Shelter Shock

Dog rescue is not for sissies. It is certainly one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, but it is also one of the hardest. I wouldn't even call myself "a dog person." I actually prefer cats when it comes to pets. But I would say I am an animal lover and my heart goes out to the plight of shelter dogs more than any other creature on this earth. It isn't as if we can neuter or spay them and release them all back into nature to fend for themselves. These are not wild animals that have merely been tamed. Poodles, Spaniels and Corgis are not skipping around the forests and fields of North America. They don't exist in nature. We have designed and manufactured them to be our little buddies, completely unable to fend for themselves and worse than that, to be totally miserable without us.

Dogs caged in a shelter with limited human contact and the constant sounds of barking grow more and more insecure and stressed as time passes. Perhaps one could debate that it is kinder to destroy them than to leave them to a life of incarceration, devoid of human contact and affection.

When I bring an animal out from the shelter, almost all of them to some degree have what I call "shelter shock." How long it takes them to recover depends on the dog and also the foster home. I can't bring them home with me. I wish I could, but we already have four dogs with dubious backgrounds and I have promised my husband my rescues won't spend the night at our house again. I think that is fair, bringing them into our home in the past has been quite disruptive on the both of us and our canine pack of four. 

Shelter shock means to me that the dog has lost his trust in his world and needs some "normal time" to regain it. This is sometimes just hours but it can be several weeks depending on the dog and the shelter experience for that particular dog. Even as you are driving away from the shelter the dog may appear fearful and confused. Once you have them safe at home, all sorts of problems begin to emerge. They may have forgotten their toilet training skills - this is a common one. They may shake, growl, cower and appear nervous and aggressive with your other animals or family members. They may sleep a lot, refuse food, develop respiratory infections, be destructive or just follow you around to the point that they are dangerously underfoot. Often they have such severe separation anxiety that they will cry, bark or howl constantly and loudly which means you are unable to go about your day for fear the neighbors will call the police.  


Of course, we can't do without shelters. There will always be circumstances that force someone to give up their beloved pet and indeed, animals manage to get themselves lost from time to time and end up there before being reunited with their owners. But according to the Humane Society of America, somewhere between 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year! This is our shame and completely unnecessary and worse, totally preventable. Every one of those sweet faces staring out from behind  bars is hopeful and trusting, with a loving heart and a pure soul and I believe has a right as our "creation" to be treasured and respected.