[PNWPBR]

Since the ex-fighter debate started talking about overpopulation, hopefully we can debate that here.

My views:

In my part of the states (The PNW) overpopulation is a HUGE issue. 7 out of 10 shelter dogs are Pit Bulls with more coming in every, single day. With the number of landlords allowing these dogs declining, the number of people breeding them and selling them on craigslist increasing, and the number of educated owners NOT increasing....

what is the solution?

[airwalk]

Well I guess as a Newbie I should probably just go ahead and jump in with both feet. I manage a shelter that sees up to 10 new dogs every day. We have a very active rescue and adoption program and we still euth 5 - 10 dogs almost every week, mostly for lack of space and resources because no home has shown up and no owner has reclaimed.

It's not just bullies - but right now they are the "hot breed". They make up approximately 24% of our intake and our reclaim rates are maybe 10% if I am very generous.

I would like to see breeding licensing at a very stiff license fee. If you breed, you pay enough to help pay the cost of the dogs that will end up in a shelter. If you don't have a license, you don't breed - if you get caught breeding without a license, you lose all of your dogs, your right to own dogs for a long while and you see a fine that is huge.

This way only those breeding in a responsible manner that are sure they can place all of their puppies at a price that they are comfortable with - will breed. Sure others will breed - they will get caught and the numbers (at least in my opinion) will go down.

I like mandatory spay/neuter if your dog ends up in a shelter. I know that poopy happens to everyone - heck I've had to chase my dogs down out of my yard - but all of mine are speutered and certainly can't create more in the time they are out.

This, I know is not a popular opinion, but for those of us that stand in the euth room week after week after week. For those of us that take care of the dogs no one wants and no one wants to reclaim. For those of us that know where the owner is, can't force them to reclaim their dog and end up being the last face that dog sees - I am an advocate for some very tough measures.

[Suki]

nice post. and i strongly agree on the licencing fees. up around this way, "pit bulls" are what dominate our shelters as well. i imagine it's probably like this nation wide.
i do think your ideas would make a dent in the overpopulation issue. i personally would like to have breeders meet a certain criteria as well. for example, mandate that the breeders have been into the breed for X amount of years. have a strict and stringent Breeder Code Of Ethics specific for "pit bulls", and yes, any "pit bull" that ends up in a shelter, for whatever the reason, to be either spayed or neutered.
..could be a start....

[LindsaySF]

I'm with Airwalk.

[Purple]

Just happens I made a slide show about overpopulaton awhile back:

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?ei...027&gid=123269

[msvette2u]

I remember that video
I can't see how anyone who works in or with a shelter can deny the huge issue of pet overpopulation.
The only solution is aggressive spay/neuter programs and possibly even laws.


BTW, Nice to see you, Diana!!

[buddysmom]

A good thread and an important topic. I'll weigh in later.

For now I just want to say if someone is going to give a thread one star get in there and say why ... doon't be such a cowardly pissant, whoever you are.

I will give it five stars

Originally Posted by buddysmom A good thread and an important topic. I'll weigh in later. For now I just want to say if someone is going to give a thread one star get in there and say why ... doon't be such a cowardly pissant, whoever you are. I will give it five stars

Please refrain from any further talk like this! Anyone is allowed to give a thread any rating they want. That is why the feature is there. Please refrain from name calling !

[buddysmom]

OK I'll refrain from name calling (even if it's to "anonymous") but I sttand by my opinion that, if someone is going to rate a thread as "terrible" it would be the right thing to do to say why.

[Purple]

Originally Posted by buddysmom OK I'll refrain from name calling (even if it's to "anonymous") but I sttand by my opinion that, if someone is going to rate a thread as "terrible" it would be the right thing to do to say why.

I believe the subject is ovepopulation. Continue to debate the topic, not each other's personal opinions.

[buddysmom]

OK Purple, LOL

Well I was starting to write something original but I think airwalk covered it. I especailly would like to see those stiff licensing fees for breeding (of any and all breeds).

Newspapers could help also by refusing to run "Puppy for Sale" classifieds.

Originally Posted by airwalk Well I guess as a Newbie I should probably just go ahead and jump in with both feet. I manage a shelter that sees up to 10 new dogs every day. We have a very active rescue and adoption program and we still euth 5 - 10 dogs almost every week, mostly for lack of space and resources because no home has shown up and no owner has reclaimed. It's not just bullies - but right now they are the "hot breed". They make up approximately 24% of our intake and our reclaim rates are maybe 10% if I am very generous. I would like to see breeding licensing at a very stiff license fee. If you breed, you pay enough to help pay the cost of the dogs that will end up in a shelter. If you don't have a license, you don't breed - if you get caught breeding without a license, you lose all of your dogs, your right to own dogs for a long while and you see a fine that is huge. This way only those breeding in a responsible manner that are sure they can place all of their puppies at a price that they are comfortable with - will breed. Sure others will breed - they will get caught and the numbers (at least in my opinion) will go down. I like mandatory spay/neuter if your dog ends up in a shelter. I know that poopy happens to everyone - heck I've had to chase my dogs down out of my yard - but all of mine are speutered and certainly can't create more in the time they are out. This, I know is not a popular opinion, but for those of us that stand in the euth room week after week after week. For those of us that take care of the dogs no one wants and no one wants to reclaim. For those of us that know where the owner is, can't force them to reclaim their dog and end up being the last face that dog sees - I am an advocate for some very tough measures.

Originally Posted by buddysmom OK Purple, LOL Well I was starting to write something original but I think airwalk covered it. I especailly would like to see those stiff licensing fees for breeding (of any and all breeds). Newspapers could help also by refusing to run "Puppy for Sale" classifieds.

well i for one think it is highly unfair to punish a responsible breeder just because of overpopulation. no byb are going to stop breeding, nor get the liscense as it's all about the money for them. more bureaucratic bull that won't do a thing.

also, no business such as a newspaper is ever going to quit taking money for ads. that is just unrealistic. think about it.

[Suki]

Originally Posted by Boogieman well i for one think it is highly unfair to punish a responsible breeder just because of overpopulation. no byb are going to stop breeding, nor get the liscense as it's all about the money for them. more bureaucratic bull that won't do a thing. also, no business such as a newspaper is ever going to quit taking money for ads. that is just unrealistic. think about it.

which is why i think breeders should be in it for "X" amount of years, yes, to PROOVE that they ARE in fact "responsible" and not just 'fly by nights'.
and every BYB should be reported!!!(some how)...

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Purple Just happens I made a slide show about overpopulaton awhile back: http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?ei...027&gid=123269

that's an outstanding video

[Purple]

Originally Posted by Michele that's an outstanding video

Thanks, Michele!

[Miakoda]

1. Quit bitching & whining when responsible breeders cull. It's 100% neccessary not just for overpopulation reasons but in order to keep the best of the best (physical, temperament, & working ability) alive to keep the breed as it should be.

2. Quit buying dogs from bybs and pet stores because you "feel sorry for them" and want to "rescue" them. Sadly, it will take the sacrifice of some in order to save the rest. If we don't, then we will eventually lose them all.

3. Quit acting like euthanasia is a horrible thing. Just because a dog is breathing, eating, & drinking doesn't mean it's living. Life in a cage at a shelter that claims the dogs are just "happy to be alive" is not fair as it's not living.

[buddysmom]

Originally Posted by Boogieman also, no business such as a newspaper is ever going to quit taking money for ads. that is just unrealistic. think about it.

If they got a ton of good PR for it ... milked it for all it's worth ... they might. Especially in areas where there is tight competition between two newspapers.

[GHOST]

what gets me is the local AC and pounds don't advertise the dogs in the local papers,,, there are so many free papers out there and it would give ppl ineterested in buying one another avenue,,,but alot of rescuse charge a arm and a leg for one and if they was in it for the dogs then as long as it got a good home whats the point,,money,,,what else

[bkbk]

- Mandatory desexing for all pet-class dogs (this can work in practice)

- More education. Education is probably the most important thing of all. How you get the message through though is another story. Most people aren't dumb (well, I'm an eternal optimist), but they ARE ignorant. I've been surprised a few times by people I know coming out with the most ridiculous opinions on dangerous dogs, breeding, pet ownership and so on. I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of compulsory pet education classes at primary and secondary schools, maybe part of science? social studies? ethics? I live in hope that the message about BYBing, pet shops, puppy farms etc will get through people's thick heads one day, even if it takes a few generations.

Everyone else has said the things I wanted to say.

[buddysmom]

Originally Posted by GHOST what gets me is the local AC and pounds don't advertise the dogs in the local papers,,, there are so many free papers out there and it would give ppl ineterested in buying one another avenue,,,but alot of rescuse charge a arm and a leg for one and if they was in it for the dogs then as long as it got a good home whats the point,,money,,,what else

Our local shelters get free ads in our two local papers and "pet of the week" spots on one of the TV news channels

They should place spots (no pun intended) in the classifieds too though to show there are alternatives to "puppis for sale" (crappily bred, 600 dollars)