Puppy at the Pound, Gets Tossed Around

Metal cage; Concrete floor.

Dreary and dull; Life’s a bore.

Noisy neighbors; Unpleasant smell.

This is where I remain; This is where I dwell.

But wait…a smiling visitor comes near.

I call out, “Look, look over here”.

They see me; they like me!

So excited, I might just pee!

In the car to my new home.

It’s big, with lots of room to roam.

No cages or concrete floors.

No restrictions, just open doors.

Home alone, time to explore.

Now where are those treats, I just adore?

Pillows to play with & shoes to chew on.

Gonna eat all the goodies til their gone.

Yay! The humans have returned.

I was beginning to get concerned.

But their faces are cross without smiles.

As they scour at the messy piles.

Suddenly they start yelling real loud.

And I end up back at the pound.

I don’t know what I did wrong.

I thought we were all getting along.

Back to the metal cage & concrete floor.

Where it’s dreary and dull; where life’s a bore.

When adopting or purchasing ANY pet, it is important to make an effort to create an environment where you are not setting the animal for failure.

It is not a reasonable conclusion that the animal will understand boundaries or adhere to rules while unsupervised.

Do you ALWAYS drive the speed limit, completely stop for STOP signs, or use your turning signal when you are supposed to? Especially when there is no police officer around SUPERVISING your actions?

Then it would be foolish and irrational to expect that of an animal.

While many people believe “crate training” to be unkind and discourteous to the animal. I have found it to be a practical and effective form of co-existing with my 2 dogs. The crate, believe it or not, serves as a place for discipline, as well as a ‘safe place’ for the animal. It can be a space where they are confined, such as sending a child to their room or grounding them. But it can also be a place where they feel safe to rest and relax; again, like a child’s room that they can consider their own little territory.

Keep in mind a CRATE in your HOME is far better than a CAGE at the POUND.

Furthermore, when an animal is taken home and then brought back, it confuses them. They don’t understand the rejection and it can have a significant impact on their personality. They can become untrusting, cowardly, and maybe even aggressive toward people; especially if the final encounter at the home was an unpleasant one.

Final Thoughts:

When incorporating a new animal into your home, remember that this a whole new experience for them. Be prepared for mistakes and confusion on their part. Please don’t set them up for failure by allowing extensive freedom and leaving them unsupervised. Lastly, learn from the mishaps and try not to give up on them after the first offense.