To be honest I don't know how people will react to what I'm going to say, so here goes.
In a high kill shelter in Los Angeles there is no sure things. There is no one who is completely safe from being euthanized. When the system sees you as a number and not a cute adoptable dog, chances are fleeting and time is the enemy. In this shelter there are dogs of all ages,sizes, and breeds. On the outside of the shelter there are advocates, cross posters, and rescuers. Now lets focus on two dogs. Two out of the four hundred dogs who are vying for our attention and networking. None the less, for time sake I want you to just ponder two scenarios of the dogs in this shelter.
The first dog, Lets call Buddy. Buddy is a 12 year old Labrador retriever / pit bull mix. He is sad to see in that kennel due to him being a senior dog. He should have been living out his golden years in a loving and compassionate home. He is obviously suffering from either a hip issue or possible arthritis. His eyes tell a story of confusion and sadness and are clouded with light color. His fur seems to be thinning revealing what looks like a medium size lump of either fatty tissue or a tumor above his tail.
Now dog number 2, lets call her Amy. Amy is about a year and a half year old fawn and white Pit / lab mix. Amy is in good health overall and besides needing a good bath has a fairly healthy coat. Amy is friendly and loves to play with the toys in the shelter's yard area. She knows sit, but only when a treat is involved. She is your average young adult pup who with the right family could be the perfect companion.
Both of the dogs came into the shelter on the 1st of a month. Both of these dogs have a photo on the internet. Both want to get of the shelter. However, what happens to each dog from there is completely different from the other. By the end of the first week in the shelter Buddy's sad senior face gains attention from the networking masses. People comment things like. " this poor senior needs out now, he needs medical." and when people see his pitiful picture they share it with endorsements in the captions like 'Urgent sad old dog dumped needs rescue'. Amy has a good photo circulating but not much emotion for her strife. She doesn't seem to grab peoples attention and her momentum to be acknowledged is spuddering out. Buddy on the other hand has pledges in the $300.00 and offers for his medical expenses to be paid in full. Amy doesn't need medical care, but she sits in the shelter with very little chance that the internet will be her ticket to a home or rescue. Buddy with no less then 100 comments on every photo making its rounds is eventfully rescued by the 3rd week in the shelter. His veterinary care alone will deplete his pledges but he is safe and warm in a foster home.
What about Amy tho? Well while everyone was bantering on Buddy's rescue, possible transport, and pledges. Amy was euthanized due to shelter over crowding on the 3rd week in the shelter. I know every dog deserves a chance and in a community that depends on the emotional trigger to make people help, I get it.
I just feel that at some point logical thinking should have some part in rescue. We all feel bad for the old ,sick or, aggressive dogs. I cry when I see a dog who has grey fur and a limp being dumped in the shelter but when the healthily 10 month old dog gets put to sleep, I cry even more. If we could save them all, that would be grand, but we cant .. But logical thinking accompanied by our emotional draw to save a life wouldn't hurt. Just think if Amy had the support that buddy did to be rescued, the money raised in pledges could have pulled 2 more dogs who needed transport or paid a foster for their help. ..I'm not saying Buddy didn't deserve to be rescued. Of course he did. But logically?
Being young and in Good health was like a rope around Amy's neck. Ending up in the shelter was her floor dropping out.
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