Boomerang dogs
Anyone who works in the animal welfare field knows what a boomerang dog is. These are dogs which are adopted and then brought back, adopted out again, and brought back again. This can go on through several families until the dog either finds the perfect one, or is placed in a sanctuary where they will live the rest of their lives, or is euthanized.
Boomerang dogs tend to be euthanized more in shelters than any other dog, even a dog with behavior issues. Many shelters have a three strike rule. If a dog comes back three times, they are killed to make room for another more "adoptable" dog.
The issue that bothers me about this whole scenario is the dog has no choice. A human makes the choice for the dog and the dog has to live with it. I have watched people try and force animals on adopters because they were so anxious to make more room for another animal, they gave no thought to what it may do to the dog. I don't think these are necessarily bad people, they are just not looking at the big picture.
Think about this scenario: A family comes in to adopt a dog. Your favorite of 30 animals seems like the perfect match for the family. You don't pay attention to how they shy away from the kids, or how when Dad laughs, the hair stands up on the dog's back. All you can see is happy. This is because you want the dog to find a home. You want them out of the shelter. So the family adopts the dog and leaves. After a month, the honeymoon period some call it, the dog begins acting up. He snapped at Dad or the kids, he demolished the bedroom. He chased after the cat. He did all those things which he warned you he would do with his actions and reactions while you knew him. He became comfortable in his new home and began acting like he would in any home. Guess what? He is now coming back to the shelter because he didn't act that way when the family first met him. He was wonderful on the 45 minute visit the first time around. Whose fault is it?
I challenge anyone who works in the adoption field to ask questions, watch the animal's behavior when around a potential family. Don't gloss over the dog's issues. Be honest with people.
You will always have animals returned. That is human nature. What you don't want are the boomerang dogs. They might not be lucky enough to go back to a shelter who will value them and may end up dead.
Boomerang dogs tend to be euthanized more in shelters than any other dog, even a dog with behavior issues. Many shelters have a three strike rule. If a dog comes back three times, they are killed to make room for another more "adoptable" dog.
The issue that bothers me about this whole scenario is the dog has no choice. A human makes the choice for the dog and the dog has to live with it. I have watched people try and force animals on adopters because they were so anxious to make more room for another animal, they gave no thought to what it may do to the dog. I don't think these are necessarily bad people, they are just not looking at the big picture.
Think about this scenario: A family comes in to adopt a dog. Your favorite of 30 animals seems like the perfect match for the family. You don't pay attention to how they shy away from the kids, or how when Dad laughs, the hair stands up on the dog's back. All you can see is happy. This is because you want the dog to find a home. You want them out of the shelter. So the family adopts the dog and leaves. After a month, the honeymoon period some call it, the dog begins acting up. He snapped at Dad or the kids, he demolished the bedroom. He chased after the cat. He did all those things which he warned you he would do with his actions and reactions while you knew him. He became comfortable in his new home and began acting like he would in any home. Guess what? He is now coming back to the shelter because he didn't act that way when the family first met him. He was wonderful on the 45 minute visit the first time around. Whose fault is it?
I challenge anyone who works in the adoption field to ask questions, watch the animal's behavior when around a potential family. Don't gloss over the dog's issues. Be honest with people.
You will always have animals returned. That is human nature. What you don't want are the boomerang dogs. They might not be lucky enough to go back to a shelter who will value them and may end up dead.
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