The Local Animal Shelter

   What do you think of when you think about your local animal shelter?

   I use to think how sad it was that places like that existed, but at least caring people who loved animals worked there and looked after them, well like I said that’s what I thought. Since then my opinion has drastically changed.

   My first dealings with our local animal shelter was nearly ten years ago. Tim and I had gone there to adopt an animal. We wanted an older dog, one that was trained, and scheduled to be put down. We wanted to save a life.

   Inside the shelter our hearts broke for all the animals in there, but we were happy to be able to save one. After walking around the kennel area we found our dog a year and a half old Golden Retriever. We found an attendant and asked to take him outside for a walk, just so we could see how he acted out of his tiny little cage. At first the dog jumped and yelped and barked and rolled over. He was a bit of a handful, but you could very easily see that he was very happy, his tail was wagging and he couldn’t stop giving us doggy kisses. That was it the dog had won our hearts and we wanted him.

    The guy got the leash and on our way outside the guy informed us that the dog was to be put down that day. When first outside the dog was extremely excited. After playing with him the dog began slowing down and was very well behaved. Back inside the shelter we went to the desk. We were ready to do all the paper work and adopt this greatly friendly dog. The moment we told the lady that this is the dog we wanted she began arguing with us. “This dog, you can’t adopt him.”

   “Why not?”

   “Because he is scheduled to be put down later today.” Was her reply.

   “But why are you going to put him down? We want him. We’ll adopt him and he can live with us.” We argued.

   “The dog is being put down because he is too friendly.” Was the excuses the woman gave.

     Hearing the commotion and us arguing with the woman to let us adopt the dog, a man from the back of the shelter came forward. After inquirering what all the fighting was about, the man agreed to come outside with us to see if the dog would be suited for us.

   Back inside, the man quickly told the woman to stop arguing the dog would be fine with us. “But, but, but.” The woman tried to argue. Standing firm on his and our decision the man said “These people want the dog, they like him and the dog seems to like them.” He pointed out. “Fill out the paper work the dog is going with them” He said. With no response she put her head down and with a big chip on her shoulder she finally filled out the adoption forms.

   What are you serious? You would rather put the dog down than give him a chance. Why, because he is too friendly? Correct me if I am wrong but isn’t friendliness in dogs a good thing?

   How can anybody who works with animals want to kill them for being too friendly?

      Like I said that was nearly eleven years ago. We named our dog Duke and today he is a happy go lucky care free thirteen year old. Since then we hoped that the people working there had changed, but we were wrong.

    Last night while talking to a friend I heard the most disgusting thing and again it has to do with the animal shelter.

   A friend of mine ended up with a cat having a litter of kittens under her front step. Afraid they would get cold or something her children brought the family of cats into the house. They looked after the cats, fed them and began looking for homes for them. Unfortunately when one of the kids was leaving the house he accidently caught one of the kittens in the door. With the kitten injured my friend didn’t know what to do or how to help the poor kitten. Thinking she could get some help or answers she went to the animal shelter.

   The kitten is playing eating and for the most part fine, the only problem is the kitten’s hind legs were damaged in the accident and the cat can’t use them.

   My friend explained the situation to the people at the animal shelter, and this was their response.

   “You need to put the litter of cats back where you found them. It’s not your problem. “

   My friend than explained that she couldn’t leave them and let her kids watch them die.

   “Then put them somewhere, where the kids won’t see them. It’s not our problem. We don’t take them.”

   She then went on to explain about the injured kitty.

   “Well, you have to put that one down. It’s cruel to let it live.”

   Outraged my friend says I’m going to the vet.

   The reply from the animal shelter was “If you leave here with the kitten we have to call the cops it’s too cruel to take it with you.”

   My friend replied. “You just told me to throw them back under the steps. Call the cops and we’ll see who they think is the one being cruel.”

   With no reply she left with the kitten and went straight to the vet.

   The vet confirmed that the kitten did in fact have a broken tail and some damage to its spine, but also said the kitten because of its age could also heal just fine. It is now a waiting game. The vet also believed the kitten wasn’t in much pain.

   Today the kitten although still can’t walk it is beginning to move its legs and flip its tail. The kitten seems VERY happy.

   Will update when I learn more.