We can sit back and blog about policies gone haywire and how shelters don't give pit bulls a fair chance or have unrealistic expectations to only put up the perfect dogs. We can rant and rave and work to change those policies but if we don't have the people or resources to help the dogs how are they better off? It takes People and a committment of time and energy, it takes cooperation between rescues and shelters. It takes good sound policies on both sides. I know we aren't the first to have this program but I think it's an important tool that has the potential to help more dogs...and isn't that what it is all about? I've been on both sides of the fence and each has their challenges, but the common ground is both need people. It's easy to forget that the shelter staff need to feed all the animals (yes there are usually cats, rabbits and sometimes even livestock and other animals at some shelters), clean kennels, tend to sick animals if they have a medical ward, do laundry and then start all over again. Then I come in as a representitive of a rescue and say why isn't this young untrained goofy pit bull who is jumping in the kennel available for adoption, but sorry, we can't take him/her because we don't have any foster homes available. Yes donations and money are an absolute necessity, but unless there are people to work with the dogs what will be gained?
Many shelters have good solid volunteer programs to help with socializing the animals and even volunteer trainers that help. They are INVALUABLE but once again there are many animals that need their time and energy.
This is Miss Bubbles - We are partnering with Humane Society Silicon Valley to help this young energetic teenage pit bull mix find her forever home. We do not have an available foster home and socialization with all kinds of people and dogs is vitally important at her age. So how do we help? She will be an Our Pack Dog but she is"living" in her own special suite at the new Animal Care Center that
HSSV has just opened but we are dependent on a group of Our Pack Volunteers to take time out of their busy lives to get her out and work with her on her manners and socialize and expose her to the outside world.
These things don't happen over night! It takes hard work and trust on both sides and like any relationship it takes compromise at times. But we have a chance to help a dog, even if it is only one dog at first...baby steps. How could we not try!
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