Homeless Pets
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Long-Term Care - Some Solutions
In no-kill shelters, dogs and cats who are not adopted quickly may spend weeks, months or the rest of their lives in the shelter. Fortunately, innovations in disease control, shelter design, and behavior modification are improving the quality of life for these long-term residents.
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Long-Term Care - The Problem
The no-kill movement is gaining momentum across the country. While this is wonderful news to all animal lovers, the movement has produced a troubling situation that is just now being recognized and addressed.
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Don't Be a Backyard Breeder
Much has been written about the evils of puppy mills. According to more than one survey, however, there is another source that contributes even more to the pet overpopulation problem.
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You Can Catch More Flies...
Animal welfare groups depend on the goodwill and support of the public. Quite often, however, they take an adversarial attitude toward the public and end up alienating the very people whose help they need to achieve their goals.
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A Long Way to Go
Animal rescue and advocacy organizations around the world engage in many forms of humane education, with remarkable results. Yet, in spite of these efforts, cruelty and neglect still persist.
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The Power of Humane Education
While cruelty to animals often leads to violence toward humans, compassion toward animals can transfer to human relationships, as well. This is the goal of humane education.
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Domestic Violence Link
Twenty years ago, there were no shelters for battered women; today, there are over 2,000 programs to assist victims of domestic violence. But what happens to the pets in these families?
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Human/Animal Violence
In one seven-month period, four separate acts of violence in schools left 12 people dead and 44 wounded. What did the young men who committed these terrible acts have in common?
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Look Beneath the Surface (Part II)
How often do we make judgments about people based on their outward appearance? Fortunately, animals are not so easily fooled. Read about a man who, though rough in appearance, was loved by the hundreds of dogs he saved.
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"No-Kill" - An Impossible Dream?
Most people associated with an animal-related organization have the same dream - that every puppy or kitten born would have a permanent, loving home waiting for it. Their methods of achieving this dream, or even their beliefs as to whether it CAN be achieved, are sometimes radically different, though.
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What Can One Person Do?
When faced with the overwhelming statistics associated with unwanted, abused, and neglected animals, our first inclination may be to throw up our hands in defeat. However, there are some angels of mercy who, when faced with the same statistics, roll up their sleeves and go to work!
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Let's Not Lose Our Humanity
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, let's not let our fear and anger rob us of our humanity.
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Adopt From a Shelter?
While most people believe in adopting from a shelter in theory, in reality only 13%-17% of them actually do. Why does the public have a negative image of shelters and shelter animals, and how can this image be turned around?
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Look Beneath the Surface
The old saying, "Beauty is only skin deep," is true for pets as well as people. Yet how often do dogs and cats who would make wonderful pets get passed over because of their physical appearance?
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Bringing Seniors and Pets Together
Many senior citizens hesitate to adopt a pet because they fear that unavoidable changes in their lives might prevent them from caring for the pet in the future. Fortunately, many of these concerns are beginning to be addressed.
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Pets and Seniors
Are seniors healthier because they own pets, or do they own pets because they are healthier? If senior citizens derive health benefits from pet ownership, then why does only one senior in five own a pet?
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Kids and Pets, Part II ("We're Having a Baby!")
Animals are often given up to shelters by "expecting" couples who are overwhelmed by the thought of having to care for a pet while taking on the new demands of parenthood. However, the arrival of a baby does not have to mean banishment for a pet.
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Kids and Pets (Part I)
In the first of a two-part series on Kids and Pets, learn how teaching children and pets acceptable behavior toward each other can help ensure the safety and happiness of all concerned.
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"No Pets Allowed"
At a time when people are more than ever in need of the warmth and companionship a pet can provide, apartment complexes and condominium associations are slamming their doors in the faces of pet owners. Find out what innovative programs various organizations have developed to address this problem.
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Sanctuary! (Part II)
In the second of a two-part series, learn how rural animal sanctuaries use their unique capabilities to provide much-needed services and education to the public.
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Sanctuary! (Part I)
Animal sanctuaries located in rural areas have the advantage of available space that city shelters often do not have. This can translate into time - time to work with an animal to make him more adoptable, or simply time for him to live out his life in peace at the sanctuary. Could these rural sanctuaries be part of the answer to the homeless pet problem?
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Pets Are For Life, Not Just For Christmas
Walt Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" begins with an idyllic scene of an adorable puppy being given as a Christmas present and goes on to show "Lady" as a cherished member of the family. Unfortunately, the fate of many "Christmas puppies" and "Christmas kittens" is much different.
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Behavior Problems - Who's Really to Blame?
Shelters are full of pets who were relinquished because of behavior problems, yet one study showed that 96% of dogs left at shelters had had no obedience training. Whose fault is it?
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Kill the Problem, Not the Cats
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah is home to 300 "feral" cats. What about the other 60 million feral cats in the U.S.?
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Too Much of a Good Thing
Over 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the U.S. each day. Find out why "just one litter" is one too many.
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Homeless Pets - A National Shame
No-kill shelters are full and have waiting lists. City animal control agencies kill thousands every day, just to make room for thousands more they'll have to kill tomorrow. It doesn't have to be this way!
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