Homeless Dogs: A National Epidemic

By Garrett McMahan


We all know that shelters are full to the brim with unwanted dogs and cats, but it might surprise you to note just how big of a problem we have in the United States. According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are more than 70 million stray animals in our country and about eight million are placed in shelters.

While many people do adopt dogs from shelters every year, this is simply not enough to deal with the high demand in our shelters. Therefore, about 5,000 dogs are euthanized every day in the United States. The vast majority of these animals have not been spayed or neutered, which is one of the biggest reasons why we have such a huge problem with stray animals in the first place.

As the problem intensifies, some city and county governments are taking strict measures to help reduce the dog and cat population. If you live in L.A. County, your pet is required to be neutered or spayed by the time they are four to six months old. While a few dog owners can get an exception to this rule, the monetary penalties and community service sentences are handed out to many owners in violation of these laws. Other cities such as Las Vegas also have adopted these types of laws and 30 states now require that all shelter animals undergo sterilization prior to an adoption.

Owning a pet is a big commitment, and it's always wise to consider how much time and money you have to give prior to bringing an animal home. The recession certainly has forced some families to surrender their pets, but generally the main reason why animals are abandoned is simply because they are too difficult to handle. Behavior problems frustrate many dog owners and rather than finding a simple solution to these problems, the dog is simply taken to a shelter.

Before you purchase a pet, whether it is a puppy or an adopted dog from a shelter, it is best to think about dog obedience. Many people feel that they simply don't have the time for training classes or think that at-home training is too complicated. However, dealing with barking, jumping, clawing, scratching and other common elements of misbehavior is far worse than spending a few weeks training the dog and eliminating most behavior problems.

Keep in mind that your dog will be happier and more secure if you teach them how to behave and they love to make their owners happy, so they are enthusiastic learners. A dog obedience training program such as The Dog's Way makes it easy for your to train your dog at home, you don't even have to attend a class or leave your yard. This is a set of five DVDs that includes 12 dog training lessons that will teach your dog the proper way to behave in a variety of situations. While it won't happen overnight, with enthusiasm and patience, it won't take long to have your dog trained for a lifetime.




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