Every year, an average of 3.3 million dogs pass through an animal adoption center in the United States. Unfortunately, an estimated 670,000 will be euthanized as they cannot be rehomed. As an animal lover, you may find it difficult to understand why anyone would abandon their dog, but unfortunately, many of the dogs you will meet in an animal adoption center will have been surrendered by their owner. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why dogs end up in an animal adoption center.
Having a pet dog can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. However, many people are drawn into dog ownership by a cute puppy and don’t give enough thought to what owning a dog actually entails. Having a dog is hard work! A lot of training is necessary to ensure your dog is potty trained, socialized, and obedient. While potty training can usually be achieved in just a few months, other aspects of training are an ongoing process that takes commitment and effort for the duration of your dog’s life. People often don’t understand this commitment, and they leave their dogs at an animal adoption center because they are not listening to commands or destroying the house. However, this type of behavior almost always comes down to a lack of training and is rarely the dog’s fault.
Adopting a dog or buying a puppy is a long-term commitment. Most breeds live on average for 10-13 years, so it is important to consider this when choosing to become a dog owner. A lot can change in ten years. We often see dogs ending up in an animal adoption center because of a lifestyle change. Sometimes, job loss means the owner can no longer afford to care for the dog, so they give it up for adoption. For others, it is adding a new baby to the family and having less time for the dog - or safety concerns. It is common for owners to surrender an animal due to their ill health, leaving them unfit to care for a pet. Life happens, and we cannot always predict how things might change. However, if you can take time to think about potential lifestyle changes that may come and make a contingency plan, it can help reduce the number of dogs sent to an animal adoption center.
Another thing that is frequently seen at an animal adoption center is dogs being surrendered because the owner is moving. There are several reasons why people choose not to take their dog with them when they move, ranging from moving into a rental that does not allow dogs and allergic roommates to simply wanting to keep their new home clean and everything in between. This is incredibly unfair on the dog, who is having their entire life disrupted through no fault of their own. This is another reason to think carefully about the long-term commitment before adding a dog, or any other pet, to the household.
As dogs get older, they become more prone to injuries and illness. Unfortunately, this can result in a need for ongoing veterinary treatment which doesn’t come cheap. If an ongoing treatment plan must be followed at home, it can be labor-intensive to care for the dog properly. It can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful to care for an elderly or unwell animal; unfortunately, it is too much for some dog owners. Instead of continuing to care for the dog, they will instead take it to an animal adoption center in the hope of rehoming it with someone who has the funds and the motivation to get it the additional care it requires. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that these dogs are rarely rehomed. They will be passed over for the easier option of a young and healthy dog.
In many cases, the instant a dog bites a member of the family, they are taken to an animal adoption center and branded an aggressive dog. However, in so many cases, there is a reason behind the bite, and it usually comes down to a lack of training and socialization or a lack of understanding of handling a dog. There is almost always a warning sign that happens before a bite to let you know that you are engaging in behavior that the dog is not comfortable with, and if you learn to read those signs, bites can be avoided. If your dog becomes aggressive, it is something that you need to address as soon as possible with the appropriate training. It is also a good idea to consult a veterinarian in the case of sudden behavioral change, as these can indicate that the dog is in pain or otherwise unwell.
These are just a few of the many reasons dogs find themselves in an animal adoption center searching for a new home. At American Pet Rescues, we aim to educate people about animal rescue in the hope of reducing the number of pets euthanized each year because they cannot be rehomed.
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American Pet Rescues is working towards the goal of educating adults and children about the value of animal rescue. Through the sale of our quality plush stuffed animals, each based on a real animal rescue story, we hope to promote awareness of pet adoption while also funding the opening of an animal adoption center in the Knoxville area where we can continue educating others and also provide access to affordable veterinary care.
Visit www.americanpetrescues.org or call 865-800-3697 for more information.
American Pet Rescues is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
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