You’re going to love this! We’re talking bandanas for shelter dogs, and we’re starting with some amazing news.
Estimates are that in the 1970s between 12 and 20 million cats and dogs were euthanized in American animal shelters every year. Today, however, that number has dropped dramatically to around three to four million annual euthanizations.
In addition, “in the 1970s there were 67 million pets in American homes, and today there are more than 135 million. In other words, we invite far more animals into our families these days and euthanize far fewer” (Orvis).
Even with the good news, we can’t ignore the concerning statistics about shelter dogs – they’re a call to action we all need to answer.
- 3.3 million dogs enter shelters each year.
- 47% of dogs are re-homed every year.
- 34% of dogs are purchased from breeders while only 23% are obtained from shelters. (ASPCA)
But there are some dedicated facilities and people – like the McKamey Animal Center and Ashley Gibson – who are passionate about helping these animals and working hard to change this situation.
The Hard Facts About Shelter Dogs
Now, of course, not all shelters are the same, and a lot of them do a fine job with the resources they have. But many of them are in fact overpopulated and understaffed and underfunded. And in that kind of shelter environment, the situation is far more dire than the above facts reveal.
Even if adopted, the shelter experience can be deeply traumatic for individual dogs.
Sensory Overload and Fear
When a dog enters a shelter, he or she is immediately faced with overwhelming sensory overload – a barrage of unfamiliar sights and sounds and smells and people.
Understandably, many shelter dogs react with fear, which can lead to behaviors that, sadly, make them appear less adoptable.
Frightened shelter dogs actually act in ways that are uncharacteristic, and the first impression they create isn’t really accurate. Such a dog may not get along with the other dogs and may cower or resist (in any number of ways) human touch.
Simply because they’re scared, dogs often endure extended shelter stays, which is deeply unfair.
Undesirable Dog Color, Breed, and Age
And then there are dogs who start off with the cards stacked against them when it comes to breed and color. According to Zach Skow, founder of Marley’s Mutts, “If your dog is old or an undesirable breed, you can expect him to be euthanized.”
One of those so-called undesirable breeds is the pit bull (which is actually an umbrella term for a cluster of breeds including the Staffordshire terrier). Pit bulls, according to some sources, are the most overbred dogs in this country, and only a few ever make it out of shelters. In fact, in some areas, breed-specific legislation mandates their automatic euthanization.
Other dogs have the simple and unchangeable misfortune of being the wrong color. “Black dogs are 50 percent less likely to be adopted,” Skow noted.
Age is a factor too. Older dogs are less likely to be adopted, and their chances decrease with every passing year of age.
The Threat of Death for Shelter Dogs
At many facilities, shelter dogs are given an “exit date” within days – sometimes within hours – of intake. This exit date is the day they will be euthanized if not adopted.
The number-one factor in determining this date is the temperament test, which is designed to assess and measure a dog’s reactions to both other animals and people.
Shelter dogs who score well on this test are more desirable and more likely to get adopted and get out of the shelter alive. Those who score poorly are deemed a danger to the public and are, as a result, available for adoption only to approved organizations.
But the problem here is that dogs who fail the temperament test often do so owing to habits they have developed while at the shelter – such as becoming food aggressive because they have had to share a kennel with three (or more) other dogs.
McKamey Animal Center – A Bright Spot for Shelter Dogs
One gleam of hope for shelter dogs is that there are increasingly more so-called “no-kill” shelters. These are shelters determined not to euthanize healthy, treatable, or rehabilitatable animals even when at capacity.
These shelters deploy a number of strategies to achieve this goal, including greater utilization of volunteers. What happens, though, is that there wind up being long-term residents in these shelters. But that’s where people like Ashley Gibson come in. (More on her in a bit.)
McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is one such shelter. Their mission statement is: “We create a culture of compassionate care, community engagement and advocacy for animals by providing programs and education that support people and companion animals.”
They do that by offering a constellation of valuable programs and by having a small army of passionate, dedicated volunteers – all of which provides hope for the shelter dogs.
The volunteer programs that make these dogs’ lives so much better include:
The Trailblazer Club
In this program, volunteers take the shelter dogs on walks, hikes, or runs whenever they can during McKamey’s open hours. This allows the dogs some freedom and fresh air and has been proven to promote adoptions.
Volunteers must fill out an application to indicate their experience with dogs in general and shelter dogs in particular as well as the adventure plans, and then go through an orientation with an adoption counselor.
Foster Partners
“Foster partners keep an animal in their home for a limited amount of time, often while the pet recovers from an illness or injury, or foster pets who need the extra socialization and care the home environment gives.
“Studies prove that inviting a shelter animal into your home for a short period of time can change their life – fostering increases their chance of adoption!”
Slumber Paw-ty
What kid doesn’t love a slumber party or, rather, a Slumber Paw-ty for the four-legged ones? This program allows dogs a chance to spend a night or two in the homes of volunteers.
“Many pets find the noise, smells, and chaos of a busy city shelter very stressful. Studies have shown that even one night out of a kennel helps the animal feel more relaxed when they return.” In addition, when a volunteer keeps a pet overnight, the volunteer “can provide much-needed information on what the pet likes and dislikes, which can help find the perfect forever home for them!”
Rescue Partners
This is a program that aims to broaden the scope of adoption possibilities for animals, particularly shelter dogs. McKamey partners with rescue organizations all across the country to fulfill…