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Two recent cases in Monroe County, Pennsylvania are putting a spotlight on a growing problem for local animal shelters: dog dumping. In the past week alone, four dogs have been left to fend for themselves, according to WBRE/WYOU.
Two of the dogs were found along Devils Hole Road in Cresco. All four are now getting the care they need at Camp Papillon, which says abandoning a dog carries serious consequences for both the animal and the shelter.
Staff say these aren’t isolated incidents, which is why they’re asking people to think twice before abandoning a dog. “People are dumping their dogs everywhere,” one staff member said.
Shelter staff say they understand that people can find themselves in situations where they can no longer care for a pet. But leaving a dog on the side of the road doesn’t solve the problem.
It leaves the animal vulnerable to traffic, weather, injury, and other dangers. It also takes up valuable shelter space at a time when shelters are already dealing with limited room and resources.
Camp Papillon says anyone who can no longer care for their dog should reach out for help instead of leaving the animal behind.
My thoughts:
What stands out is the double cost the shelter describes. The dog is put at risk on the roadside first, and then the shelter has to absorb another animal into space it doesn’t have.
It’s also worth noting that the shelter’s message isn’t a lecture, it’s an open door. Staff acknowledge that people end up in hard situations, and the ask is simply to call before abandoning a dog, which is a much easier step than most people assume.
Source: WBRE/WYOU (Hamilton Township, Monroe County, PA), via Yahoo News
