Why are we pressured to spay and neuter dogs?
I'm surprised that you've gotten to many knee-jerk reactions from people on here accusing people who don't spay or neuter of being "ignorant and irresponsible." If they are so intelligent and concerned about animal welfare, why don't they read ALL of the medical research (a sampling of which you provided) out there on spaying and neutering. This is not "new" information. Nor is it skewed. These are trained veterianarians and scientists conducting the research, and these things have been known for quite some time. Duh, we all know that spaying and neutering helps control the animal population. But that's only ONE benefit. What if there is only ONE benefit and TEN health risks? What then? We might have fewer unwanted animals, but then more health problems. Is that justified? I agree with you that across-the-board spay and neuter should be questioned, esp. when advocated for animals that are not yet mature.
How do I stop being depressed over returning dog to shelther?
EDIT- thanks for the real answers, for everyone else, you cannot read. I asked for a well socialized, people & dog friendly dog. I live with 2 dogs and 5 roommates. If I ask for a dog that is dog friendly, I do not expect it go after the dogs in my house. I do not expect it to try and bite everyone that comes into my house (esp. when people go in and out all day long). I grew attached to her but training a dog that is aggressive(when you already live with other dogs) is incredibly difficult. After she went after the golden, I didn't think it was safe for the other dogs of anyone else. regular obedience training and training a dog like her are two different things, which most of you dont seem to grasp. It was not safe to keep her in the house so I had to return her. I wish things went differently because it hurts like hell thinking she is back there, but for the safety of my roommates, friends, and dogs, I had to do it. Fo those that actually understood, thank you for the time.
Does it scare little dogs in animal shelters when they hear big dogs barking?
Pounds and animal shelters are scary places for all of the animals! Imagine being lost or abandoned and taken to a large, scary facility where they are put in cages or cells and everyone else there has been lost or abandoned and they are scared and just want to go home. There’s a lot of strange people coming and going and a lot of noise from the barking and meowing cries from the scared animals.Just a few examples of photos from my local city pound:https://www.bismarcknd.gov/Docum...You will often see that the cats in pound or shelter photos are laying in the litter box. That is because when cats are scared, they want to surround themselves with as much of their own scent as possible, and the box provides another semblance of protection because it resembles an enclosed hiding spot (even if it isn’t completely enclosed).You might also notice that small dogs are often described as shy, as in the two examples. They might actually be very outgoing and friendly, but being in that environment makes them fearful and hesitant. Just look at the face of the first puppy— the poor thing is so scared!But to answer the specific question:Dogs understand dog language. And a bark can mean different things. A friendly, greeting bark from a large dog is not necessarily going to scare a smaller dog. But in this environment, everything is scary. Unless the dog has been there long enough to get used to the other animals and people, they are likely to be scared just from, well… everything. In this case, the barking of larger dogs is just one element of a larger environment that is intimidating and scary for all of the animals there.
How to stop feeling guilty over returning dog to shelter?
In taking all the steps you took in your effort to keep the dog, you've already done more than most people would consider, so don't be hard on yourself. It's impossible to tell in a shelter atmosphere whether or not a dog will be a perfect match for a household. It sounds like that dog would be better off living in a quiet house with only one person and no other pets, since she's possessive and not socialized. While it's possible her behavior could improve over time, there's no guarantee that it will, so you did the right thing. Too bad knowing that won't take away your pain. I have a pointer/lab I adopted from the Humane Society when she was 2 1/2. The staff concluded she had been abused because she refused to let people touch her and moved away when spoken to. For reasons I can't begin to explain, I wanted this dog (I live alone) and took the leap. It turns out she's a perfect companion animal so long as she doesn't have to interact with a lot of other people or animals. It was just a matter of the dog finding the right situation for her. The dog you returned might be a wonderful companion in a different setting, so by returning her, you may very well have made her available for that situation. If anything, you should be proud of yourself.
We had to put our dog to sleep due to a stroke and wondered if we made the right decision?
Sorry i meant 30th August 2009. Thank you all for your kind words. No one knows what it feels like to lose a dog until you have done so yourself. I will eventually get another dog but it will never be a replacement for Kip. The hardest thing is coming home to an empty house with no Kip here to meet me at the door. Its amazing how you can miss being woken up at 6:30am by him moaning cause he needs a wee! I even miss having to walk him everyday. I am sure he is up in doggy heaven and happy as he could ever be!
Why aren't muslims permitted to own or pet dogs?
i have recently moved to a primarily muslim country and have been told that muslims are afraid of dogs and their saliva is 'unclean' but i'd like some more information. thanks.
Animal Welfare: Should I take my friend's dogs to the pound?
What makes me sad about this question is that you are not asking how you could help these dogs. You are asking for permission to take the easy out - to put some else's dogs in a car and drive them to a spot where their life is a gamble. It is a grey area here too, you don't know for sure that these dogs are suffering (some dogs clearly do when living in a run, but it does not sound like that here). And the dogs do have a companion, which is possibly why they are not mentally stressed. If these dogs were kennel stressed, your description would be entirely different and the animal welfare folks would have had a very different reaction. So it is not our place as humans to choose life or death in this scenario, and possibly even if they were truly stressed.If you really cared for the welfare of these dogs, you would ask the following "What can I do to enrich or improve their lives" as opposed to asking for permission to kill them. Because the answer to that one is extremely simple, and benefits all parties. If the neighbor is willing for you to choose whether they live, without a doubt they will let you take the dogs for a short walk (which is truly a wonderful thing for your stress and well being too), toss the ball in the back yard for the dogs for five minutes, toss some treats into their dog run and talk to them whenever you pass by (no extra time out of your day!), buy a few Kong toys and freeze some food in them and give them that (keeps them entertained for an hour) - whatever you're able to spend and it doesn't have to be more than five minutes. The dogs will notice, feel cared for, have something to anticipate, and enjoy your presence. Want to make their week? Borrow them and take a trip out somewhere for a short hike or to the park. And while you're at it, start using your contacts to find people who might be interested in fostering or adopting them, and introduce them to the owners. Maybe a good match would be made, and the dogs will find a home more suited to them.I wish that is what you asked us here.Please consider what you can do in a positive way, that doesn't involve you leading these dogs to a possible and unnecessary death.
How to pass a dog adoption home evaluation?
Basically they are going to come into the house to make sure that everything in your house is safe for the dog. They will examine your yard, for the fencing, poisonous plants growing around the area, how the yard is maintained, obviously a junkyard in the backyard is not going to look great or safe to them. If you have other animals, they want to see how the other animals are in the home. Are they comfortable in the home? Do they show signs of fear? They may ask how are you going to keep your dog safe, from chemicals in the house to other items that could potentially get hurt with. If you have any children they may want to see how the children interact in the home, to make sure the dog will be comfortable there. Is your home clean? Droppings picked up... All in all, they just want to make sure the dog will be going to a safe environment, they also want to see if you have prepped for the dog to make sure he or she cannot get into trouble or danger. If your home is clean and non hazardous you should be fine. Just be honest.