they already exist as a form of charity. They are charging you for dogs when you can probably get a new mutt for free. The only reason people buy from them is that they want to support the charity they do for animals. If they can’t get that right, what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/31 "2014-10-01T15:35:11Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Yes, **Omar** , it would never have occurred to me that I could own my very own cat if I hadn’t seen it on a TV show that one time. Ah, the irony is strong with you… You must enjoy living in your world of absolutes, where everyone is just like you. Psst…hate to break it to you, but you actually may be unique, and there may even be a lot of people that **are** like you, but there are also a lot of people that aren’t like you. Have you committed murder lately? No, well I guess then we can do away with all homicide departments across the country… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/32 "2014-10-01T15:51:52Z")
Well, the good news is her blood work came back with no issues. So, aside from the teeth that need cleaning/removing she’s a healthy little critter. Her pink eye has cleared up as well. I’ll run the teeth stuff past our pet insurance and see what that will run me, and the probably get that done in the next week. Luna is settling in really well, learning house rules, getting accustomed to the cats (and vice versa), etc. Haven’t had a housebreaking incident inside since Monday! Things are going well. BTW, really should have posted a pic of the little booger! [Here](http://imgur.com/gallery/e4mCyeY) and [Here](http://imgur.com/gallery/MNnnIDR/new) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/33 "2014-10-03T02:57:17Z")
At least you didn’t adopt a white dog that turned out to be black. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/34 "2014-10-03T13:14:09Z")
Okay, that is the cutest dog in the world. I can see why you’re on the hook now. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/35 "2014-10-03T17:54:39Z")
So glad you kept her, **Little Bird**. _checks forum_ She’s fucking adorable! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/36 "2014-10-03T19:13:26Z")
> [@Little\_Bird](#): > > Well, the good news is her blood work came back with no issues. So, aside from the teeth that need cleaning/removing she’s a healthy little critter. Her pink eye has cleared up as well. I’ll run the teeth stuff past our pet insurance and see what that will run me, and the probably get that done in the next week. > > Luna is settling in really well, learning house rules, getting accustomed to the cats (and vice versa), etc. Haven’t had a housebreaking incident inside since Monday! Things are going well. BTW, really should have posted a pic of the little booger! [Here](http://imgur.com/gallery/e4mCyeY) and [Here](http://imgur.com/gallery/MNnnIDR/new) Ok, she’s a cutie! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/37 "2014-10-03T19:47:55Z")
What a sweet-faced little scruffbucket! Glad she’s getting along with the kitties and learning all the potty rules, and I’m sure she’s relieved to have a non-ouchy eye again. Idle curiosity: how much does your 3-year-old know, about the health issues, about the impending DOOM if you did return her to the shelter, etc. etc. You don’t even have to answer; just wonderin’ how you handled it, and how well your kid handled it. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/38 "2014-10-03T20:17:09Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > At least you didn’t adopt a white dog that turned out to be black. You laugh, but there is definitely a prejudice against adopting black dogs. See this page from the [National Black Dog Day homepage](http://www.nationalblackdogday.com/#!about/cjg9): > [@](#): > > **THE STORY OF NATIONAL BLACK DOG DAY** > > Black animals altogether, are the least adoptable pets in shelters because of their color. All too often, black dogs are overlooked because of many stigmas such as; the color black is evil (the same stigma that cats have), black dogs do not show up as well in photographs as muti-colored or light colored dogs and black dogs look scary and intimidating because you cannot see their facial expressions as easily, etc. They are easily overlooked when people are searching for a new dog and the first to be euthanized in overcrowded conditions. And, yes, getting good pictures of my black lab mix is a challenge. Possible, but a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647/39 "2014-10-03T20:58:06Z")
How funny - the last dog we got from a no-kill shelter was black. The scruffy mutt we took in literally off our street was black. Our current pup, from a breeder, is black. I guess we’re the exception. 😃 Did I mention that we have beige carpets? Yeah, I vacuum a lot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humane-society-rant/699647.md?page=1)