There are many different types of animal shelters. Some are public shelters, such as OC Animal Care, which is operated by the County of Orange and is therefore subsidized by your tax dollars.
Some animal shelters are privately owned, and some operate in partnership with organizations such as the Humane Society, etc.
You may have heard the terms ‘open admission’ and ‘no-kill’ shelter. In most cases, open admission shelters accept all animals in need of shelter due to neglect, abandonment or abuse. Open admission shelters do not turn away animals based upon their breed type, those that may be injured, ill, very old, or which may have temperament or aggression problems.
Typically, no-kill shelters may choose to restrict the types of animals they take in based on the animals’ viability for adoption and certain other discretionary criteria. Therefore, no-kill shelters discretionarily may choose not to take in an elderly, very ill, aggressive, seriously injured animals or a breed type that may be considered too dangerous, costly to care for or difficult to adopt.
Hence, open admission shelters are the place for all animals in need of shelter, medical attention and protection to go - when no other options are available.
Please note that euthanasia is an unfortunate reality of open-admission shelters.
It is important to remember that the last thing that anyone that works at an open-admission shelter wants is the euthanasia of an innocent, adoptable pet!
The solution to the problem of pet overpopulation does not, and should not lie solely with all of the shelters and rescue organizations that struggle nobly just to keep up with the overwhelming magnitude of so many abandoned pets. The true solution lies with our community – and with us as individuals.
Only when we all do our own part individually to prevent pet overpopulation will the need for euthanasia (except in the most extreme of cases) be reduced or even eradicated altogether.
It is neither realistic nor fair to expect public or private animal shelters and rescue organizations to solve pet overpopulation on their own, and be expected to find homes for the many pets our community is responsible for producing.
The solution is up to us.
We all hope for the day in which it will no longer be necessary to euthanize animals because there are not enough homes for them. But until the day that our community stops producing so many pets due to –
Irresponsible pet ownership,
The irresponsible illegal breeding and selling of purebred pets,
Not enough people making spaying & neutering their pets a priority,
Too many people buying purebred pets from pet stores obtaining animals sourced from ‘puppy mills,’
Too many pets roaming unsupervised – causing unwanted pregnancies and litters
…then the realistic fact is that euthanasia will continue until these problems are resolved. The reason that abandoned pets are euthanized at all is simply because far more pets are produced within our community (due to the factors referenced above) than there are homes that are willing to adopt them all.
So it’s very important that all sheltering and rescue entities and the OC community continue working together to resolve these problems.
We can do it if we all work together!
Where you decide to adopt your pet is your decision. Whether you choose to adopt your pet from a no-kill shelter, a publicly owned, open admission shelter or a rescue organization – just remember that you’re doing a wonderful thing either way just by adopting your pet from a shelter or rescue organization instead of purchasing a purebred pet from a potentially irresponsible purebred pet breeder or pet store (which may obtain purebred pets from ‘puppy mills’). *
*Please note that when choosing to purchase a purebred pet from a an individual breeder, it is wise to ask for a copy of their license to breed within their city or county, and also ask for a copy of their business license (please verify the information before purchasing a pet as well).
Breeding and selling purebred pets is the same as operating a business. Therefore, it is appropriate ask for confirmation that a breeder is in compliance with all regulations relative to the sale of and profit from purebred pets.
You may even ask for a verifiable veterinary reference. Remember - a legally ethical and responsible breeder will not hesitate to provide such information immediately.
*Please note that many people and businesses that may breed and sell purebred pets may do so properly and may adhere to all medically and legally appropriate standards necessary.
When this is the case, they are not afraid to provide you with all of the appropriate licensing information as confirmation that they are operating in a legally, ethically professional and humane manner.
If a breeder will not provide you with the licensing confirmation you require – you should take your business elsewhere – why not visit a local shelter or rescue organization to choose a family pet?
Some animal shelters are privately owned, and some operate in partnership with organizations such as the Humane Society, etc.
You may have heard the terms ‘open admission’ and ‘no-kill’ shelter. In most cases, open admission shelters accept all animals in need of shelter due to neglect, abandonment or abuse. Open admission shelters do not turn away animals based upon their breed type, those that may be injured, ill, very old, or which may have temperament or aggression problems.
Typically, no-kill shelters may choose to restrict the types of animals they take in based on the animals’ viability for adoption and certain other discretionary criteria. Therefore, no-kill shelters discretionarily may choose not to take in an elderly, very ill, aggressive, seriously injured animals or a breed type that may be considered too dangerous, costly to care for or difficult to adopt.
Hence, open admission shelters are the place for all animals in need of shelter, medical attention and protection to go - when no other options are available.
Please note that euthanasia is an unfortunate reality of open-admission shelters.
It is important to remember that the last thing that anyone that works at an open-admission shelter wants is the euthanasia of an innocent, adoptable pet!
The solution to the problem of pet overpopulation does not, and should not lie solely with all of the shelters and rescue organizations that struggle nobly just to keep up with the overwhelming magnitude of so many abandoned pets. The true solution lies with our community – and with us as individuals.
Only when we all do our own part individually to prevent pet overpopulation will the need for euthanasia (except in the most extreme of cases) be reduced or even eradicated altogether.
It is neither realistic nor fair to expect public or private animal shelters and rescue organizations to solve pet overpopulation on their own, and be expected to find homes for the many pets our community is responsible for producing.
The solution is up to us.
We all hope for the day in which it will no longer be necessary to euthanize animals because there are not enough homes for them. But until the day that our community stops producing so many pets due to –
Irresponsible pet ownership,
The irresponsible illegal breeding and selling of purebred pets,
Not enough people making spaying & neutering their pets a priority,
Too many people buying purebred pets from pet stores obtaining animals sourced from ‘puppy mills,’
Too many pets roaming unsupervised – causing unwanted pregnancies and litters
…then the realistic fact is that euthanasia will continue until these problems are resolved. The reason that abandoned pets are euthanized at all is simply because far more pets are produced within our community (due to the factors referenced above) than there are homes that are willing to adopt them all.
So it’s very important that all sheltering and rescue entities and the OC community continue working together to resolve these problems.
We can do it if we all work together!
Where you decide to adopt your pet is your decision. Whether you choose to adopt your pet from a no-kill shelter, a publicly owned, open admission shelter or a rescue organization – just remember that you’re doing a wonderful thing either way just by adopting your pet from a shelter or rescue organization instead of purchasing a purebred pet from a potentially irresponsible purebred pet breeder or pet store (which may obtain purebred pets from ‘puppy mills’). *
*Please note that when choosing to purchase a purebred pet from a an individual breeder, it is wise to ask for a copy of their license to breed within their city or county, and also ask for a copy of their business license (please verify the information before purchasing a pet as well).
Breeding and selling purebred pets is the same as operating a business. Therefore, it is appropriate ask for confirmation that a breeder is in compliance with all regulations relative to the sale of and profit from purebred pets.
You may even ask for a verifiable veterinary reference. Remember - a legally ethical and responsible breeder will not hesitate to provide such information immediately.
*Please note that many people and businesses that may breed and sell purebred pets may do so properly and may adhere to all medically and legally appropriate standards necessary.
When this is the case, they are not afraid to provide you with all of the appropriate licensing information as confirmation that they are operating in a legally, ethically professional and humane manner.
If a breeder will not provide you with the licensing confirmation you require – you should take your business elsewhere – why not visit a local shelter or rescue organization to choose a family pet?
LOYALTY COURAGE COMMITMENT FRIENDSHIP INTEGRITY
Tel 714.943.5595 • A 501c/3 Non-Profit Organization