The anger inside
Volunteering as I do, I see many things which make me angry.
Animals brought into the shelter in the most horrific condition you can imagine. Covered with fleas and ticks, some are so skinny you can count every rib in their body.
At least once they arrive on a shelter's doorstep, they can be properly cared for or humanely euthanized if there is no medical hope left.
The angry part comes in when the animals which have so lovingly been cared for while awaiting a new home, are found wandering along the interstate. All rescues want animals adopted from them, returned to them if the owner's circumstances change. Why wouldn't they do that? Why would they dump an animal out on the side of the road to be hit by a car, or killed by a wild animal? To starve to death while trying to find their owners?
The story of Rocket and Mason is a sad one. Both are senior dogs, raised together. One, Mason, is a pure Dalmation, full of energy and life (and spots) who was a tad overweight and just a wiggly, happy dog. Rocket is a GSD mix who was a little more reserved than Mason, but just as nice a dog.
They were brought to the shelter when their elderly owner could no longer care for them and charged us with finding them a new home. We hoped we could find someone who would adopt them both, so they could be together like they had always been.
After several months in the shelter, they were adopted together by a person who met the adoption guidelines and we all breathed a sigh of relief. We were so happy they went home together and did not have to be separated. We just didn't know what was in store for them.
Several weeks ago they were both found wandering in the neighboring county and were picked up by Animal Services. They were in horrible shape and looked worse than worse. Mason, who had been a tad chubby was skinny, with sores and bald spots all over his beautiful coat and Mason was so thin you could count every knob of his spine, every rib and his hip bones jutted out like sharp points.
The listed owner was called and she said she had given the dogs away to someone else and didn't want them back. I believe she did not care for the dogs properly and dumped them instead of returning them to us. Why?
This is what makes me angry. Why adopt a dog, or two dogs when you know you cannot or will not care for them properly?
They are back with us now. We will nurse them back to health and hopefully, send them out again to a home where they will be appreciated. If you would like to know more, please call 941-955-4131 and ask about Rocket and Mason. You can check out here at the website at www.hssc.org.
Comments
I think you said it when you asked when you are given an "out", why not take it? Especially when there are no questions asked. Is there a clause in the adoption contract that says you HAVE to return to the shelter it was adopted from? If so, and money was no option, is there a way for the shelter to go after someone who didn't return the dog to the shelter if they couldn't keep it (a la Ellen Degeneres incident)? Would this discourage people from adopting an animal? I guess I just don't get it that if you can surrender no questions asked to a place like the shelters and rescues we have here on the Suncoast, why wouldn't you do it? Human nature is so frustrating sometimes!
This would not stop them from going elsewhere, only to the shelter I volunteer at. As far as prosecution goes, no one saw them dump the animals. And the animals can't tell us what happened. So it then becomes a he said/she said situation.
Frustration? you got it. I was just raised better than that. We humans who actually care about animals will always have a hard time understanding people who don't.