Much can be said about the inherent goodness in people. During natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, or wildfires, communities often come together in extraordinary ways. Neighbors help each other salvage belongings, provide shelter, and share resources. There are also many instances of individuals running into burning houses or diving into freezing waters to save the life of another person. Across the globe, acts of kindness and generosity on a smaller scale occur daily.
Sadly, there are also those who perpetrate acts of violence and other abuses. People who harm others are themselves deeply wounded. Even if we're not intentionally causing harm, many of us are limited in our capacity to love and care for the well-being of others, often exhibiting apathy or remaining oblivious to the suffering of other people, animals, and the ongoing destruction of the planet.
By the Numbers: The Harsh Realities Facing America's Dogs
Statistics vary, but it is estimated that twenty to thirty-five percent of dogs in the United States are homeless. According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are about seventy million stray dogs across the country. Each year, millions of these animals find their way into one of the nation's 3,500 shelters. On average, 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized every year in the United States. Shelters around the country euthanize an estimated 670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats each year. For dogs that amounts to an average of 1,835 and for cats 2356 a day.
Pit bulls and pit bull mixes account for about 33% of shelter intakes nationally. The vast majority of pit bulls in shelters, approximately 93%, are euthanized due to the harmful stereotype that they are an aggressive breed. The ‘click-baity, if it bleeds, it leads' media has been complicit by sensationalizing any incident of a dog attack involving a pit bull.
While it's true that some pit bulls can be aggressive, those that are have usually been conditioned to behave that way. Having interacted with many pit bulls, I have found that the vast majority are actually very gentle, good-natured, playful and loving dogs.
The Overpopulation Crisis: A Closer Look at Dog Breeding and Its Impacts
Many of us have preferences for certain breeds of dogs—I have a strong affinity for Schnauzers, Pit Bulls, and Australian Blue Heelers. Yet, I also adore street dogs, such as the many I've interacted with while spending time in Sri Lanka. While many people seek out purebred puppies from breeders, it’s important to note that for dog breeders, the business of producing pups is quite lucrative. For instance, Akita Inus can sell for anywhere from $800 to $4,500. The Lowchen, or “Little Lion Dog,” averages between $5,000 and $8,000. Labradoodles go for $1500 to $3,000. and Dachshund pups range from $1,500 to $2,000.
While many breeders do love their dogs, they are unwittingly contributing to the problem of overpopulation. Dogs bred by these breeders produce multiple litters of puppies, which adds to the overpopulation of dogs. Even worse are the commercial breeders and puppy farms where puppies are treated as “products,” mass-marketed over the internet and sold to distributors, who then sell them to national pet store chains. If they cannot move them, the puppies are often dumped at shelters.
As many as 25% of the dogs currently in shelters are purebred dogs. Even those that initially cost thousands of dollars can now be found in shelters across the country. Numerous individuals and organizations are actively working to rescue these dogs and find homes for them. Sadly, despite these efforts, many of these dogs continue to languish in shelters and are ultimately euthanized.
Pet parents who choose not to spay or neuter also contribute to the overpopulation of dogs. They often find themselves overwhelmed with litters of puppies and are unable to care for or find homes for all of them. As a result, many of these unwanted dogs end up in shelters, adding to the strain on already limited facilities.
Shelter Crisis: Overcapacity and Its Dire Consequences
During the early stages of the Covid pandemic, when much of the country was under lockdown, animal shelters experienced an unprecedented emptying out. Despite this initial surge in pet adoptions, changing circumstances such as the increasing cost of living and people returning to work have led to a troubling influx of dogs being abandoned at shelters, exacerbating an already dire situation. Many shelters around the country are now operating over capacity and, as a result, are euthanizing an inordinate number of dogs.
Left Behind: Understanding Why Dogs Are Abandoned
There are numerous reasons why people abandon dogs. Many dogs are left at shelters, tied outside stores, or simply left behind when owners move to a new apartment that doesn't allow pets. Economic pressures such as inflation can lead some to feel they can no longer afford to feed their dog. Life changes like having a new baby might lead some to believe they no longer have time to care for their pet.
Some people might think getting a dog or a new puppy is a great idea without fully understanding the commitment required, ultimately leading to these dogs being left at shelters. More distressing circumstances, such as a pet parent becoming homeless, facing a medical emergency, or passing away, can also lead to abandonment. Sadly, there are also individuals who are selfish and immature, lacking empathy, who abandon their dogs without any regard for their wellbeing.
Highly Intelligent and Sensitive Beings
Dogs are incredibly intelligent and sensitive beings, possessing an innocence akin to that of a young child. When you look into their eyes, you can see they simply desire to love and be loved. They experience a range of emotions, including fear, hurt, and sadness, much like humans do. Dogs grieve when they are mistreated or abandoned, and they feel happiness and excitement when cared for. The joy, elation, and excitement they experience when we return after a long absence really shows how deeply they love and form attachments.
When left in shelters, dogs often feel anxious, fearful, and abandoned, horribly depressed and gradually losing hope. They are acutely aware of their surroundings and can sense the fate of other dogs being euthanized, which terrifies them about their own potential fate. Being kept in a shelter can be extremely stressful for them, as they struggle with the fear of never finding a home again.
Saving Lives, One Adoption at a Time
Americans own approximately seventy-seven million dogs, with around sixty-five percent of pet parents choosing to adopt a rescue dog. Perhaps you too have an affinity for certain dog breeds. However, it's important to consider that seeking out a purebred dog from a breeder, or even worse, purchasing a puppy mill-bred dog from an online source or pet store, contributes to the overpopulation that leads to the suffering of so many dogs. As long as people continue to support these breeders and spend substantial amounts of money on designer dogs, the cycle of suffering will persist.
Adopt. Don't shop. Please consider stopping by your local shelter. Look into the eyes of these dogs and feel their presence to determine if you feel a resonance or bond with one or more of the dogs. Or, at the very least, do your homework and seek out individuals or organizations that help to rescue specific breeds.
The Critical Role of Spaying and Neutering
A former girlfriend of mine in Sri Lanka would feed the local stray dogs. She would also take these dogs to the vet to have them spayed and neutered, preventing them from producing more litters of puppies. I wish everyone would demonstrate such care for the wellbeing of dogs and other animals. The failure of many people to spay and neuter their pets is one of the primary reasons for the overpopulation of dogs, which leads to so many dogs ending up in shelters and being euthanized. Without taking common sense steps to manage their wellbeing, dogs will continue to breed and produce more and more litters of pups, exacerbating the problem of pet overpopulation.
The Healing Power of Touch: How Dogs Fill the Gap
Many of us are starved for touch due to a lack of physical intimacy and interaction with other people. Without it, we suffer significant emotional and physiological consequences. Human touch is crucial as it precipitates the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the ‘love hormone,' which enhances our sense of trust and attachment. Touch also stimulates the release of other important neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which play key roles in our feelings of happiness and well-being. In the absence of sufficient human contact, our mental health can decline due to lower levels of these beneficial chemicals.
Dogs, with their natural affection and propensity for physical closeness, can provide a vital source of tactile interaction. Dogs tend to be very loving—they enjoy having a lot of physical contact, love being held and caressed, will happily sit in your lap, and even lick you. They will also sleep next to you in bed if you let them. This helps compensate for the lack of touch we experience with other humans, promoting the release of these essential neurotransmitters and aiding in our overall emotional and physical health.
Connection in a Disconnected World
In many instances, people can be unavailable, disinterested, and uncaring. They may show up only to disappear again, including those we consider friends or those with whom we form romantic attachments, often ghosting us without warning. Even those who do care may be so caught up in their own lives that they simply don't have time to connect. With so many addicted to their smartphones and social media feeds, and caught up in the 24/7 news cycle, we're losing any remaining sense of community. We're also seeing this disconnect in families. Many rarely, if ever, share meals. We're just not spending time together as we did in years past.
In contrast, dogs are fully present in the moment with us. They are also incredibly loyal and care deeply for us, offering the closest thing many of us will ever experience to unconditional love. When you have the opportunity to form a deep emotional bond with a dog, you realize how valuable their companionship can be in today’s increasingly disconnected world. For many of us, they truly are our best friends.
Paws for Health
Dogs are beneficial to our health in many other ways beyond just providing affection. Since many of us are working and commuting such long hours, we often fail to get enough exercise and our social life suffers. Dogs, being naturally playful, bring out the childlike part of us as they encourage us to play with them. They also motivate us to be more physically active by getting us to take them for walks.
Dogs can also be amazing social catalysts. Whenever we're out with a dog, other people are more likely to stop and engage with us. This gives us the opportunity to meet and connect with new people. In this way, having a dog helps reduce the isolation so many of us are experiencing in our daily lives, enhancing both our social and physical well-being.
Life On the Road
My mom and her husband once took in a stray schnauzer, and after Prince passed away, they acquired another schnauzer they named Murphy from a local breeder. Following Murphy’s passing, my mom purchased another schnauzer puppy, Mahi. As much as I would love to have a dog to care for and come home to, my frequent travel for work doesn’t allow it. If I ever settle down in one place, I probably will take in a shelter dog. Over the years, I have bonded with the dogs and some cats of the people I work with. When I've been in Sri Lanka, I would feed and pay attention to the stray dogs whenever I could.
More Than Just Companions: Why We Need Each Other More Than We Realize
We need dogs far more than most of us realize, but they also depend on us for their survival and well-being. As you reflect on the insights shared in this article, consider whether having a dog could benefit you. If you have space in your home, think about taking in a dog. Be sure to check with your local animal shelters or connect with individuals or groups that rescue abandoned dogs. Relying on breeders or purchasing puppy mill dogs found in pet stores only contributes to the ongoing suffering of dogs worldwide.
If you already have a dog, remember that dogs can get lonely, especially if you're away for much of the day. Consider adopting an additional dog that is compatible with your current pet. This not only provides your dog with a companion, but also gives another dog a chance at a loving home. By choosing adoption over buying, you can make a significant difference in reducing the burden on shelters and help curb the cycle of pet overpopulation. You may also be saving a dog's life!
2-y/o Shea (pictured above) found abandoned, tied in a park & brought in by police. Cute, sweet, snuggly, bouncy, curious & smart. Loves treats & walks. Friendly w/ strangers, wiggly w/ dogs. Available to foster or adopt. Click here to adopt in New York City
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