Animal Welfare Professionals

We are a small rescue that brings dumped, hurt or in-kill list dogs from the South to the Northeast.

We have a foster in a relatively rural area who cares for the dogs until they find a family 

Some dogs came pregnant and gave birth on that property. 

Since there are not many humans, the puppies weren't socialized, and I would say that today, over a year after their birth, they are feral dogs. They are all very fearful of anyone but their foster

We tried to find maybe a sanctuary  for them, but everyone is full

Talking with other professionals, we were recommended to humanly euthanize them

We hate the idea, and the foster will never allow it

These dogs (total 9 big dogs) take the place of other dogs we could save if we could find a solution for them. The money we pay to keep them could be used to help other dogs in need. 

I wonder if any other rescue had to deal with something similar and if someone has a helpful idea. 

All the ideas are welcome

#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment

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Tammy Fabian
Executive Director
Friends For Life Animal Rescue
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Hi Tammy,

We will get farm animals, usually pigs and horses that have been abused to the point they will not accept more than one human handling them, and even that is challenging. Not a big market for aggressive animals, farm or otherwise. We include these stories in our grant proposals in hopes it touches some corporate heart. Good luck to you.

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Shana McCawley
Vice President
Freed Spirits Animal Rescue
AZ
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Thank you Shana

That's a good Tip.  Did it help you get grants? 

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Tammy Fabian
Executive Director
Friends For Life Animal Rescue
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-05-2025 02:38 PM
From: Shana McCawley
Subject: What will you do with unadoptable dogs?

Hi Tammy,

We will get farm animals, usually pigs and horses that have been abused to the point they will not accept more than one human handling them, and even that is challenging. Not a big market for aggressive animals, farm or otherwise. We include these stories in our grant proposals in hopes it touches some corporate heart. Good luck to you.

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Shana McCawley
Vice President
Freed Spirits Animal Rescue
AZ
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If the foster will never allow it, then transfer ownership to her with no adoption fee.  Don't let fosters dictate how things will be run. Their feedback is appreciated, but most fosters are really just pet owners.  The only see a droplet of water compared to the ocean we swim in. They still react emotionally.  Some dogs aren't adoptable. I would euthanize unless you had someone super needy or skilled that wants to take it on, otherwise you run the risk of someone taking their frustration out on the dog. 

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Alesia Apodaca
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We had this type of situation years ago but with cats/kittens.  I sent a certified letter to the foster and basically stated that we were out. She was now the legal owner, all animals were being transferred to her, and our shelter would no longer have any responsibility, financially or otherwise, for any of the animals. We then cut off all ties with her. Lesson learned. Now we have a much stricter foster contract, and kittens/puppies and parents have to come back to the shelter at 8 weeks old. 

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Becki
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-06-2025 02:19 PM
From: Alesia Apodaca
Subject: What will you do with unadoptable dogs?

If the foster will never allow it, then transfer ownership to her with no adoption fee.  Don't let fosters dictate how things will be run. Their feedback is appreciated, but most fosters are really just pet owners.  The only see a droplet of water compared to the ocean we swim in. They still react emotionally.  Some dogs aren't adoptable. I would euthanize unless you had someone super needy or skilled that wants to take it on, otherwise you run the risk of someone taking their frustration out on the dog. 

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Alesia Apodaca
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I agree with all the other comments. We have been in this situation as well. We also train dogs.  We offered training support including videos and instructions on how to socialize and desensitize all the dogs on a property. The count of dogs was at 30. The only thing we could do was spay and neuter 26 and adopted 2 dogs that were not "feral". 

The decision was made after numerous attempts to help the people with the dogs, to transfer them back to the people.  We can only help people who are willing to help themselves. Limited fosters who are willing to step up and help us help people like this are low, very low.   We can only hope the dogs on this property live the best life they can considering the living situation.  I have pictures and videos of terrified dogs who would not allow anyone to go near them unless it was the people on the property. 

The Foundation gave a lot of food, veterinarian care, supplies, training treats, training bags, and a lot more with the s/n surgeries. It was a huge loss that we are still paying for to this day.  Decisions like this are hard to make but we had to make the decision to stop helping when we could have helped 30 other rescues who needed our help. 

You are not alone in this.

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[Kim] [Jackson]
[AKC CGC Evaluator]
[For The Puppies Foundation Inc.]
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I'm wondering why this desicion would be up to the foster? Unless they are financing the care etc. Also why would you not just have spay/abort? There is so many dogs right now. . I know that's not an easy desicion but it's pretty typical in cat rescue and TNR 

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Leslie Hay
Kennel technician
Frederick County Animal Control
MD
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