At the end of this week I am going on a new mission, to do research and take pictures.
Many shelters here are run for profit... they get paid by the government for each dog they "shelter". So there is little or no motivation for the operators to find homes for the dogs. In many of these concentration camps-for-dogs, up to 1000 dogs or more are being held in horrible conditions. They will never get out unless someone adopts them, and the chance of being adopted by a family is near zero.
I have been told they are sitting on a cold wet floor, (one square meter) day in and day out. No exercise. Some are sick and in terrible condition.
Already I feel very bad going there, and I would rather stay home with my four healthy loving dogs.
I need your support to get the strength to walk into these places, where I know the dogs are very unhappy.
Their freedoms are gone, they are just waiting to die.
Their days are so long. Remember when you have to sit still and wait, for maybe one hour, how restless and bored you become. Well, they are there forever!
So when you see homeless dogs, wait to feel sorry for them, they are at least having some kind of freedom. Every dog is unique, and has it’s own story to tell. Wait and listen before you judge. Maybe he is a lucky stray dog!
This is not Amore but please help me give them some kind of Amore!
Mia Mattsson-Mercer Born in 1964, Sweden. Author to three books. Writing a web-column for the Magazine NARA. “That’s Amore” is my catch phrase. Finishing the manuscripts for two different books. Also HomeSchooling Mother. Worked: United States, Germany, Switzerland, Bosnien, Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Bahrain Founder/CEO Animals Without Limits. I am a proud Lyme disease, Child Abuse and Animal Warrior.
4 comments:
Your gift gives you a responsibility to open the eyes of people who allow these "shelters" to remain this way. If you feel scared or like you just can't face it, know that you may be the one who begins the change.
You are so wise and full of Amore!
Thank you so much!
Of course, it isn't only the space allowed to an animal in a shelter. "Kennel Craziness" is well documented in shelters around the world. All the barking, on top of the stress of being "locked up" will drive any dog crazy over time... some sooner than others.
When this happens, it is very hard to bring them back to be a suitable pet or companion. It can happen, but it takes a lot of work, love and dedication to do so... and there are no guarantees.
It breaks my heart to think of these dogs locked up indefinitely, in inhumane conditions, going crazy... all to line some pockets with government money that was originated for a good cause, but like many government programs, is misused and abused.
Todd
You are so right about the Kennel Craziness I have seen it in a lot of "dog" places. When I worked in Bosnia, and I also saw it among working dogs with different handlers--
It is a hard balance!
Amore
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