A Dogs Life in Up and Downs
Dog care seems to be one of societies greatest undermined problems as streets begin to become littered with stray dogs. On Average there are 7.6 million animals put into shelters nationwide. A whopping 3.9 million relates specifically to dogs, and to make matters even more precarious 2.7 million are put down. And only 1.3 million are adopted, is it the dog’s fault? Or are humans to blame for not properly caring for them. Dogs have an instinct to reproduce and a fertile dog will reproduce on average once a year and this deals with 4-6 puppies on average. The major reason why dogs are given away or why there let loose is because there residence does not allow them to have them. Dogs that leave their homes without the owner’s consent is due to lack of knowledge by the dog owner on how to care for them. Is this really a way to treat mans best friend? Every one can make a change and this is how.
Before having a puppy a owner must know what supplies to have for his/her puppy these supplies include, but are not limited to: two bowls, a bed, toys, puppy treats, puppy food, grooming tools, harness, and tag. Some of these supplies are not necessary but they are recommended. A dog tag and leach is one of the most important of them all because if someone finds a dog and it has a tag they will more then likely try to locate the owner and if a shelter finds them they will make sure to return them. If you are buying a puppy you will need to make sure that the puppy you are getting is the one that you want/need. Choosing a puppy that you do not want/need leads to a loss of interest and eventually inattention of the dog, because once you choose the puppy you'll have to know how to care for it. One must also be aware...
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There are about ten thousand puppy mills nationwide. (ISAR) There may be even more puppy mills than we know because they are unlicensed and do it in their own homes. These thousands of puppy mills are taking advantage of the breeding abilities of female dogs. There are over two million puppies bred in these mills per year. (PMP) That is more puppies than the entire population of Houston, Texas! The worst part about this is that one 1.2 million dogs are euthanized in shelters every year because no one will adopt them. (PMP) I, along with thousands of other people, believe that it is completely ridiculous that puppies are being killed because of unpleasant human beings. They deserve to have a full life and not be put to sleep because there is not enough good people in this world to take care of them and give them the life that they deserve. If you decide to purchase a puppy from a pet store, it keeps the cycle strong by encouraging more breeding, which leads to even more killing of the canine’s. (ISAR) However, if you adopt a dog from a rescue facility, it saves the puppies lives. If we stop the breeders from breeding more dogs, this would settle down and nearly all the dogs in the world will have a home. But to fix this problem, we need to get attention towards the breeders and have them
It does little to address the main problem: irresponsible owners. As animals, dog’s do not have the same moral compass as humans. It is an owner’s job to train, socialize, vaccinate, neuter, license, and provide all necessary living essentials for their pet. Establishing and enforcing leash laws is also important in ensuring the safety of others. Citizens should be educated in knowing dog body language, behaviors that are safe around a dog, and what to when a dog shows hostility. Children not old enough to understand these guidelines should require adult supervision. Taking these steps will help prevent more victims from experiencing the physical and emotional pain related to a
(1999). Dogs in animal shelters: Problems, suggestions, and needed expertise. American Psychological Society, 10 (5), 379 – 386.
According to the article “Pet Statistics” by the ASPCA estimates there are 70-80 million dogs and 74-96 million cats owned in the United States. It is impossible to determine the number of stray dogs and cats, but the ASPCA estimates there are 70 million cats alone that are strays in the US (“Pet Statistics”). The overpopulation of dogs and cats live either on the streets and die each day, they live in a shelter and try to get adopted, but even then they die. The ASPCA states that nationwide about 7.6 million companion animals enter the shelter and of the 7.6 million approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats (“Pet Statistics”).
When you look at someone’s pet you may not think it can teach you anything or do anything for you besides being there for you. However, a study in Austria, conducted by Pauleen Bennett and Jordan Schaan, discovered that pets became “instructors” for their owners in living a better life. “People felt they could derive unconditional love and forgiveness from their dogs, whereas human beings seemed more likely to disappoint one another” (Yuhas, 1). This statement reveals how negatively humans view each other. If a person rather be with an
Animal shelters are overflowing with dogs; this is a well known fact. For some dogs, this stay at a shelter is a quick stop, and for others, it may last a lifetime, but for the purpose of this essay, the dogs spoken of will be thought of at no-kill shelters. Two breeds find it increasingly hard to catch the eye of their potential adopters: Those two breeds are the Pit bull and the Chihuahua. Why would these two breeds have such a hard time being adopted? Pit bulls and Chihuahuas are greatly overlooked in shelters, and this essay will compare and contrast the things that keep these dogs in shelters; such things are physical appearance, common stereotypes, and behaviors that will either lead to adoption or deter potential adopters.
Many of you have been to the pet store in your local malls, and strolled around while looking at the different breeds of puppies in the small cages. Some may be sleeping, some may be biting the other puppy they’re living with and others may be in the corner frightened. Everyone has seen the depressing commercial, showing pictures of sad looking animals, asking for donations, with the Sarah McLachlan song playing in the background. Many of those puppies come from puppy mills. Defined by ASPCA, which stands for The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that places profit over the well being of its dogs—who are often severely neglected—and acts without regard to responsible breeding practices. We need to stop buying puppies from commercial pet stores and online puppy scams, and we need to start adopting them from responsible breeders, rescue organizations, and shelters or pounds. Caroline Earle White, a leader in preventing the cruelty to animals, was a huge part in opening the first animal shelter, and was a big believer in treating animals well. (Beers 9) When you adopt from shelters or rescue organizations, you are saving a puppy from a life full of malnourishment, lack of love, and exposure to numerous diseases, giving it a home and no longer fueling the puppy mill industry.
Scooby Doo. Toto. Snoopy. We all know and love these dogs as characters and as sidekicks (and best friends) to their human counterparts. Known for their incredible ability to bond with humans and their generally unconditionally loving personalities, dogs are arguably the most beloved animal in modern culture. Because of this, it may come as a surprise to most that there are an estimated 600 million homeless dogs in the world, which means that the stray dog population is almost twice the human population of the United States (Huffington Post). These shocking numbers are due to a multitude of reasons, but the main factor in this devastating predicament is overpopulation. The stray dog population not only affects the animals themselves but can affect the human population as well, from spreading deadly untreated diseases such as rabies to affecting tourism and therefore having economic consequences. Solving this dilemma, however, can be as simple as spaying and neutering dogs to avoid overpopulation.
Relevance: I’m sure that many of you have been tempted to buy a puppy while scrolling through the numerous websites online filled with cute pictures of healthy looking puppies.
They say that a dog is a man’s best fried, but they don’t tell you about the overall cost, responsibility, or convenience about adopting one. Dogs are supposed to bring so much joy to a household, but sometimes they can only fill a void for a short amount of time. When a dog owner buys a dog, do they actually research the things that they are about to get in to? When I bought my dog, Skye, I never really looked into is issues; I just looked at the benefits. I love Skye to death, and I guess I could say that she also loves me to death. Even though someone rescuing a dog may think they are doing something great; they are causing an issue on how they will forever live their life.
Anyone, who visits an animal shelter, as I do, sees an extraordinary number of beautiful, affectionate, and desperate dogs and cats. The majority of animals in any particular shelter are dogs, usually adults, for whom there aren't enough adoptive homes waiting. A few may have come from responsible breeders, whose owners do not realize that the breeder will take them back,many are those who are lost, and/or from owners who simply got tired of them. Some are pet shop puppies from a puppy mill that did not meet the owner's expectations due to health, temperament, or other reasons. A large number usually turn out to be the result of deliberate and irresponsible home breeding. These people are known as "back-yard breeders." And that is not a compliment.
“A dog is a man’s best friend” goes much deeper than the phrase might initially imply. Recently many medical journals have begun to identify with the many and varied benefits of pet ownership. Men have always relied upon animals for work, transportation, and survival. As times have changed, man has begun to appreciate a different bond with animals. Gone are the days of animals running free outside around the homestead, for now animals are allowed inside and are considered by many to be an integral part of our daily lives! Medical studies have found that animals have a much greater intelligence level than originally thought. Through proper training and experience, animals are not only household pets, but also are becoming an accepted form of medical treatment.
It is a sad truth that many animals in the United States are without homes. In fact, four million cats and dogs are put down in animal shelters annually (“Pet Overpopulation”). However, there is one organization trying to change this statistic. The Progressive Animal Welfare Society is focused on giving animals a home, as well as educating the public about animal care.
Dogs are wonderful creatures. They are loyal, dependable companions if given the opportunity. In recent years I have come to the opinion that we could learn something from these animals. We should also take a look at the manner in which they are being treated. Abandonment, irresponsible breeding, and neglect are only some of the ways that humans are failing the canine species.
The carers alone cannot give as much attention to the dogs as they need since there are too many of them. This made me learn that the general public can make a huge difference simply by paying a visit every once in a while to spend time with these dogs who are so deprived from attention.