why-animals-do-the-thing:

cynological:

How about animal shelters stop publically shaming people for surrendering their animals.

A sudden job loss can mean being suddenly homeless.

Not everyone can care for their late spouse’s or their late parents’ pets, for a variety of reasons. I can tell you right now that God forbid something happens to my parents, but if they had to go to a nursing home or died, I would not be able to nor want to keep their pets.

The new baby could have health issues that take precedent over the care of the dogs. Babies have sensitive lungs. An allergy or breathing disorder triggered by pet dander could kill them.

The sudden loss of a home could mean that now you’re stuck having to move… but no one in your area has pet friendly housing. Or if they do, good luck getting through the pet size limits, number restrictions, and breed restrictions. Or a massively unreasonable pet deposit.

Shaming people does nothing except reflect poorly on your shelter and deter people from giving up their pets to you, which increases the likelihood of the animals being dumped somewhere.

“They could have found a home privately or gone through a rescue!”

That takes time and rescues are often very picky about what they will take in.

Yes, many animals are surrendered because people are irresponsible or ignorant. But calling out the owners on social media is not going to benefit anyone in any way, shape, or form.

This, so much. This is the reason I hate the term ‘forever home’ when rescues use it – because there are things you cannot predict or prevent from occurring, no matter how proactively you plan for emergencies. Life sometimes throws random nasties at you, and sometimes those result in needing to give up a beloved pet. That is hard enough without having the words “forever home” hovering over your head, guilting you for not being able to be forever for your animal. Or, god forbid, seeing your pet’s successful adoption being posted on the shelter’s social media, rejoicing that they’ve finally found their “forever home.” Unlike the one they had, it implies. Unlike you, who couldn’t be forever. 

The current animal rescue / humane activism trend is to shame people who give up animals and praise those who take them in. It’s unkind and unhelpful and often motivated by profit and media visibility. Please don’t contribute to it, and above all, be kind. If someone genuinely has to give up a pet because of something they can’t prevent or predict, don’t make that any harder on them. 

Admitting “I cannot properly care for this animal” when the situation calls for it is vital. It’s not shameful to no longer be able to keep something happy. 

Buying chicks for Easter and then dumping them because you wanted props, not baby chickens, is shameful. 

Keeping a dog for several years and then being forced to give it up by circumstances beyond your reasonable control is not.