Animal Welfare Professionals

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

Hi, at Memphis Animal Services the ACO don't have to pick up dogs unless they're injured or aggressive. 

People who find a stray are asked to foster them. I don't work at the shelter, but I work with dog advocates in Memphis. The shelter is a very high kill shelter. 

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

Hi Catherine,

We are 60 miles north of Memphis in Arkansas - a rural area. The local ACOs will pick up strays if they have an open kennel.  But, like this weekend, two puppies about 10-12 weeks old were found on Main Street. The local police department called us instead of the ACO because they do not work on the weekends. 
We are over our maximum capacity -  we had to decline these two.    Three weeks ago, the ACO showed up on our property with eight puppies about six weeks old because they did not have an open kennel.   There doesn't seem to be an end in sight.  We are trying to find a method to enforce the county-wide spay and neuter, but this will not happen quickly.

For found pets, we operate a lost and found page that has proven to be a great resource for reuniting animals. If the finder holds the pet, we will also offer a crate, food, and medical care. Sometimes, this is a win-win for everyone. 

Connie 

Hi, at Memphis Animal Services the ACO don't have to pick up dogs unless they're injured or aggressive. 

People who find a stray are asked to foster them. I don't work at the shelter, but I work with dog advocates in Memphis. The shelter is a very high kill shelter. 

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

Hi, Connie, you do fabulous work with everything that your sanctuary does for the unwanted dogs. You put Memphis Shelter to shame. Our population is apathetic and unmotivated to help find homes for strays and Shelter dogs. Our small group of volunteers that network the shelters Critical dogs are the only people who actively seek homes & Rescues for these dogs. I've managed to build a small following on Nextdoor where I post the Critical dogs (in trying to recruit Fosters), but the actual number of neighbors who sign up to foster is very low. 

I created a self- funded website to provide an alternative showcase for these dogs because not everyone uses Facebook, and one of the top posts is why Shelter dogs get euthanized! Really. We have volunteer women who go out in to  the worst areas of Memphis to feed stray dogs. Our ACO told one woman that she was not allowed to feed the dogs as he just sat there, did nothing, and just  watched her work. 

Our shelter and city do nothing about the strays. We have spay/neuter laws that are not enforced, and adopters were being allowed to take  unfixed dogs from the shelter if the adopter promised to get the dog fixed. There were no Vets on staff at the time. Budget cuts made by the Mayor. This is Memphis. 

You mentioned having a Lost/Found service that is working. Can you tell me a bit about that? Our terrible shelter still thinks killing dogs is a solution to our stray population. 

I am heartbroken at seeing so many fabulous dogs and puppies killed by the shelter that I am looking for ways to stop this madness. 

Thank you, Connie

Catherine 

Hi Catherine,

We are 60 miles north of Memphis in Arkansas - a rural area. The local ACOs will pick up strays if they have an open kennel.  But, like this weekend, two puppies about 10-12 weeks old were found on Main Street. The local police department called us instead of the ACO because they do not work on the weekends. 
We are over our maximum capacity -  we had to decline these two.    Three weeks ago, the ACO showed up on our property with eight puppies about six weeks old because they did not have an open kennel.   There doesn't seem to be an end in sight.  We are trying to find a method to enforce the county-wide spay and neuter, but this will not happen quickly.

For found pets, we operate a lost and found page that has proven to be a great resource for reuniting animals. If the finder holds the pet, we will also offer a crate, food, and medical care. Sometimes, this is a win-win for everyone. 

Connie 

Hi, at Memphis Animal Services the ACO don't have to pick up dogs unless they're injured or aggressive. 

People who find a stray are asked to foster them. I don't work at the shelter, but I work with dog advocates in Memphis. The shelter is a very high kill shelter. 

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

Hi, Connie, you do fabulous work with everything that your sanctuary does for the unwanted dogs. You put Memphis Shelter to shame. Our population is apathetic and unmotivated to help find homes for strays and Shelter dogs. Our small group of volunteers that network the shelters Critical dogs are the only people who actively seek homes & Rescues for these dogs. I've managed to build a small following on Nextdoor where I post the Critical dogs (in trying to recruit Fosters), but the actual number of neighbors who sign up to foster is very low. 

I created a self- funded website to provide an alternative showcase for these dogs because not everyone uses Facebook, and one of the top posts is why Shelter dogs get euthanized! Really. We have volunteer women who go out in to  the worst areas of Memphis to feed stray dogs. Our ACO told one woman that she was not allowed to feed the dogs as he just sat there, did nothing, and just  watched her work. 

Our shelter and city do nothing about the strays. We have spay/neuter laws that are not enforced, and adopters were being allowed to take  unfixed dogs from the shelter if the adopter promised to get the dog fixed. There were no Vets on staff at the time. Budget cuts made by the Mayor. This is Memphis. 

You mentioned having a Lost/Found service that is working. Can you tell me a bit about that? Our terrible shelter still thinks killing dogs is a solution to our stray population. 

I am heartbroken at seeing so many fabulous dogs and puppies killed by the shelter that I am looking for ways to stop this madness. 

Thank you, Connie

Catherine 

Hi Catherine,

We are 60 miles north of Memphis in Arkansas - a rural area. The local ACOs will pick up strays if they have an open kennel.  But, like this weekend, two puppies about 10-12 weeks old were found on Main Street. The local police department called us instead of the ACO because they do not work on the weekends. 
We are over our maximum capacity -  we had to decline these two.    Three weeks ago, the ACO showed up on our property with eight puppies about six weeks old because they did not have an open kennel.   There doesn't seem to be an end in sight.  We are trying to find a method to enforce the county-wide spay and neuter, but this will not happen quickly.

For found pets, we operate a lost and found page that has proven to be a great resource for reuniting animals. If the finder holds the pet, we will also offer a crate, food, and medical care. Sometimes, this is a win-win for everyone. 

Connie 

Hi, at Memphis Animal Services the ACO don't have to pick up dogs unless they're injured or aggressive. 

People who find a stray are asked to foster them. I don't work at the shelter, but I work with dog advocates in Memphis. The shelter is a very high kill shelter. 

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

Have you considered signing up for PetcoLoveLost? It's a free, nationwide platform for posting lost/found animals. Petco uses "facial recognition software" for lack of a better term to match lost pets to like-looking found pets. Anyone can post. Petco provides free advertising tools to let people know about the program. I'd say their recognition software is still a work in progress, but with AI advancements, I imagine it will get better and better over time. Also, as a user, you will become eligible for grant consideration. 

Hi, Connie, you do fabulous work with everything that your sanctuary does for the unwanted dogs. You put Memphis Shelter to shame. Our population is apathetic and unmotivated to help find homes for strays and Shelter dogs. Our small group of volunteers that network the shelters Critical dogs are the only people who actively seek homes & Rescues for these dogs. I've managed to build a small following on Nextdoor where I post the Critical dogs (in trying to recruit Fosters), but the actual number of neighbors who sign up to foster is very low. 

I created a self- funded website to provide an alternative showcase for these dogs because not everyone uses Facebook, and one of the top posts is why Shelter dogs get euthanized! Really. We have volunteer women who go out in to  the worst areas of Memphis to feed stray dogs. Our ACO told one woman that she was not allowed to feed the dogs as he just sat there, did nothing, and just  watched her work. 

Our shelter and city do nothing about the strays. We have spay/neuter laws that are not enforced, and adopters were being allowed to take  unfixed dogs from the shelter if the adopter promised to get the dog fixed. There were no Vets on staff at the time. Budget cuts made by the Mayor. This is Memphis. 

You mentioned having a Lost/Found service that is working. Can you tell me a bit about that? Our terrible shelter still thinks killing dogs is a solution to our stray population. 

I am heartbroken at seeing so many fabulous dogs and puppies killed by the shelter that I am looking for ways to stop this madness. 

Thank you, Connie

Catherine 

Hi Catherine,

We are 60 miles north of Memphis in Arkansas - a rural area. The local ACOs will pick up strays if they have an open kennel.  But, like this weekend, two puppies about 10-12 weeks old were found on Main Street. The local police department called us instead of the ACO because they do not work on the weekends. 
We are over our maximum capacity -  we had to decline these two.    Three weeks ago, the ACO showed up on our property with eight puppies about six weeks old because they did not have an open kennel.   There doesn't seem to be an end in sight.  We are trying to find a method to enforce the county-wide spay and neuter, but this will not happen quickly.

For found pets, we operate a lost and found page that has proven to be a great resource for reuniting animals. If the finder holds the pet, we will also offer a crate, food, and medical care. Sometimes, this is a win-win for everyone. 

Connie 

Hi, at Memphis Animal Services the ACO don't have to pick up dogs unless they're injured or aggressive. 

People who find a stray are asked to foster them. I don't work at the shelter, but I work with dog advocates in Memphis. The shelter is a very high kill shelter. 

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

I think everyone is in the same boat right now. It's like we have took a step back in time and now are faced with a massive population explosion due to the "wants" of down time during covid. We are also a very rural shelter. Our county has a 14% unemployment rate and a declining population. 

We offer web sites to people to try to re-home their own pets. We have all but quit taking owner surrenders. You took the responsibility of that dog; you see it to the end. Now, there are exceptions to this rule. Right now, our D.O.A. (humans) that have animals and no family or friends to accept the canines we will take, provided we have room. We also make no promises as to the outcome.

 Our other issue that has tripled is abandoned animals. In this year alone, we have had 4x the cases of previous years, that people are moving and abandoning their animals in the house or property. Most of these are rental property where they have been allowed to have the animals. I feel the responsibility falls back on the landowner. 

This first half of this year our reclaim of dogs has declined compared to previous years. This has also created a larger number of dogs in the shelter.  Being forced into the position of telling people we cannot take the dog they found on the side of the road is taxing to us and the public.

We ask for photos of the canine and a contact person for the owner to reclaim the stray dog and post on Facebook. 

One local lady has set up a LOST AND FOUND Facebook page and it is gaining ground.  It has helped to keep some would be strays out of the shelter and returned to their owner without our involvement. This has been very helpful! 

Full is full. But the public doesn't understand these small words. They think as long as they have the need there will be a spot to fill it. They are learning differently. I think this turn away is going to be become more of the normal response than anyone has anticipated in the next 3-5 years. The cup of "save them all" has now runth over. The system and the spots are full. Shelter workers know the definition of insanity is... E one good dog to bring in another good dog. Our hearts are tired and hurt. 

I believe eventually, there will have to be a law about spaying and neutering of canines to get this over abundance across the states even somewhat under control. But until then, we all do the best we can. We offer a leash, bowls, food, kennel to help them until we have room. 

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

I think everyone is in the same boat right now. It's like we have took a step back in time and now are faced with a massive population explosion due to the "wants" of down time during covid. We are also a very rural shelter. Our county has a 14% unemployment rate and a declining population. 

We offer web sites to people to try to re-home their own pets. We have all but quit taking owner surrenders. You took the responsibility of that dog; you see it to the end. Now, there are exceptions to this rule. Right now, our D.O.A. (humans) that have animals and no family or friends to accept the canines we will take, provided we have room. We also make no promises as to the outcome.

 Our other issue that has tripled is abandoned animals. In this year alone, we have had 4x the cases of previous years, that people are moving and abandoning their animals in the house or property. Most of these are rental property where they have been allowed to have the animals. I feel the responsibility falls back on the landowner. 

This first half of this year our reclaim of dogs has declined compared to previous years. This has also created a larger number of dogs in the shelter.  Being forced into the position of telling people we cannot take the dog they found on the side of the road is taxing to us and the public.

We ask for photos of the canine and a contact person for the owner to reclaim the stray dog and post on Facebook. 

One local lady has set up a LOST AND FOUND Facebook page and it is gaining ground.  It has helped to keep some would be strays out of the shelter and returned to their owner without our involvement. This has been very helpful! 

Full is full. But the public doesn't understand these small words. They think as long as they have the need there will be a spot to fill it. They are learning differently. I think this turn away is going to be become more of the normal response than anyone has anticipated in the next 3-5 years. The cup of "save them all" has now runth over. The system and the spots are full. Shelter workers know the definition of insanity is... E one good dog to bring in another good dog. Our hearts are tired and hurt. 

I believe eventually, there will have to be a law about spaying and neutering of canines to get this over abundance across the states even somewhat under control. But until then, we all do the best we can. We offer a leash, bowls, food, kennel to help them until we have room. 

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------

As in many places, the shelters in my area are full. People who find dogs are reporting being told to let them loose if they cannot foster them. The rationale is that they will find their way home. 

I am researching alternatives to that policy and also whether that is the norm.

I am appreciative for any help.

Thank you.

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*

------------------------------
Phyllis Brust
Director
CareerMutt
FL
------------------------------