Animation Source Forums

I was just wondering what you guys think of the SPCA. Not to bash them or anything, but the whole 'adopt an animal, donate money' commercial things are really...out of order. My family has tried to adopt an animal TWICE, but I don't think they really like us . So really, I don't understand why they would tell us to adopt an animal, and then not let us adopt it . I think it's because we have two big X marks on file. So what are your experiences with the SPCA (or ASPCA), good or bad. Just don't bash them .

I've never adopted an animal from my local SPCA, though I'd like to. It's much more humane than the city pound, is for sure.

But I like them. They clearly love the animals they get, particularly some of the dogs. There was a dog there one time, a Labrador x Border Collie named Princess. I saw the shelter workers regularly walk into her cage to give her attention, and they let visitors in with her too. She would jump into their arms and lick their faces, because she wanted hugs. I think she got a great home with some people I know, because my mum saw her with them and told me.

I got Archie from the Dogs Trust which is a rescue dog shelter/charity thing. They never put healthy dogs to sleep so if the dog has problems (with aggression or whatever) then they just keep it at the shelter and take care of it there. People can then sponsor one of these dogs. It's like adopting an animal through a zoo or something. You pay a few pounds a month that goes towards the dog's food, medical treatement. In exchange you get letters from the dog, pictures of him/her and if he or she is safe then you can walk them at the shelter.

They really care about who they give their dogs to and their charges aren't too high either. Archie was £60 but then you have to pay for him to join the 'Rescue Dog Club' thing.. not entirely sure what that is but I know there are a few extra charges on top.

I've never adopted a dog from our RSPCA. I've been round one of the shelters and I thought it looked humane enough. I think they put dogs to sleep if they don't find a home though.. I don't like that idea. I hate it on Animal Cops when they put Pit Bulls to sleep because they've been used for fighting. Particularly if they're friendly towards humans.

Yeah, I think the SPCA puts some dogs to sleep, but I'm not sure. I just know that they transfer them from shelter to shelter if they're not adopted. Some of the staff who work there are very nice and do seem to care a lot about the dogs they get. But I have met a few who aren't the nicest people you'll meet . But overall, they pick relatively nice people.

When I'm older, I might not work at a shelter because when a dog gets adopted, I'll probably cry...a lot...

Starsky -- Archie's cute

I never do that,if i've time i'll ask it...

Oh, and let me tell you another story of one of the dogs:

Marley was a Bully-type mutt, probably American Bulldog x because he looked very much like one. He was brindle and white in colour, but this made it hard for him to be adopted.
For most people, Brindle + Blocky Head = Pit Bull, so Marley wasn't adopted as quick as Princess or Ben, or the litter of Huntaway x puppies there one time.
He waited a few weeks. A few months...
Marley passed the time by jumping. He could jump extremely high from a standstill, and if the pens didn't have roofs on them then he could hve jumped straight out. But they did. And he didn't.
So he just kept on jumping.

Now, the SPCA is built right across from a park. This is a big park, perfect for letting dogs run around in. Because of this, the shelter hires dog-walkers, to walk the dogs on-lead around the park.
Seeing as Marley wasn't snapped up in a week (the SPCA doesn't put dogs down), he spent a lot of his time with these dog-walkers.

But...
It was clear to the SPCA that Marley was not going to be adopted. Not after 6 months. Or, maybe he would, given some more time. But the workers got depressed at seeing him pass the hours, jumping up, landing, jumping up, landing...
It had to stop. His suffering had to stop.

You know what they did?
Marley was adopted. Adopted by one of the dog-walkers he had become so attatched to.



If that's not caring, I don't know what is.

Aww, that's really sweet . I think it was really nice of the dog walker to adopt Marley.

An SPCA will not let you adopt an animal for a reason. If they didn't let you return home with an animal there IS a valid reason for it...

And yes, I love the SPCA closest to where I live. I want to volunteer there one summer. I've adopted my dog from that shelter.

Yeah, I know. But what confuses me is that they didn't tell us why. Then I'd be happy.

They most likely didn't tell you so they wouldn't offend you.

Oh...that makes sense. Thanks for answering that .

I fully support the SPCA and ASPCA. They have very good causes. =D I think it's great what they do.

A non profit orginazation who's goal is to help save animals. While I have never addopted an animal from a shelter or anything like that, I do think what they do is great.

I have seen a lot of things about the ASPCA in particular. (Like on Animal Cops). It would be so rewarding to work there. But I feel sorry for the people who become attatched to an animal and have to sit there and see it go to a new home. But at the same time, it would be very rewarding because you know that you helped it.



I think that's only when a dog is deemed unaddoptible. Like if they get a pit bull that was used in fighting and it displays a lot of agression and doesn't pass the test they give them before putting them up for addoption. Then the only thing to do it put the animal down. It wouldn't be fair to them to be cooped up in a cage for the rest of their life. Or if an animal is very sick when they bring it in and there is nothing they can do for it. ;]

Yeah, there was a dog called Penny at the Dogs Trust who I fell in love with... she was very playful and intelligent. She looked a bit like an Australian Cattle Dog. But we couldn't adopt her because apparently she got territorial over her bed and food and wouldn't be suited in a home with children under 12. My little sister was 10 at the time.

Penny is still there now.. go to Sticky Dogs at Kenilworth on this site.. http://www.dogstrust.org.uk

I think some of the shelters also put them to sleep if they don't get adopted and the dog gets 'depressed'. On one of their sites, it had a list, kind of like a memorial, of dogs who never got a chance to be adopted, either because they were sick when they came in or just because no one wanted them. It was quite sad going through that list because some of them had very good personalities, but I guess they didn't show when they were in the kennel.