[resopalrabotnick]

Quote

Those among you who remember when it was all fields round here may also recall the famous January 1973 cover of National Lampoon which carried a pic of someone holding a gun to the head of a rather worried looking mutt and the headline "If You Don't Buy This Magazine, We'll Kill This Dog".

Well, a US "nonprofit national shelter outreach program" has decided to adopt the same no-nonsense approach to selling its wares - but in this case it's for real.

Yes indeed, cue heartstring-tugging stuff down at dogsindanger.com , where visitors are greeted by a snap of some wretched canine and a reminder of just how long he or she has left before a last walk to the euthanisia room.



The group behind the hard sell is The Buddy Fund, which hopes that "highlighting the fact many unadopted dogs are euthanized by shelters with scarce space will spur people to take them in".

The fund's Alex Aliksanyan told Reuters: "This is happening ... in our country, in our back yard. It's been kept underneath a blanket of niceness and sweetness. So we said, 'Lets put the truth in front of the consumer - either do something about it, or at least realize you're a partner.'"

Aliksanyan stressed: "It's not a happy site with puppies running around. It's not meant to be that. We're taking it the other way around. We're saying these pets are going to die. Look at their faces."

And in case the pleading eyes of the Death Row inmates don't fully do the trick, dogsindanger.com throws in a continuously updated "As you are reading this x dogs have been killed" tally. That's a nationwide stat, of course, but we're pleased to announce that The Buddy Fund's animals who do suffer the "dead dawg walking" ordeal are at least afforded a suitable memorial . ®

The Register

[tdawnaz]

wow what can people say about that...

sometimes the reasons people take their animals to shelters r just selfish and stupid...

i know a girl who's parents own a vet hospital and she's worked there since she was young...and she confirms that people actually bring their friends in to be euthanized for stupid reasons like...moving or not enough time...or...get this one...he poops in the back yard...duh 

anyway this is a heart wrenching story...if i had more room i would fill it with more rescues (and have) right now i have 5 dogs 6 cats (plus 5 strays i feed) a cockatiel a 54 inch iguana and 3 fire belly toads...

i checked that database for a rescue in my area...it said none...that's bullshit...so i have to question the validity of that site...but the fact is that this is a growing crisis...go to ur local mall and check out the pet stores that r selling puppies...and the prices...ridiculous prices...most of them will never make it out of that pet store alive...they come from puppy mills so even if someone buys them, they r sick...

how did our little friends that love us so unconditionally, become disposable

[mudmanc4]

Sad but true, it seems to be a " status " thing , who's dog does what and how much it costs. I won't have one, I have enough goin on and would neglect it.

[resopalrabotnick]

you is right momma. their database don't seem to be very big. i guess not all the shelters want the publicity associated with such a potentially offensive website.

although personally i think it's a good idea to get people to consider adoption instead of purchasing. you should have to present signed papers from at least 3 shelters that they didn't have a suitable animal for you before being allowed to purchase one in a store.

[mudmanc4]

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you is right momma. their database don't seem to be very big. i guess not all the shelters want the publicity associated with such a potentially offensive website.

although personally i think it's a good idea to get people to consider adoption instead of purchasing. you should have to present signed papers from at least 3 shelters that they didn't have a suitable animal for you before being allowed to purchase one in a store.

  whoa dude, good in theory, but there we go again w./ all the damn regulations on a supposed free trade society.

[tommie gorman]

That is aqll and good. But... i find the fees you still have to pay to adopt an usually ugly dog that most do not want is not an apetizing idea to what is available in the pset shops. Plus in a pet shop there is a better guarantee. Try to get satisfaction at a dog pound. Why they are full. tThey want too much.

Now if they really wanted folks to adopt they would wave the shot fees if you really want one. 

What should be more important in dogs??? Fixing them in the first place. Thats WHY???

[resopalrabotnick]

Quote

  whoa dude, good in theory, but there we go again w./ all the damn regulations on a supposed free trade society.

maybe. but look at the dogs they sell in stores. overpriced overbred sacks of genetic garbage that more likely than not will develop some breed-typical ailment because it's more inbred than the whole state of arkansas.

[ss]

I too am an animal lover.  Like tdawnaz, we have many animals (and no, I do not mean the human children - I think they poop in the backyard too though) and 3 of our dogs have been rescues of one sort or another.

I feel for these abondoned animals, but sometimes these organizations make the stigma or process too difficult or unnattractive to want to adopt these wonderful creatures.

Our 16 year old dalmation (a rescue) passed 2 months ago. 

MIssing our eldest "daughter" we decided to add another to our family. We went to our local shelter and they wanted $72.50 for adoption fee, $65 spay/neutering fee plus an "investigation fee of $75" because we listed that we have more than 2 animals.  They wanted to see our house, yard,animal beds, supplies, provide the name of our vet and ask our human children questions.  If we passed the inspection then we could drive back (18 miles) and pick up our animal.  If we did not "pass inspection" the investigative fee was not refundable.  Although we could drive back and pick up our other fees.

They also wanted proof that all of our animals were current on vaccinations and had current licenses.

Now, I understand wanting to make sure that an adoption is not undertook lightly, but honestly, we did not feel this "invaded" when we adopted our second human child.

I decided this was a little too much and orchestrated some BS to feed them.  I made up a ficticious vet, coached the kids about questions  (.." yeah daddy shaves the dogs so they dont get fleas - he uses a lot of razors") put 4 porta-cribs in a spare room (we have a weimeraner, golden retriever, cocker spaniel,  a dee-oh-jee (our term for a mutt)) and told the investigator that the animals live in there, told them we did not provide dog food  the aminals ate our leftover vegatables (we are vegans).  We hung a leash on the treadmill as our excercise area.  You name it.   We passed the inspection.  What a joke.

I documented all of this and called our local news.  They were not impressed and could not have cared less.

Heres another one for dog lovers - a large commercial vet center opened up near us.  Our retriever had a small injury (a cut on his rear knee).  We took him there because of convenience.  They quoted $780 for 1 stitch!  I asked them if they were on crack... how much to euthanize the dog?  They calmly answered with $240 - whats worse is they were willing to do it!  I took my baby home and bandage it up myself and he is fine.  That is sick.

I will shut up now... i've rambled way too much and wandered off subject....

[tdawnaz]

well ss...i absolutely love you...c'mere lemme poochie smoochie you... 

[resopalrabotnick]

on the vet.

as for the adoption fees and stuff for the shelters: i see them as a way for them to make a little cash to run their operation.

[ss]

I have no problem with the fees. I understand the costs involved with animals!

But be honest.  Would you rather them state - adopt a dog: $212.00

or 

adopt a dog $138.00 and add $75 becuase you have more than 2 dogs - so we can see if you are fit to adopt?  Then find out that the "fitness test" is total BS?  A ficticious vet, vegan diet, and routinely shaving dogs to eliminate fleas is acceptable?

regarding this article/news:
I just have a problem with the guilt thing - if someone adopts an animal out of kindness and love will definately be a better guardian than one who does it out of guilt and fear.

[tommie gorman]

It in no way has to cost so much, or be so difficult as it is for ss. What she is going through is ridiculous. There is no way if I had to go through that much trouble.

Makes me think harder about pet stores. So much less hassle.

[resopalrabotnick]

i would say the inspection due to the previous ownership is a good idea if it was done properly. the way it was done however...

[mudmanc4]

Quote

maybe. but look at the dogs they sell in stores. overpriced overbred sacks of genetic garbage that more likely than not will develop some breed-typical ailment because it's more inbred than the whole state of arkansas.

100% Agreed! It's sad how they take an animal and change it to suit there needs, ie: status ect.  inbred, Arkanas-------bwaaaaaaahhhhhhhhaaaaa 

[philp]

I got my dog from the Houston SPCA when she was a 10 week old pup. They charge a $65 flat fee for adoptions that includes the first round of shots and the cost of spaying or neutering. Plus the SPCA contracts with some local vets so you can have the animals you adopt checked a little more in-depth for health issues at no cost to you within the first week of ownership.

Sabrina is almost 6 years old now and has been a wonderful dog.