06/30/2024
PLEASE 🙏 PLEASE 🙏 PLEASE 🙏
Take a moment to read this......I volunteer for Husky Haven of Florida Inc. They are a great organization. We also have GTS Husky Rescue right here in Jupiter
Had to repost this because some people couldn't share it yesterday, and many wanted to! Very important read!
Every day, we receive emails from shelters asking for help and from individuals wanting to surrender their dogs. Right now, we have around 40 emails in our inbox from shelters across Florida asking us to assist with dogs. Additionally, there are about 40 more emails from individuals seeking to surrender their dogs. Many of these requests involve multiple dogs—sometimes two, three, or even four. On top of that, we get numerous messages on Facebook and Instagram, texts from networkers, and emails to our two dedicated surrender application accounts. Then this compounds to the ones that continue flowing in on a daily basis. Finding a solution to this overwhelming demand would challenge even the most rational person, and those of us in rescue, who often feel far from sane, struggle to keep up.
Yesterday, I followed up on an email about a petite, 40-pound dog at a local shelter. She had no issues, but we couldn't take her in because we lacked available fosters. The shelter just informed me she was euthanized due to a lack of space. The sadness, disillusionment, and rage we felt—not at the shelter, but at the humans who failed her—were overwhelming.
Social media has exacerbated many of these problems. When we receive an owner surrender message on any platform, I often check their profile. It's disheartening to see the "beautiful and happy" pictures of these dogs living seemingly wonderful lives, only to be discarded when the novelty wears off. This is not an anomaly; it's the norm, and it's what leads to tragic outcomes like the little girl who lost her life at the shelter, abandoned and alone.
To those who think I'm being harsh, try walking a day in our shoes. Read the emails, spend a day at a shelter, and see the faces of these abandoned dogs. Experience their fear and loneliness. We are tired of making excuses for these humans, of being nice and polite. Someone has to speak up for the thousands of lives lost to euthanasia because their humans failed them.
Before you chase the social media dream using your dog as a prop and then decide you no longer have time for them, consider the consequences. Many of these dogs come from backyard breeders or puppy stores, stop supporting them!
People often say our adoption qualifications are too strict. Should we lower our standards? Absolutely not, because doing so would likely result in more tragedies like that of the little girl who lost her life.
We often see comments from people saying, "I wish I could help." The truth is, many of our volunteers don't just wish they could—they find a way to make it work, to help, and to make a difference. It's not easy for anyone, but if we step away, there will literally be no hope.
Adoptions are low, and fosters are scarce. So, what do we do? Do you have a solution? Every email and message asks, "Can you help?" Ask yourself, how can YOU help?
Most of you reading this are likely good, responsible pet owners. But it's the people who do the least to help our cause who are the most vocal. Support your local shelters and rescues, but most importantly, be the kind of person your dog would proudly call their beloved owner.
Most likely, that little girl sitting in the shelter, whether surrendered or never reclaimed, thought she was going for a walk. She probably wagged her tail happily, thinking it was playtime. Instead, she was led one last time to a room where someone helped her take her final breath. Technically, this happened due to lack of space, but in reality, it was because her humans, and we as a society, failed her.
To her who lost her life: you represent the thousands of dogs dying every seven seconds in shelters. We humans don't deserve dogs. Your life matters, and you will continue to inspire us, even though we can't win every battle.
If there ever was a crisis, it's now. If there ever was an opportunity to make a difference, it's now. If there ever was a moment to discover how you can help save a life, it's NOW.
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