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Rescue & Welfare FAQs
 

By Missy Brown

FAQ about rescue, animal welfare issues, and what you can do to help

Sadly, in today's society, there are many issues that surround animals and animal welfare, and more often than not, our canine and feline friends get the short end of the stick when it comes to America's pets.  I'd like to share some of these issues, and help you understand why America's pets are in crisis, and what you can do to help.

To answer the question as briefly as possible, we rescue because we have to.  Millions of dogs and cats are euthanized every year because there simply aren't enough homes.  Can we rescue millions?  Of course not.  Have you ever heard the starfish story?  We can't save them all, and maybe we aren't making a huge difference in the grand scheme of things, but to the goldens we save, it means ALL the world. 

To look at the size and scope of pet overpopulation, it is not feasible to save every homeless dog and cat.  So, we narrowed our vision, chose a breed we care for deeply and a breed that many of the founders had in common, and made realistic goals for our organization.  We have an overabundance of unwanted goldens in the midsouth area, and we are kept on our toes as it is, without focusing on other breeds or species.  If we had the time, money, and resources to help all of the midsouth's homeless dogs and cats, we would.

Our rescued goldens come from a variety of backgrounds.  Some are beloved friends whose owners have passed away, and some have never known love or companionship at all.  Some have been abused, some have had to forage for food and water.  Some have gotten lost and never reclaimed, ending up at a shelter.  Some goldens come from families that decide they no longer want them, and are carelessly thrown away because of a baby, a move, a marriage, or other circumstances.

Pet overpopulation is the crisis of having too many dogs and cats in the U.S., and not enough homes for them all.  According to the HSUS' estimates, 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are put down each year because there are no homes.  America's shelters take in over eight million pets each year.  With many of these dogs and cats breeding (as well as the pets with careless and irresponsible guardians), the number of homeless animals keeps growing and growing.  One dog can have two litters a year, and with an average of 6 to ten puppies in each litter, that dog and her offspring could theoretically produce an estimated 67,000 dogs in seven years!!  For cats, those figures are even higher.

No!  While a large part of the crisis is the unsterilized dogs and cats that roam the streets and breed, people play a large role in the problem when they don't do something as simple as spaying or neutering their companion animals.  Many people want to have 'just one litter' or show their children the 'miracle of birth' or they don't want to 'deny Fluffy what comes naturally.'  For every litter these careless folks bring into this world, it is that number of dogs and cats in a shelter that won't find a home, and will be euthanized.  Sure, these 'breeders' might be able to find homes for their puppies and kittens, but those homes are ones that could be filled by a rescue dog or cat.

Of course not.  While the majority of dogs and cats come from irresponsible breeders or pet mills, there are a very select few that are dedicated to their breeds, and only work in breeding to make their breed better.  These reputable breeders are ones that have something to contribute to the breeds.  If there were no breeders, the beloved breeds, such as our goldens, wouldn't exist. To learn more about breeders, check out our breeder FAQ.

A puppy mill is a mass-breeding operation.  Most of the puppies found in pet stores come from this kind of facility.  Generally, these facilities care little for the welfare of their breeding dogs, and they are often unsocialized, kept in poor conditions, and bred at every season.  To learn more about them, visit the HSUS site on puppy mills.

There are many welfare issues surrounding companion animals.  We'll explore them in more detail on our Issues Page, but some of the concern are bait dogs, pound seizures, tethering, spaying & neutering, abuse, neglect, abandonment, animal testing, kill boxes, elective surgeries, and theft.  Education is the key to change, so learn all you can about these issues, and speak out on behalf of those who have no voice.  Some of these issues are commonly addressed, and some are not.  MAGRR does not have an official position on any of them, but we are providing information for your benefit.

The biggest thing you can do is take responsibility for your own pets.  Have them spayed or neutered.  Learn all you can about being a responsible guardian and make the right choices.  Don't breed, rescue instead.  Volunteer with your local rescue or shelter.  Donate to a rescue or shelter of your choice.  Educate friends and family on the issues.

Thor