Comments on: Good Hearted or Just Animal Nazis? http://www.arkanimals.com/2009/06/15/good-hearted-or-just-animal-nazis/ Embark on an armchair safari with animal expert and author Diana L Guerrero. Explore wild and domestic animal behavior, training, careers, and more. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:23:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Flea Gal http://www.arkanimals.com/2009/06/15/good-hearted-or-just-animal-nazis/comment-page-1/#comment-2485 Flea Gal Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:23:59 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/?p=994#comment-2485 Here is a great commentary on the topic hot off the press by Nathan Winograd: http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=1859 Here is a great commentary on the topic hot off the press by Nathan Winograd: http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=1859

]]> By: Ark Lady http://www.arkanimals.com/2009/06/15/good-hearted-or-just-animal-nazis/comment-page-1/#comment-2372 Ark Lady Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:12:51 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/?p=994#comment-2372 @Cindy: Thanks for leaving a note. Sorry to hear about your experience but some groups are really a mess and very much a tight knit club. Hope that you find something else to put your energy into! @Cindy: Thanks for leaving a note. Sorry to hear about your experience but some groups are really a mess and very much a tight knit club. Hope that you find something else to put your energy into!

]]> By: Cindy H http://www.arkanimals.com/2009/06/15/good-hearted-or-just-animal-nazis/comment-page-1/#comment-2371 Cindy H Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:55:56 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/?p=994#comment-2371 This is a very interesting subject. I had 2 Pomeranians and thought I could foster others. We have a fenced backyard and the dogs stay with me in the house. I went through the rigmarole, filled out a long questionnaire and finally got a "home visit". This was after they actually called two of my references. We have a 10x10 fenced area that we can move around the yard if the dogs would be in danger (mowing, etc). And, the dogs spent the night in their crates. Those are the only things I could even imagine this woman didn't like. She brought a neurotic dog with her and even told me it's OK to have large and small dogs together, and that her Great Dane rolled over and broke the leg of her chihuahua! After her visit, I heard no more from these people. They wouldn't answer the phone, or emails. They are physically located over an hour away, so I didn't GO there. This all just blew my mind. I've had pets of all kinds for over 40 years at that time and I was disapproved! It's unbelievable. Especially if you know how I pamper my dogs. Nazi is the right word for some of them. This is a very interesting subject. I had 2 Pomeranians and thought I could foster others. We have a fenced backyard and the dogs stay with me in the house. I went through the rigmarole, filled out a long questionnaire and finally got a “home visit”. This was after they actually called two of my references. We have a 10×10 fenced area that we can move around the yard if the dogs would be in danger (mowing, etc). And, the dogs spent the night in their crates. Those are the only things I could even imagine this woman didn’t like. She brought a neurotic dog with her and even told me it’s OK to have large and small dogs together, and that her Great Dane rolled over and broke the leg of her chihuahua! After her visit, I heard no more from these people. They wouldn’t answer the phone, or emails. They are physically located over an hour away, so I didn’t GO there. This all just blew my mind. I’ve had pets of all kinds for over 40 years at that time and I was disapproved! It’s unbelievable. Especially if you know how I pamper my dogs. Nazi is the right word for some of them.

]]> By: Ark Lady http://www.arkanimals.com/2009/06/15/good-hearted-or-just-animal-nazis/comment-page-1/#comment-2364 Ark Lady Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:16:13 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/?p=994#comment-2364 @LynnO: I have not heard the "they are better off dead" line ever but I have watched shelter and rescue people snub potential pet owners before giving them a chance--not to mention the animal. Fostering has challenges but I think it can be a great option prior to integrating an animal into a new home. Ultimately, what I would like to see is a series of programs within shelters and fostering programs that take the well-meaning actions and energy and supply training and additional help to mold those animals into better adoptable pets. I've seen the nazi mentality in fostering pet parents. Ultimately, I think they mean well but they have an odd sense of stewardship that is not serving the best interest of the animals and ignoring the best interests of those wanting to adopt. @LynnO: I have not heard the “they are better off dead” line ever but I have watched shelter and rescue people snub potential pet owners before giving them a chance–not to mention the animal.

Fostering has challenges but I think it can be a great option prior to integrating an animal into a new home.

Ultimately, what I would like to see is a series of programs within shelters and fostering programs that take the well-meaning actions and energy and supply training and additional help to mold those animals into better adoptable pets.

I’ve seen the nazi mentality in fostering pet parents. Ultimately, I think they mean well but they have an odd sense of stewardship that is not serving the best interest of the animals and ignoring the best interests of those wanting to adopt.

]]> By: LynnO http://www.arkanimals.com/2009/06/15/good-hearted-or-just-animal-nazis/comment-page-1/#comment-2361 LynnO Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:34:02 +0000 http://www.arkanimals.com/?p=994#comment-2361 This is a "hot" topic, and I really appreciate your covering it. One of my least favorite statements from rescue/shelter people is: "They're better off dead" HOW can an animal lover say this? I think ANY home is better than euthanasia. With a home, the animal has a chance. It may not be a perfect home (could someone please define a perfect home?!---It's a fantasy---THERE IS NO SUCH THING!) but "any" home has the potential to get better, to learn, to love, to grow. Dead is a dead end. I currently have 14 foster dogs. Two are sisters, and they adore each other. I would indeed like to place them together. But if I had an interested adopter for one or the other, I'd let them go! Because any home that adopts just one is likely to give it more time and attention and training and interaction than they are both getting in my pack. I don't have the time and energy to provide the optimum amount of one-on-one socialization that each of these dogs need. But I'm thinking they are better off than being dead...which was another choice. Every foster animal I have is spayed or neutered, so I know that nobody will be adding to the problem. If I had the resources I could take in HUNDREDS of intact animals that are being given away rather than dumped at Animal Control or killed. Most people would rather NOT kill an animal, but they also sometimes can't afford the "normal" high costs of spay/neuter. Some people are trying to make a buck by producing pets. Some discover it's not a big money maker if it's done right. Some (way too many) have "accidents" and that contributes a lot to the number of "unwanted" animals around here. But all of these people are generally good hearted, it seems to me the nazi's only show up on the sheltering end of the equation, and I find that scary and sad. This is a “hot” topic, and I really appreciate your covering it.
One of my least favorite statements from rescue/shelter people is: “They’re better off dead” HOW can an animal lover say this? I think ANY home is better than euthanasia. With a home, the animal has a chance. It may not be a perfect home (could someone please define a perfect home?!—It’s a fantasy—THERE IS NO SUCH THING!) but “any” home has the potential to get better, to learn, to love, to grow. Dead is a dead end.
I currently have 14 foster dogs. Two are sisters, and they adore each other. I would indeed like to place them together. But if I had an interested adopter for one or the other, I’d let them go! Because any home that adopts just one is likely to give it more time and attention and training and interaction than they are both getting in my pack. I don’t have the time and energy to provide the optimum amount of one-on-one socialization that each of these dogs need. But I’m thinking they are better off than being dead…which was another choice.

Every foster animal I have is spayed or neutered, so I know that nobody will be adding to the problem. If I had the resources I could take in HUNDREDS of intact animals that are being given away rather than dumped at Animal Control or killed. Most people would rather NOT kill an animal, but they also sometimes can’t afford the “normal” high costs of spay/neuter.

Some people are trying to make a buck by producing pets. Some discover it’s not a big money maker if it’s done right. Some (way too many) have “accidents” and that contributes a lot to the number of “unwanted” animals around here.

But all of these people are generally good hearted, it seems to me the nazi’s only show up on the sheltering end of the equation, and I find that scary and sad.

]]>