You are correct....I volunteer at the SPCA, and I also make the drive down Hegenburger for my weekly shift. At first I thought the SPCA would be a sad place, and perhaps I could only stand it long enough to make it through a few months. Well, it has now been a few years, and I have yet to leave there feeling bad about the dogs calling the shelter their temporary home. I only get sad when I see the dogs alone, outside.

 

I totally agree with you that dogs shouldn't be left in the backyard all of the time - that they want to be with their pack. But some of those dogs that you are seeing might be in their backyards because no one is home. I imagine their owners think, reasonably, that their dogs probably prefer to be outside in those circumstances (unless the weather is not comfortable, of course). Also, some of those dogs might be choosing to be in the back yard. We have a doggie door and our shepherd mix chooses to spend a good deal of time in the backyard, especially when we are not home. She seems to like sitting in the sun and keeping the squirrels in check. So maybe some of those dogs are getting the best of both worlds... Not all of them, I'm sure, but some of them, surely... (-:

 

I think the Basic Obediance class requirement probably also helps with this. Our instructor did manage to incorporate a conversation on dogs and their general care, which surely helps those who really don't understand dogs and their needs... Our instructor talked about everything from sleeping arrangements to food, and we learned alot of things that I think have helped us to create a much better life for our new dog.

Do you also give out some kind of pamphlet/booklet/handout on suggestions for dog care to everyone who adopts one? I know the Humane Society does, and I found it very helpful.

 

Rachel,

Would you be interested in contacting Tammy at Dogs Deserve Better? She can send you information on maybe giving or leaving info on these peoples' doors, etc. on leaving your dogs outside. They are part of the family.

 

Seems like such a thing would have to be done very carefully, in a way that won't put people on the defensive - otherwise you will just make people mad and not have the desired effect. Maybe if you blanket the entire neighborhood with pamphlets so people don't take it personally? People find it difficult to listen and take in suggestions when they feel like they are being criticised, when they are on the defensive. Generally they go into justifying the way it is and their behavior, or to reducing the person making the suggestion to various derogatory terms... This is why I asked how much info and counseling people receive when they first adopt their dogs - this seems like the best time to address this (and other dog care issues) because people are generally more open to suggestions at this point because it is less of a "you are doing wrong by your dog..." kind of thing. One thing I've learned - if you want people to listen to you, you must not start out by making them feel bad about who they are or what they are doing. In this case, I think the best bet might be to make it impersonal somehow. Beyond that, focusing on educating new adopters is probably going to give you the biggest impact for your efforts.

Thank you for doing what you all do - the dogs and cats are lucky to have you all looking after their best interests!