Shame on him.

I did a double take when I first saw them. Two of the world's cutest Yorkishire terriers. Just eight months old. They'd been brought to our shelter by a man who said he'd spent $1,600 purchasing them.


He had them for just a few months. But, he explained, they were just too active. And so he tossed them aside like garbage.



He was outraged when he learned our adoption fee for the boys would be $60 each. Compare that to the $800 each he'd paid. His outrage should have been self-directed.



In the shelter world guys like these yorkies are called "10 minute" dogs. And indeed they were adopted within ten minutes or so. Word travels fast.



They both went to loving homes, adopted by folks who understand that yorkies can indeed be "active." So can Jack Russells. And Basset hounds. And Beagles. And almost any puppy. That's what puppies do.



Makes you wonder why that guy wanted a couple of yorkies in the first place. My guess is "Breed Envy." Or perhaps he wanted a status symbol.

In 2006 yorkies were the second most popular dog registered with the American Kennel Club, an organization that encourages birthing, rather than spaying or neutering dogs. Labradors are number one.



Nartionwide, according to the International Society for Animal Rights, a growing percentage of dogs who end up in animal shelters are purebred. That's true at our shelter too. We regularly see purebreds including collies, yorkies, Beagles, Great Danes, and even Bernise Mountain Dogs.



Many arrive with their owners clutching AKC registration papers, which we toss in the trash, not wanting to encourage "breed envy." They come to us because the owners know we're a no-kill shelter. Somehow that eases their guilt. At least we didn't send them to the city pound, many must be saying to themselves.



But why did they purchase the dog or dogs in the first place? What were they thinking?



Why try to convince folks to keep their dogs. But that rarely works. By the time they arrive at our shelter they have convinced themselves they are doing the right thing.



Well, shame on them. Although the dogs are most likely better off in someone else's home.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008

Blue Samaritan

Good Samaritans come in every size and shape. Age and gender. We've gotten to know one Good Samaritan who rescues dogs on San Antonio's streets. In her real life she's a police officer. But her true love is saving dogs.



She brought Molly to us the other day. She said a radio call went out for an officer to help collar a vicious dog. When she arrived at the scene she found Molly, a German short-haired pointer. She was about as vicious as Charles Schultz's "Snoopy."



The dog catcher from the city pound was on the scene. He said Molly would be killed in a couple of days if she went to the city shelter.



So our Blue Samaritan did what she has done before. She took Molly home for the night and brought her to ADL the next morning. If she had room at her house Molly would have stayed right there. But the next best choice was ADL since we are a no-kill shelter.



If only dogs could talk. Molly was obviously well cared for before she ended up on the streets. But she did not have a micro-chip or a tag of any kind. No way to find her humans. She's barely two years old and a lover if there ever was one.



Now she's just waiting for her forever home. She'll make a fabulous companion for anyone who's looking for a wonderful girl.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008

Would you kill these boys?

They were on death row. Set to be killed in the Seguin, Texas Animal Control.

Neither had committed a crime. They were your basic good guys just caught at the wrong place at the wrong time.

That's what we humans do to dogs and cats we consider "surplus." We kill them to make room in government shelters for more dogs and cats who will be killed.

It makes no sense of course. It's not just Seguin, it's every municipality in Texas where people are struggling with many dogs and cats on the streets.

These two guys were saved by us because a Good Samaritan in Guadalupe County heard about their plight and emailed the world to find a shelter or rescue group that would take them. We named them Montana and Wyoming.

The sad fact is, if you're a pure bred or pure bred look-a-like the odds are you'll be saved. If you're a mix -- which most dogs on our streets are -- odds are you die.

Can we stop the killing for the vast majority of dogs and cats in shelters? Yes. But it will take a commitment that few communities or shelter operators are prepared to make. And it's not just government shelters that are killing "surplus" dogs and cats. Some so called humane society shelters kill too. It's their dirty little secret. But they kill. And until they stop the killing it is unlikely that government shelters will stop as well.

More spay/neuters is part of the solution. Greater responsibility on the part of humans to keep their companion animals for as long as they live is also critical to stopping the killing. And increased adoptions from shelters is also vital.

Montana and Wyoming have a new lease on life. But in San Antonio this week nearly 1,000 dogs and cats will be killed at the city pound. I think about that a lot.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008

Left for dead.

A neighbor noticed him lying in the street in front of a house. Unable to stand. The owner told her he'd been hit by a car and he was just waiting for him to die. He'd dug a hole in his back yard to bury him. Waiting for him to die. Knowing he would.

But the neighbor said she couldn't stand it. She scooped him up and brought him to us.

X-rays showed no broken bones. None whatsoever. He hadn't been hit by a car. As it turns out he had arthritis. All over his spine and back legs variety. He was in so much pain, he couldn't even stand. Let alone walk. Should we euthanize him? Help end his misery?

Emily, one of our surgical vet techs, argued his case. Try pain meds for a week she urged. He's only four years old. If he's no better then maybe we should euthanize him, she said. The pain meds worked. Within a few days he was able to stand. Within a few more days he was able to walk.

Tell the guy he can fill in that hole. No need to bury him. He's able to stand and walk and even trot. Not perfect mind you. A little unsteady. But clearly on his way to managing his life. The pain meds worked. Emily's loving care helped a lot.

She named him Old Yeller. This time there's happy ending.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008

To be loved.

They named him Howard because he looked like a boxer who'd passed through our doors last fall. That Howard was adopted within days of his going into the kennels. The new Howard will undoubtedly be adopted quickly too. And that would be a good thing.

New Howard was brought to ADL by one of our adoption counselors. He turned up at her son's daycare. Brought there by some boys who said they "found him on the streets." The daycare operator's own dog had recently died.

The boys apparently thought they were being helpful. Trying to bring another dog into her life.

But neither she nor her husband were ready to "replace" the dog they had loves and cared for, for many years. Afraid he might be killed on the streets, the ADL staffer brought him to the shelter. Somewhat under weight -- perhaps 15 pounds or so -- he appears to be healthy otherwise.

Howard is a lover. A lick you all over lover. Some folks are boxer fans. Their world revolves around the breed. And once you get to know Howard that's easy to understand. Howard is a straight shooter. A look you right in the eye kind of guy. He'll fit right into a family and his day or two at the daycare center proves how much he loves kids. Let's hope his days on the streets are behind him now. And a forever home is just around the corner.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008

Some breeders.

Wow. He is as cute as cute can be.

A Pekingese puppy born with a neurological birth defect. His back legs don't work like they should. Not worth much money to his breeder. Disposable. Her plan was to kill him, until one of our vet techs heard about his situation and offered to take him off of her hands.

Turns out he can get around. Not easily, mind you. But he does not appear to be in any pain. Just slower than your average Pekingese.

Not all breeders are evil. My wife used to breed Great Danes. There isn't a Great Dane on earth she doesn't love no matter their "issues." But other breeders want what is only perfection. Perfect coat. Perfect features. Perfect everything. And when someone comes along who is not perfect, like Mr. Pekingese, their solution is a simple one. Kill them. Keep the breed pure. Protect the breed at all costs.

That's where I part company with those breeders. I'd preferring tossing the breeder on the junk heap rather than their "imperfect" dogs.

Dogs don't know "imperfection." They are who they are. No self-esteem issues about missing legs or a "wrong" color coat. They are who they are.

It is we humans who set standards that define who a dog should be. We set the ideal and we devalue those dogs who don't meet the standard. Shame on us. And shame on any breeder who prefers death for dogs less perfect.

There is, of course, a human comparison with all this. Nazi Germany. The concentration camps. The search for the perfect race. I'll take my dogs as they are. Not how some arbitrary standard says they should be.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008

What's wrong with humans.

They dumped her at our shelter. Didn't even look back when they left. They'd used her for who knows how many years as a breeder. Popping out puppies as fast as they could get her pregnant again. Popping out puppies as if she was a factory. Self contained mommy factory. Popping out puppies so they could sell them.

And then when she'd lived out her usefulness, they tossed her aside, like an old worn out coat, or toaster or microwave. She's only three years old. But used up as a puppy machine and so, of no use to her humans. They were done with her. And one wonders what she thought.

They tossed her aside and told us she was dog aggressive and they couldn't keep her anymore. Not true, as it turns out. A lie. The dog aggressive claim. She's a sweetheart. A lover. Does well with other dogs. Not a bark. Not a woof. Not a growl. But people who tire of their dogs or cats will say anything to get rid of them. Why bother with the truth. Like, we'd like her to go to a home where she will be loved. Unlike our home where we used and abused her.

I wonder what motivates folks to do what those folks did. Caring nothing about her. Not an ounce of love or compassion. But that's a no-brainer. Backyard breeders and puppymills are the worst. They care nothing for the animals they use. But there's no stopping them until folks quite buying from them.

If you've ever bought a companion animal from a pet shop or backyard breeder just look into her eyes and ask yourself whether you would ever do that again.

In one of those ironic twists, they'd named her Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell. Peter Pan's best friend, who lived a life filled with love and excitement and fantasy. As opposed to her life. Tinkerbell locked in a crate.

Imagine that. Not a life for Tinkerbell. Not a life for a dog. Any dog.

(c) Ron Aaron 2008