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Originally Posted by milosmom
On a bright note: go to bestfriends.org. This is a no kill shelter and animals that cannot be adopted out for whatever reason can live a happy content life there for the rest of their lives. I am going to become a guardian angel and donate. I wish this shelter could be nationwide and become a model for all animal shelters...so no more animals would have to be euthanized because of a dumb human decision.
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Sigh ... define happy content life.
Two years ago this coming spring early summer a five year old tri Pembroke boy was rescued by a Pembroke breeder from a life in a kennel run with thirteen Beagles. The Beagles bullied and attacked and had chewed off a part of his ear. He was taken home by his rescuer and began a fresh life in her kennel office with a nice couch to relax on, a door to go in and out as he pleased or needed and lots of grass for walks with his rescuer angel. After he healed physically, he made a trip to North Carolina where he was with me for about a month. I watched him continue to come out his shell and enjoy moments of playing with toys. Then he would catch himself, look over his shoulder as if expecting the Beagles to attack and take his new treasure away. He continued to settle and the playful periods and enjoyment of toys lasted longer. I would watch him sleep, sometimes fitfully as if having nightmares. A darling sweet boy, just wanting to know he was loved and that the affection he was receiving was really his. He continued to gain confidence and blossom and a wonderful home came along; corgi savvy having had several corgis over a long many years. The weekend after Hurricane Katrina he went to live with them and became their Prince. He did well in obedience classes, they worked with his insecurities and then sometimes as it sadly and unfortunately happens - the security of knowing he was "home" led to the manifestation of other behaviors. He began snapping at his owners. Full physical was done and ruled out any medical causes. Snapping became biting. They worked with trainers and behaviorists and consulted everyone they could think of and/or I could find for them to talk to. I researched and asked questions. The owners invested 200 % into trying to find a solution. While this corgi boy had the sweetest and most loving heart, it could not overcome the demons of his mind and they ultimately won out behaviorally. He couldn't help himself, as much as he seemed to want to, he just couldn't. His unpredictability cause owners who wanted nothing more than for him to be happy and loved to fear him. At 2:32 January 3rd this year, they showed him the final act of love they could and were with him as he made the journey across the Rainbow Bridge.
Now this fellow would/could have been a candidate for Best Friends, but explain to me how his life would have been happy or content? He would no longer have the touch of his humans or to be able to lie next to the desk while his owner kept up with correspondence on the computer. He would no longer be able to announce it was lunch time and fetch his best friend down the stairs. He would no longer be able to share walks with his person. So please explain to me how life in an enclosure on a no-kill animal sanctuary/shelter would have been kinder or gentler or more humane than the final act of love by his owners? That would have been sentencing him to living the rest of his life more or less where it began, just minus the Beagles. Where would be his quality of life?
No-kill is a very idealistic and romantic notion, but not practical or realistic. Health, age, temperament, behaviors, there are just somethings that the kindest thing one can do for an animal is to release it from its suffering. Others are a danger to other animals and humans - a public health and safety issue. A year old Pem male that literally nearly took off the end of my finger as I was tossing a bit of kibble into his bowl is a good example. And there are some dirty little secrets that some of the so called no-kill facilities don't tell, they may not do the euthanizing themselves and pass it off to the local animal control/shelter. But they can pat themselves of the back for being "humane." Others don't accept anything but near perfect pets, easily placeable and adoptable. They refuse difficult behavioral cases or medical cases that take time to reverse.
For a little more reading on No-kill:
http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/05/9...accomp9.05.htm
And I think you might just find Jim Willis' name in this article, the author of "How Could You?" A very poignant piece indeed and one I have read over several years now.
Best Friends also started an initiative called No More Homeless Pets. Now take that to the logical end conclusion - when will it be possible to have no more homeless pets? Owners pass away, gates get left open and pets run off, pets are stolen and then dumped ... as long as there are pets, life happens that can render pets homeless. Only when there are no more pets will there be no more homeless pets. Yes, Best Friends is a part of the animal rights movement and that is the stated agenda of the AR's.
I'm still reeling from the end of this very special boy who left many paw prints on my heart, so if my post sounds a bit touchy, that is because I do feel personally vested here.
Debbie