by Randy Grim
Dogs are often chosen because they are a particular breed—one that’s recently been featured in a popular movie, TV show, or commercial, like a current trendy hairstyle. Another high priority is the color of the dog. If you are a black dog—uh-oh ... your chances of adoption are pretty low. Rarely do prospective adoptive families look for personality traits that are a good match for them, or think about what level of energy is best suited for their lifestyle. Hordes of perfect companions with the most loving and loyal personalities are passed over in favor of those with a high “cuteness” quotient—you know, the Benji factor. Just as beauty in humans is more valued in our society than a great personality and a generous heart, the funny-looking dog, the all-black one, and those with the not-so-perfect bodies (like most of us two-legged beings) are doomed most of the time. I think the voluminous number of those “make me perfect” reality television shows contribute to the problem. It drives me nutty to know that all of this unconditional love is euthanized so effortlessly and with such lack of blame.
Our twenty-first century society increasingly expects all relevant information to be simply handed to us. Maybe we don’t stop to consider what we know versus what we don’t know about our companion animals. Maybe we think we have the innate intelligence to guide us in raising our kids and our dogs. Consequently, when our new pet gets too big, is too energetic, or isn’t playful enough, it’s not our fault. The problem must lie with the pet, so off he goes to the nearest animal shelter. Since most pets are delivered to “humane” shelters, our guilt is somewhat alleviated; after all, it wasn’t our fault. It was entirely Fido’s doing. As long as we avoid learning the statistics of how many animals actually make it out of the shelters (only a small percentage get adopted), we can live with the “humane” fantasy we’ve created in order to cope with the reality.
There is a good chance that many of us will “try” again, bringing home another dog, hoping that this time our new pet will be as perfect as the ones from the commercials and the Westminster Dog Show. Unless we take the time to learn patience, along with the basics of dog behavior, and unless we’re willing to give our new companion plenty of time and attention, chances are that our poorly chosen pet will experience a short life.
Research has shown that most animals are relinquished to a shelter because of behavioral issues, which are caused by a variety of contributing factors. One colossal reason is the mass production of puppies in commercial kennels (puppy mills) and the lack of responsible breeding practices by backyard breeders, which lead to numerous health and behavioral issues that many guardians with varying degrees of commitment can’t or won’t handle.
Animals bred and raised in puppy mills are subject to every disease known to man and dog. They are often kept in cramped cages all their young lives without any contact with humans or other dogs, which in turn can do a number on the canine psyche. Their unsuspecting new families often find themselves with a dog who is terrified of open spaces, is incapable of being house-trained in a timely fashion, and who, bewildered by the gigantic humans around him, reacts by being aggressive or by peeing on the floor at the sight of anything over two feet tall. Solution: off to the pound, the dumping ground.
Most people don’t realize what constitutes a puppy mill. In actuality, the term “canine concentration camp” would be more apt. Breeding adult dogs are not given adequate housing, food, exercise, or attention, and usually, little to no medical care. Consequently, they are experiencing hunger, pain, and illness on a daily basis, which naturally causes aggression. Most are unable to properly care for their puppies because their own health is so compromised. Puppies are often weaned away from their mothers and separated from their siblings way too early when sold to brokers. These intermediaries care for the puppies until they are sold to a pet store. This lack of bonding with their mothers and siblings causes many socialization issues that affect the dog (and their adoptive family) later in life.
Plenty of research has shown that this inadequate socialization at a young age leads to a high incidence of dominance-type aggression, as well as fear/defensive aggression. Consequently, these puppy-mill dogs are genetically inferior, both physically and emotionally. Research has also shown that more than fifty genetic diseases can predispose an animal toward aggression/behavioral issues.
Other causes of behavioral issues not related to puppy-mill breeding include chaining or tethering animals for long periods of time, and extended periods of isolation. Animals feel secure when they are part of a pack, and being left alone for twelve hours a day while their “family” pack is at work (and happy hour) is very stressful to companion animals. Likewise, reinforcing unwanted behaviors with attention or inducing fear through violence and threatening mannerisms can result in a dog behaving poorly. Lack of exercise and mental stimulation can also lead to destructive behaviors, as animals have a great deal of energy that needs to be expended daily. (This sounds almost human, doesn’t it?)
Only 12 to 14 percent of dogs are adopted from shelters nationally. The average age of an animal that enters a shelter is between six and eighteen months. Approximately 85 percent of those “in the market” for a pet desire a dog younger than one year old. Older dogs have virtually no chance for adoption; their stay in the shelter is usually a brief interlude before death. Even though the senior dogs are usually the easiest to deal with, they don’t have much hope, as youth usually wins out. The stigma attached to shelter animals is that they are “used goods” and must somehow be defective. It certainly doesn’t help that most are mixed breeds, although purebreds do make up one-quarter of the nation’s shelter population.
More than 27,000 animals are destroyed every day; more than 1,000 are destroyed every hour; and one animal is destroyed every minute of every hour of every day. A very alarming statistic.
Let’s not forget that we are dealing with a life here—a new family member who has emotional needs, who feels most secure when part of a “family” pack, and who experiences an array of emotions ranging from pain and loss to joy and depression. As a society, don’t we all consider ourselves highly evolved human beings who respect life, have strong family values, try to feed the hungry and aid the suffering of those less fortunate? The only difference between humans and animals is our native language. Humans and dogs have all the same body parts and functions, along with intelligence and feelings. Experts feel that our four-legged family member is basically the same as a four-year-old child (which I always saw as a plus, but I must be in the minority). Their ability to learn is about the same; they love life and get very energized when good things happen; they eat with gusto, love to be cuddled, and to play and play and play. Although many animal guardians “get it,” way too many don’t. Why is that?
Many good, hardworking people often inherit the mentality that the family dog is basically disposable property—a common trait passed down unconsciously. It’s time for these people to wake up and smell the Milk-Bones.
I could have made this book merely a bitching session, but my bona fide reason to write this book is to give potential “dumpers” a chance at redemption—an opportunity to deal with and solve the problems of their companion animal before burdening their local shelter, already bursting at the seams. It is also a book for us “normal” guardians with problem pooches.
Between us, my hope is that you won’t give up on the one true loyal being in your life, the family dog. You know, man’s best friend? And hopefully, you will be “trained” to do right by your companion animal and will not end up in my next book.
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