SHELTER DOG SPOILERS

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Sue Sternberg is definitely a controversial figure. The part with Beau disturbed me as well. I truly think that he could have been rehabilitated. I do think in her mind, however, she felt like they could not in good conscience adopt him out into another home and that euthanasia was the best option. I don't agree - I think even with the resource guarding and since he was a specific breed, they could have found a rescue organization for cocker spaniels that would have taken him and worked with him.

A comment I got from my shelter trainers group was interesting though, so I am going to throw it out. A behaviorist from the group made the point that if you spend too much time trying to rehabilitate one dog, you run the risk of 5 totally adoptable dogs being put down due to issues of space. Unfortunately it happens on a daily basis. At my shelter I have to avoid the days the vet comes to euthanize dogs. I'll be quite honest - I don't want to know. Maybe I am putting my head in the sand, but I try really hard to focus on the dogs that have been evaluated as adoptable and work with them.

Another thing about the film that disturbed me, was the shots of the no kill shelter. I personally would rather see the dogs humanely euthanized than living in conditions like that for the rest of their lives. It really hit home, because just recently in this area a "rescue facility" was shut down and the dogs were transfered to the spca. (This wasn't publicized - the animal control officers told me about it). While well intentioned, the dogs were sick, malnurished and socially inept. All but one of them had to be euthanized do to health or behavioral issues. Because this woman could not make the decision, there were dogs that had been living in cages for 5 years, covered in feces with little human contact. Some of them had gotten into fights and had bones and wounds that had never healed. Very sad.

Most rescue organizations know their limits and only take dogs they can care for. We use rescue organizations at the shelter all the time. But so many times the answer is "I'm sorry - we have no room right now" and since we are an animal control facility the staff there sometimes has to make tough choices. I know I couldn't do it.

I am glad the film was made. I hope it will open people's eyes to the problem of pet overpopulation. Until we have a national mandatory spay/neuter program for mixed breeds that is low or no cost for everyone, and breeding regulated more for purebred dogs - the problem is not going to go away.