The Future of Dogs in an Animal Rights America
by Walt Hutchens



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If healthy puppies and kittens are rarely euthanized by shelters, there is no overpopulation -- that is, the birth rate in that species is reasonably matched to the demand. If shelter euthanasias of adoptable animals are excessive, then it's because there's a higher rate of relinquishment of adults (usually young adults) than adoptions of these animals. This situation is best attacked on several fronts:

Relinquishment rates can be reduced by:

1. Establishment of and support for 'new owner' classes;

2. Publicizing pet-problem solving resources such as problem solving trainers, obedience and problem behavior classes, and selected email lists -- a list of good ones should be compiled;

3. Promoting owner/pet activities such as dog parks and pet carnivals. Owners who do things with pets are much less likely to relinquish them; and

4. Supporting obtaining of pets from sources that provide evaluation and matching of pet to home, support the home after the sale, and guarantee take-back if the pet cannot be kept. Sources that meet these criteria include quality pet rescues (lists should be maintained; do *not* go just by 501(c) 3 status but check the policies); responsible in-home breeders of dogs and cats.

Animal shelters cannot meet all of those requirements but can be encouraged to work as much as possible through rescuers who use entirely volunteer labor to do the many hours extra work required. This shelter-rescue partnership is natural but may be resisted on both sides; the payoffs are large enough to make it worth some effort.

Local pet clubs such as kennel and dog obedience clubs and cat fancier groups can often be encouraged to help with these tasks and the public cost is often minimal.

Adoption rates for adults can be raised by:

1. Advertising and marketing of available animals. Many pet stores and chains with pet sections will provide bulletin board space for photos and shelter contact information. Newspapers and small radio stations may do the same. Adoptathons and adoption days conducted by shelter volunteer groups will help. Large pet chain stores may provide in-house space for periodic adoption events.

2. Training shelter workers to evaluate a family's situation and promote an adult rather than a puppy or kitten when appropriate. This cannot be done simply by saying "We don't have any puppies" -- it requires engagement and discussion with a trained person. In general, a family that won't have an adult human at home nearly all of most days will do better with a selected adult pet than with a puppy or kitten because the latter requires on-demand attention and training plus steady supervision, throughout the day.

Minimizing the placement of puppies and kittens in homes that lack all day adult supervision will also reduce relinquishment rates because just as with children, unsupervised puppies often become poorly behaved young adults.

3. Promotion of 'seniors for seniors' programs can help get older pets (often considered unadoptable) into homes. Older pets are calmer, behavior problems are much less common, and their shorter remaining lifespan is a better match to those older humans who want a pet but can't assume a ten to twenty year commitment.

The benefits in properly matched homes are large for both the pet and the human. These programs are best handled by cooperation between shelters and volunteer groups because they require careful pet/home matching and some ongoing support. For example help with vet trips and a backup plan for pet care in case the client is temporarily unavailable or incapacitated can be offered.