Readers' Comments
111 results
Oldmaidcatwoman
4 years ago
So nice to read about all the different ways animals are being helped to find homes.
Halahala459
4 years ago
Kennel Stress is never good, but training a dog with a kennel is a better way to go. It is very true how the dogs get very very bad temper. For example, people who breed dogs make the poor puppies live in horrible conditions. And when Animal Rescue services come and save the dogs they are vicious.
Sherri R.
4 years ago
I have seen dogs who are stressed being kenneled and exercise and time in the office and out of the kennel is key. We are fortunate to have a nice securely fenced in yard and lots of wonderful volunteers. Our dogs are out every day exercising, being trained and socialized.
Ralph M.
4 years ago
I used to volunteer at an Animal Control where dogs were only allowed out of their kennels for a couple hours on weekends.Kennel stress was a real problem there.At the shelter where I volunteer now, we have two seperate play areas that are used every day by a great staff and volunteers.The difference is huge. I feel we should do away with keeping dogs at AC,give them to a shelter, and divert the money from the city to the shelter.AC usually just kills the dogs anyway.
Suzanne P.
4 years ago
I think that this is a great idea!!! All of us shelter volunteers can relate to this. I also think it sounds like a good way for the shelter volunteers to bond - take the dogs for a hike or walk in a park!
Leximou
5 years ago
Thumbs up to anything that will help these fur-kids find homes. Thank the powers that be for people that are innovative enough to help them do so - after all they do depend on us for both care and love. A pox on the sorry aspect of humanity that put them in such a situation to begin with. To this shelter - You rock!!!!!
Amy R.
5 years ago
They all deserve and chance and everything that we can do to give them that chance is wonderful in my eyes. It just makes sense. One of my little ones was a beast in the kennel but she was more than wonderful when we took her out of the kennel. in fact she jumped in my arms when i bent down.
Denise L.
5 years ago
One of my dogs was cage-defensive, so she bit the bars of her cage & got snippy with cagemates (so they had her separated). No one wanted her because she looked so vicious-in fact, my family originally walked right by her because of this. When the employee took her out to show her how calm & sweet she actually is, she was brought home during the 2nd visit! I'm so glad we have her!
Mary G.
5 years ago
Common sense prevails at the Table Mountain Animal Center. Of course, a dog has to be walked and walked often. I am not an expert, but just from the experience of having a Great Dane companion for many years, I know that a well exercised dog is a quieter happier dog. I have done volunteer work for New York City Mayor's Alliance. They hold their adoption events in major NYC parks. Some of the participating shelters are so small and have so little money and so little publicity and therefore so few volunteers that their dogs simply "do not know how to walk on a leash". I once had the pleasure of walking the most beautiful golden retriever, the sweetest girl in the world, but she took me for the walk and not the other way around. She was the guest of a No Kill shelter so her bad behavior could not be held against her, but if she had strolled with me slowly and proudly amongst all the folks who came to the event she would have been an almost sure thing to get adopted that very day. Table Mountain is doing the right thing.
Theranddav
5 years ago
It is great to see that shelters are finally realizing that even though the animals have been rescued from bad situations, that these animals still need to be loved and worked with. I think that hiking and playing with them is a fantastic way to deal with the constant boredom of being behind bars. We all sit here and argue that puppy mills are so bad because of the breeding and the small cages they live their lives in. Besides the not breeding, are the shelters any different? If a kennel krazy dog is in a no kill shelter, their whole lives now will be in a small cage. Our shelter takes the dogs out as much as possible. I think most shelters do. Maybe, there should be a little more time put into making sure these dogs get out to walk and play. I think this shelter with the hiking is really doing a great service to their charges. The numbers speak for themselves. 80% of the dogs they have worked with have been adopted. Absolutly fantastic!!
TeriWarner
5 years ago
OF COURSE EXERCISE WORKS. THEY CALL LONG TIMERS ANIMALS THAT ARE THERE FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS? MANY OF OUR DOGS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 5 YEARS. I WOULD LOVE TO EXERCISE EVERY ONE OF THEM EVERY DAY BUT...... THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY AND NOT ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS.
Heather S.
5 years ago
It's like "cabin fever". But people who come to the shelter to look at dogs should be educated so that they know that the behvaior the dogs display while in the kennels may not be their normal behavior.
When I go to our local humane society, we always know the new dogs. The new ones stay in the back, and they don't try to get people's attention. They are waiting for their owners to come back. After a few days, they figure it out, and then they are in the front vying for the people's attention just like everyone else there. when dog gets out because someone wants to look at them or adopt, the other dogs go nuts with barking. It's like prison, when the prisoners bang their cups on the bars when someone gets out.
Marisa E.
5 years ago
That is a good point.
We often have dogs who exhibit the opposite behavior...they are depressed and/or timid and hide in the back of their kennels or stay outside. When they are in a visiting room they are slow to come up to people, and when they finally do (if the people are willing to stay long enough) they turn into lap dogs. I try hard to explain that many of these dogs are from the most intelligent, active breeds...and they aren't likely to stay quiet and docile when they feel safe in their new homes!
Lori R.
5 years ago
Heather, this is exactly the reason that we don't allow potential adopters to come walking through the kennels- only the volunteers are allowed. We have a book with pictures of the dogs and a little bio (anything we learned of previous history, then whatever information from the trainer that evaluates the dogs). Once we feel we have a good match, then we will bring the dog up for them to be met.
It does make it too crazy for the dogs with all sorts of people walking in and out. The dogs then know when the volunteers come, that they are going out for a walk or in a yard to play.
I realize that not every shelter is equipped to do these things. But we always try to keep the dogs best interest in mind. These poor things have enough trauma in their lives.
Maggiethecat
5 years ago
It's nice to see that this problem is becoming more recognized. It's effort that is very rewarding. Hope it catches on everywhere!
Jennifer K.
5 years ago
This is exactly why I decided to start volunteering at a shelter. I take my dog on a morning walk EVERY day, and in bad weather he walks on the treadmill. He does awesome at home - there's truth in "Tired puppies are Good puppies." More publicity is needed to get more volunteers - I didn't realize until just recently that I could volunteer for the 3 hours a week that I have available. I thought it took more of a commitment.
Suzanne P.
5 years ago
Great idea. I have seen perfectly "normal" dogs outside of the kennel act up inside. You would too!
Kittypassion
5 years ago
Great program. All animals need exercise. It would be great if all shelters could have no-cage areas. They also need interaction with humans and need play time.
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