Dog pound euthanasia is a topic that many people aren’t comfortable talking about, but dog lovers need to be aware of this situation. Many people ask, “Why do shelters euthanize healthy dogs?” But not everyone is willing to listen to the answer and make a change.
Ending dog shelter euthanasia isn’t as simple as it may seem. It requires the support of dog lovers around the world. The more people that help, the fewer healthy dogs need to be put down. So, while this topic is rather complicated, bringing attention to it is essential for saving the lives of innocent dogs.
Are you someone near Memphis that wants to save dogs from euthanasia? Please consider fostering one of the at-risk dogs to save a life!
Why Do Shelters Euthanize Healthy Dogs?
Animal shelters don’t euthanize animals because they want to. They do it because they’re often left with no choice. Shelters have limited space, resources, funds, and support, which can prevent them from providing care and housing for all the dogs they take in. Some shelters aren’t allowed to turn animals away, but even if they can, turning animals away often means that the pets could die in a less humane way as a result.
So, in general, shelters euthanize healthy dogs because they don’t have other options. In many cases, it’s more humane than the other situations those dogs could face.
Why Are Shelters Forced to Euthanize Dogs?
Shelters aren’t choosing to put dogs down, but it’s still heartbreaking that it’s happening. Plenty of reasons contribute to overcrowded shelters, which can be prevented if the community works together to fix these issues.
Fewer People are Adopting
During the pandemic, adoption rates increased greatly because people had more time for a new pet. However, once people started to return to work, adoption rates decreased again. People returning to in-person jobs didn’t have time for a new dog and many people who adopted pandemic puppies ended up returning their dogs once the world returned to normal.
Now, with many prices going up, time isn’t the only thing preventing people from adopting. Many families cannot afford a new dog at this time. Thus, many dogs have to wait longer to find their forever home, but at an overcrowded shelter, they don’t have time to sit around waiting.
Dogs are Being Over-Produced
Even though adoption rates are going down, the number of dogs ending up in shelters and rescues isn’t decreasing. Sadly, many inhumane breeding businesses, such as puppy mills, are mass-producing dogs. The puppies that don’t sell fast enough are often discarded at shelters and rescues. Ethical breeders usually only breed dogs when there’s a demand, but puppy mills will continuously breed dogs and sell them, creating more puppies than needed.
A bad breeder is also less likely to take back puppies that customers want to return. So, if someone no longer wants the puppy they bought, that dog will end up at a shelter or rescue instead of going back to the breeder.
Dog lovers need to stop supporting breeders that are constantly producing dogs for profit. Not only are those dogs often mistreated, but those businesses are the main reason shelters are so overcrowded. If people stop supporting puppy stores, online retailers, and other bad breeding businesses, fewer dogs will be surrendered to shelters.
Not Enough People are Spaying and Neutering
Spaying and neutering has lots of benefits for the dog’s health and behavior, but it also helps prevent unwanted litters. Even if someone doesn’t think their dog will get out, it’s always a possibility. If an intact dog gets lost, they can quickly reproduce and create litters that will later end up in shelters.
This issue is also linked to inhumane breeders. Shelters, rescues, and reputable breeders usually make sure their dogs are spayed/neutered before sending the dog home. If the dog isn’t, the paperwork should state that the dog needs to get fixed by a certain date. Thus, the dogs having accidental litters usually come from puppy mills and backyard breeders.
If cost is an issue, there are plenty of low-cost spay/neuter clinics. You can ask a local shelter or rescue for info on where to get your dog fixed for an affordable price.
There Aren’t Enough Dog Foster Families
While all the above issues need to be addressed to truly make shelters less crowded, fostering dogs can help in the meantime. Every time a shelter dog is fostered, it frees up space. In many cases, fostering a dog saves a dog’s life.
Fostering from a shelter that euthanizes dogs could directly save that dog’s life. Fostering from a rescue could allow that organization to save more dogs from crowded shelters. Either way, you’re making an impact by fostering.
Don’t let myths about fostering deter you from doing it. Fostering is more flexible than people realize. You’ll get to choose the types of dogs you foster, so you can ensure you get a dog you can handle. Plus, fostering is free, so you’ll get to care for a dog temporarily without any of the costs involved. Fostering may be sad for some, but that heartbreak is worth it because of how rewarding and life-saving it is.
How Many Dogs Are Euthanized Each Year?
According to the ASPCA, about 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized annually (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats). That number has slightly declined from previous years, but that’s still an insane number of animals dying in shelters. In an ideal world, the number of dogs dying in shelters would be as close to zero as possible, but as mentioned above, all dog lovers need to do their part to help make that possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Shelters Euthanize Dogs?
Shelters euthanize dogs humanely with an injection of sodium pentobarbital, just like how vets euthanize sick dogs. If you learn about a shelter euthanizing dogs in an inhumane way, please report it.
How Do You Know if a Shelter Euthanizes Dogs?
Most shelters in the U.S. euthanize some dogs. Even no kill shelters may put down less than 10% of the dogs in their care. Shelters will often state if they are no kill while shelters with higher kill rates may not want to share that information. However, dogs at kill shelters typically need homes more desperately than dogs in no kill shelters, so please consider adopting or fostering a dog at risk of euthanasia.
Will the Shelter Euthanize My Dog if I Surrender Them?
If you surrender your dog to a no kill organization, they won’t put your dog down to free up space. However, if you surrender them to a shelter with a higher kill rate, there’s no guarantee that your dog will live to find another home. If you’re worried you’ll have to surrender your dog, check out some resources to help you keep your pet.
When Do Shelters Euthanize Animals?
Overcrowded shelters will euthanize animals that have been at the shelter for a while if they need to free up space. However, shelter dogs may be euthanized for other reasons too, such as extreme health or behavior issues that affect their quality of life. Health and behavior euthanasia can occur even at no kill shelters.
How Much Does a Shelter Dog Cost?
It depends on the organization, but most shelter dogs cost between $50 and $350. The adoption fee covers all the dog’s medical care, such as vaccines and spay/neuter. Plus, the money is going toward helping more dogs in need, so it’s worth it.
Fostering Saves Dogs From Shelter Euthanasia
Fostering is one of the many ways to help reduce the euthanasia rate for shelter dogs. So, please consider welcoming a dog in need into your home. Even fostering just once can make an impact.
If you live near Memphis, there are unfortunately lots of dogs being put down in shelters due to a lack of space. Please consider fostering or adopting one of these critical Memphis dogs to save a life.
It truly is INSANE, and unfortunately the south is THE WORST!!! Sometimes, (not nearly as much as should be) dogs get shipped up north because their shelters sometimes have room. It’s all about education if you don’t know how many dogs one dog can produce if not fixed, and those have puppies, it QUICKLY VERY QUICKLY TURNED INTO THOUSANDS!!! Look it up! I can’t put a picture I have but they’re online, READ & EDUCATE YOURSELVES!!! Don’t contribute to this problem. For 8 years a group of us have been posting dogs on death row here in Phoenix, Arizona. They also kill healthy, beautiful German shepherds, there was a day when you never saw a German Shepherd in a shelter! labs, Chihuahuas, pits etc. The shelter treats dogs good in that they have beds etc. They just don’t get taken out enough 800 of them and few volunteers unfortunately. I grew up for a few years in Vancouver, Canada, It has half the population of Phoenix & most of the time, they have five dogs in the shelter. Canada and the northern states really try to keep the population people will breed a dog and just laugh and have fun with the puppies and they have no clue about what they’re doing and how they’re contributing to this problem. They need to get educated and stop doing this stop thinking about your selves ONLY!!! IT MAKES SO MANY OF US DOG RESCUERS ANGRY! I was also a travel nurse all over the states & saw horrible things in Texas, such as dogs tied to trees w HEAVY CHAINS only 6 ft long… Can you imagine? I reported dozens and hopefully they didn’t repeat this barbaric process .. I told them, dogs our social animals they have to be around people or other dogs, this is torture every minute for this dog every minute… He just wants to die. And if they were religious I would remind them that God says not to hurt animals and to bring the dog in the house let him run free in the yard do something different. Thank God chains are out lawed now in Texas, not when I was there 4 yrs ago. Finally, the latest scientific data shares that a dog you should equivalent to a 3-year-old child. This is how they feel this is how they think So would you let your 3-year-old child sit in the yard all by themselves on a chain or would you bring them in as part of your family. Would you let your 3-year-old child run around and get lost get out of the yard you’d be afraid for them right well Seamus dogs are like a 3-year-old remember that!!! There are too many lost dogs out there there’s no reason for it I had shepherds my whole life two and three at a time never ever not ever did they get away I always check the fence check the yard taught the kids to hold on to them in the car before you open the door if somebody came to the door they were to be put in the bedroom before you answer You got to do all these things when you have a dog You can’t just sit there like some lump on a log and expect to have a good dog!!! EDUCATION EDUCATION IS WHAT WE NEED!
Hello, Deborah! You bring very valid observations to the discussion about the need for education and training among dog owners. These Critical dogs at Memphis Animal Services ( MAS) are a result of not enforcing our spay/neuter law. They’re a result of the lack of affordable resources available to have their dogs vaccinated and fixed. We have a crisis here of stray dogs and puppies ; dogs being dumped and abandoned because the owner cannot afford pet food and pet care. In my opinion our shelter does not effectively address the stray crisis out in communities where the majority of strays live. We need much better community outreach from the shelter, and funding for low ( or zero) cost vaccination with spay/neuter services.
We have brought this problem along with proven solutions to our shelter Director, City Council and keep trying to meet with our Mayor Paul Young, but they won’t work with us on a solution. They shove it under the carpet, so to speak, because they don’t see it in their nice neighborhoods. We will continue our mission to improve the lives of discarded dogs, and I will continue funding this site to recruit Fosters to save the lives of these Critical shelter dogs.
We are the voice of the voiceless.
Thank you for your comments. I love hearing from our fellow dog advocates! Cheers,
Catherine
We Foster Dogs organization