When is it ok to dump a dog?
An astronomical number of dogs are Dumped throughout this country, and every other country in the world. I think it's impossible to get any kind of an accurate count. Rescue shelters along with City Animal Control offices report the numbers to the ASPCA here in the US, and to the RSPCA in the United Kingdom.
In the UK alone the RSPCA is contacted and given information about an abandoned dog on average of one every hour. Between January and April of 2010, (just 4 months) 4,966 dogs were abandoned, an increase of 10.3 per cent from 2009. That's over 1000 a month! Last year authorities in Swindon and east London, picked up around 345 stray dogs, and 20 every day, had to be "put down", because they went unclaimed or could not be re-homed. The Dogs Trust, UK's largest dog welfare charity, revealed that the number of abandoned pets has reached an 11 year high - up by four per cent over the previous year.
Now let's take a close look at Abandoned dog's in the US!
According to, IN Defense of Animals USA (IDAUSA), it is estimated that between six and eight million cats and dogs enter animal shelters every year!
Do you want to Know how many make it out alive?
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that approximately three to four million pets are killed yearly in shelters across the United States.
Many dogs escape and wander off to the point of being lost, while others are deliberately being dropped off on the side of a county road. In past post I have discussed the need for Micro-chipping in order to locate a lost dog; but, here I discuss intentional Dog Dumping and the consequences if caught!
As a child who grew up on the edge of town on a small farm. I remember when there were as many as 6-10 dogs a month being dropped off on the side of the road in the woods across the street. I eye witnessed many of the drop off's and sometimes people barely slowed down as they tossed a single dog, or a box, of unwanted puppies or kitten's. If they weren't killed by passing motorist, we (my sister and brother included) would always take them home to the farm, and pass them on to friends or relatives. Our parent's made repeated trips to the local vet to drop off others. The Veterinarian would then contact Animal control to come and get them. As children our parents would shied us from the painful truth, and assure us, that they would find good homes through the Vet clinic, for which we would learn the truth, later on.
With the current economic downturn's choking consumer budgets, people are beginning to realize that they can't feed or provide medical care for their pets. What many people don't realize is, that there is a right way of Dumping off an unwanted pet.
In Texas (Section 42.09 of the Texas Penal Code), abandoning an animal is punishable by a minimum of 180 days in jail, or up to a maximum of 2 years. There can also be a fine up to $10,000.
In Georgia it's illegal, except in the case that the dog is dead, then it must be dumped properly...§ 4-8-2. Dumping dead dog on public property or public right-of-way! "No person shall abandon a dead dog on any public property or public right of way unless the place in which the dog is being left is a public dump or other facility designed for receiving such and has been designated by the local governmental authorities as a public facility for receiving trash or refuse and the provisions of Code Section 4-5-3 are complied with in full."
In Wisconsin during May of 2011-A new law was Passed and "Dog Dumping" became an epidemic as the result of a new law passed affecting dog breeder's, often referred to as "Puppy Mill's"
"According to the new law, breeders who sell 25 or more dogs a year from more than three litters must apply for a license, and it’s quickly becoming apparent that a large number of them are not willing to subject to regulation as area shelters buckle under the weight of incoming abandoned purebreds.
One week before the new law took effect regulating the number of dogs they are allowed to possess, breeders in Wisconsin were dumping dogs in record numbers – setting them loose to fend for themselves."
A local newspaper quoted one breeder as saying "There is an awful lot of what we call dumping going on, and that’s just pulling along the side of the road and dumping them off, or throwing them over the wall at the local humane society.” A local shelter was trying to get the word out, saying " They don’t have to do that,” adding that, anyone can surrender an animal to the shelter, free of charge. “We want people to be comfortable bringing us a dog. We’re not going to judge you.”
A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said the new law gave breeders time to sell their dogs and shut down their businesses. “They didn't have to just set the dogs free, they had ample time to sell the dog's"
The bottom line here is that there are always humane options for the disposal of an unwanted pet!
Here at Pampered Pet's and Pal's we are not a 501c non profitable organization!
We are a small group of concerned citizen's who saw a need and took action to correct an ongoing issue with the abandonment of pet's immediately following hurricane Katrina. It began with the simple act of dropping off food and shelter supplies to connecting potential adopter's with adoptee's to secure Forever homes. We work mainly with Dog's since it is our field of expertise. Through this task we are asked to assist with Cat's for the same service's, and have no issue's, "whenever possible", with the handling and transport of them as well. But; as one can assume, not all Dog's get along well with Cat's, and vise verse. However we do provide services for both species.
At Pampered Pet's and Pal's (since 2008), we have and will continue to rely solely upon private fund's and profits from our on-line store, and aggressive on line marketing campaign to cover all cost's associated with, and for, the purpose of improving the adoption chance's of abandoned pet's!
Through our network of No-Kill shelters, Trucking company's, and other Established Non-profit organization's, in and around Texas (and, through the convenience of the web) our goal is to increase our Pet's voices, by providing solution's for educating and empowering the public toward's a solution to an ongoing problem. As one can imagine, this requires an enormous workforce and a larger budget than we can provide. Pet shelter overpopulation and the unnecessary slaughter can be greatly reduced through Re-distribution, Education, and Proper Legislation!
Someone out there is a perfect fit for an Abandoned Pet. So the next time you hear of someone needing to get rid of that Critter, Contact us. We are just an email away!
Someone out there is a perfect fit for an Abandoned Pet. So the next time you hear of someone needing to get rid of that Critter, Contact us. We are just an email away!
