this issue has come up seveal times but never really addressed -knowing that so many animals in overcrowded pounds are never claimed and put down after a short time -are we doing them a favor by reporting strays and abused animals? In the end are we helping them or sending them to an early grave?

PLEASE remember that this is an emotional question -and that everyone is intitled to thier point of view -so intellegent conversation is welcome -but do not flame others just because thier opinion differs from yours. I started this thread because I think a LOT of us feel very torn between the two -and that others insights might help us understand and make a healthy decision if we find ourselves in this unfortunate situation. STAY FOCUSED AND OBJECTIVE and KEEP THIS THREAD NICE!

I'm not sure if I can vote in my own poll -so if I can't add one to the "I'm not sure it scares me"

Around here, where I live, I have to say yes to both. Neglected and abused are for obvious reasons. However, Rabies is a real threat around here, and if a stray contracts the disease, it is a serious threat to everyone and everything around it.

Absolutely report strays.
If a stray bitch has a litter (or a stray dog fathers a litter), that's 8 - 10 underfed, unvaccinated, uncared for, potentially dangerous wild dogs damaging the environment, being hit by cars, attacking sheep, and so on. It may feel like sweetness and light to let a stray wander, but you're causing much more suffering to the many litters down the line.

There are several other facilities that will take in animals, sometimes for life. Unfortunately in the case of fighting dogs and gamecocks, these animals are immediately put to sleep, but it is a far better end than being ripped alive and kept on chains or cages for their life.

Many abused animals can be rehabilitated and adopted out. Unfortunately, pet overpopulation is a major problem and such is harmful to wildlife, and animals are immediately spayed/neutered, but they are also given medical care.

most modern shelters will not euthanize 'adoptable' animals unless the shelter becomes overcrowded and have foster homes availible. Also, if there is a local stray that can be approached, often it is possible to adopt the animal on your own without relying on the shlter.

Feral cats dont have this luxery; they are most times put to sleep, but trap neuter release programs help put an end to this, and include vaccinations and medications. Possible pets are often tamed and found homes. Reporting feral cats often is absolutely ignored; they are too often too hard to catch and too wild to tame. So, i end up following them, sitting with them and hoping they would start to trust me (wasy with kittens, not with cats). Though I have had some cool experiences with adults too.

i wish there was more out there for tramatized, agressive and feral animals, but there is not. Although every once and a while, someone will start a sanctuary for such animals, where, although they have no future as a pet, have a forever home, good food and companionship with members of their own kind. Such facilities operate much the same way as exotic pet sanctuaries that take in wild animals bred in captivity, that were abandoned and cant be released into the wild, except more things have to be done to keep dogs and cats happy in weather extremes.

It is never an easy decision to report any animal, especially one that is seemingly healthy, but not quite friendly or fearful. Unfortunately, you have to weigh the odds, and hope that just maybe, the animal will come to you.

This post has been edited by AlphaDhole on May 13 2005, 01:24 AM

dogs are only kept for a week then destroyed where i live
therefore i would never report a stray
dogs often go for a wonder around the place and then return home .....why report them

Yes I think strays should be reported for two good reasons. One is they at least have a chance of being adopted out into a loveing home.
Two is that any animal whos population goes unchecked by natural preditors stand a good chance of being disease ridden thus wipeing out the compleet species in a given area. As a hunter and game contrservationest I have seen this in videos and in real life.
An example of this is that the wolves and large cats (mountion Lions/Panthers) which are the only large preditors in this part of the country have been either killed out or forced out by expanding human encroachment into their teritory (Home range).
I watched a video filmed by the Game and fish administration of a heard of white tail deer being slaughtered out in the fields. The physical condition of these poor animals was absolutely horrifying some were severly deformed. While others were so skinny that you could see their bones beneath the skin from a far distance, actualy starving to death. I wouldn't wish this outcome on any liveing thing, and the only way to prevent this is by human intervention. Since we have created the problem then it is up to us to try and correct it so that seans like I have seen don't happen again.

Now back to reporting "Strays" and the reason I think that it should definately be done.
When I was just a young boy back in the 40's growing up in a very rural part of the state there was an epedimes of rabes that was being spread by wild dogs.
Wild dogs, Unlike wolves/ciotes and mountin lions/panthers don't have a natural fear of humans and unless you have came face to face with a rabid dog you can't imagen what it is like. There were numerous livestock being killed and just left there un eaten. A pack of wild dogs, Unlike wolves or lions don't kill just for food they do it just for the adrenilen rush.
The county actualy put a bounty of 5 dollars on the head of any dog dead or alive. Those days in my part of the country 5 dollars was equal to a days pay for an adult male. It still took over a year to remove all the wild dogs.

I answered yes to both...

Where I live.. there is a lot of open desert.. There have been instances of wild dog attacks on children and on peoples pets.. by allowing a stray to roam free you are inviting it to starve and maybe be hurt by a car or a coyote.. as well as getting sick and diseased from eating rotten food it might find in the garbage..


as for an abused animal... :( anything and everything should be done to get this living creature away from the harm someone is intentionally giving it... no one .. human or animal.. should be allowed to stay in an abusive environment

i oppologise for this post before i write it if you are offend by the views i express.

Where i live i have a real problem with animal centers that keep animals alive when they are in such a poor state that the kindest thing to do would be to but them to sleep.
Example number one- 2 years ago a center recived a colt that was 5-6 years old and had spent its whole life in a sable with its mother. It was born in the barn and never went out nor was the barn ever cleand out when they were found they were littray up to the roof in muck the door had been nailed shut. as there was only a 12in gap at the top of the door frame. When they fianlly got them out they found that they were both blind and very very thin. The mare was in so bad health that they put her to sleep the next day. Now they still have the colt but it can barrly move as after so long on soft standing its whole bone strycher in its lega are deformed. when they started to feed it they gave it sevear lamniatas that resulted in the pedalbone rotating and acutally coming through its feet. I do not now if any one here has ever seen this but i have been allover the world with horses as they are my whole familys life and work and i consider my self knlowgabele regaring horses and there NORMAL CARE -( new to seroius zoo)- any way back to my post when the bones come through there feet the whole hoof dies and falls of.
If infection does not claim them then they are laid down or suppoerted in a sling for at least 6mnts and oftern for over a year.
While the colt was laid down it develpoed abssess al over its body from lying down all day and i guess was in great pain for a very long time and at the end of its traetement it will still be almost crippled still blind and in pain.
would it not be better and kinder to the animal to put it to sleep when it was first resqued that to make it suffer while doing the kind thing

I now i got a little of topic but was a point i think needed to be addressed in this descusion

personaly if a animal looks in good health i say let it be but if it loks in need of care and attetion then call it in

I'd have to say yes to both.

Strays: I haven't met any strays as yet and as I already have one lady living with me it's kinda hard fur me to bring the stray back to my place ;)

Abuse. I have known animals which have been abused. my lady was one, yet I haven't reported it. I should have taken better pix of her from the start which I did but they didn't turn out as well as I'd prefer. I am still thinking of reporting it yet I have to check up if things have changed since I last checked.

Svadilfari

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