Neighbor News
How to Prevent Dogs From Getting in Shelter
These Are Some Good Things to Know Before Getting a Dog.
Dogs are known as “man's best friend” and bring so much joy, but did you know that about 3.1 million dogs end up in a shelter every year, and 390,000 of those dogs get euthanized? A reason the number of dogs in shelters is large happens to be due to improper research from the owner. These fantastic animals require care that many aren’t ready for. Average-sized dogs live around 12-14 years, which can be a substantial commitment, and many people don’t realize they live that long. I will now tell you what you must do so your dog doesn’t end up in a shelter.
You have to realize the commitment it takes to own a dog financially. Dogs can cost up to $9,000 a year! Dogs usually will have a cost of $700 to $1,500 a year in vet bills. Dogs also will take up an abundance of time which many people don’t have. If you don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on a dog walker, you’ll have to walk them yourselves, which is the thing that takes up the most time. Generally, dogs need about a couple of hours of attention a day which many people aren’t ready for.
You must be ready for sudden changes to your schedule and how you’ll take care of your dog throughout that time. Many dogs get abandoned due to sudden unforeseen changes in their owner's schedule. You should have a plan for what you should do if you can’t take care of your dog. You should have a trusted caretaker to help in case you can’t take care of the dog at that time, such as a neighbor or a friend that lives nearby.
Dogs occasionally end up in shelters because their owner can no longer manage them. These situations usually aren’t the owner's fault because they can develop unexpected health problems that impede their ability to care for a dog. One of the worst things could be the owner undergoing an unexpected death, so the dog cannot get proper care. Some dogs get sent to shelters because the owners have either never known they had a dog allergy or they developed a dog allergy. It’s good to have a plan for the unlikely chance this happens, such as a friend to give the dog to so it doesn’t have to go to the shelter.
Most dogs, especially puppies, need a while to adjust to a new environment. Dogs brought into a new area might not be as playful as some expect. Some puppies will also be a pain to clean up after because they can make a big mess. The fact that some people expect their dogs to be immediately perfect will lead them to abandon them, which is not good. You must be ready and responsible to take on the challenge of handling a puppy.
You must be ready to help your dog throughout illness or financial irregularities. You must ensure that you will have enough resources to attend to a dog. Dogs are animals that require lots of attention, and as a responsible owner, you must be 100% ready to take care of them. If everybody properly researches and confirms that they can correctly tend to a dog, the 3.1 million dogs in shelters and the 390,000 euthanized dogs a year can be greatly reduced. You should make sure you’re ready before you get a dog.
My name is Nathan (Nate) Butts and I’m a student at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Illinois.
https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/pet-adoption-statistics/#:~:text=Every%20year%20over%206.3%20million,animals%20in%20the%20shelter%20population.
https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/animal-shelter-statistics/
https://www.foundanimals.org/why-do-animals-end-up-in-animal-shelters/
https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/pet-adoption-statistics/