Animal shelter system needs overhaul

Dear Dr. Fox: I am a journalism student at Northwestern, writing a piece on the animal shelter system.

I was hoping to hear what you think the biggest challenges facing this system are currently. I know overpopulation is a big part of the problem, but I’m curious if you think something has changed in this country that has led to the current numbers we are seeing today (per animals in shelters) or if you think this has been a continuous problem.

M.Y., Chicago

Dear M.Y.: Here are some of my concerns as many animal shelters continue to fill up:

1. Society as a whole still has a throwaway attitude toward animals.

2. Many people are uninformed, or at least ill-informed, about cat and dog behavioral needs. This could be rectified by animal shelters partnering with local veterinarians, vet technicians and certified animal behaviorists. For example: Shelters could providing “puppy classes” — not just play groups, but educational sessions for owners/caregivers on training, handling, socialization and basic care.

3. Cats are stressed in shelters and should be in separate, sound-proof quarters, away from dogs.

4. Behavioral assessments for adoptability of both cats and dogs is often inadequate, leading to unwarranted euthanasia — especially with breed prejudice (pit bulls and dogs who look like them) — and release (of cats who are afraid and hiss).

5. So-called “no-kill” shelters often dump cats deemed unadoptable in communities under the banner of “community cats” or TNR (trap, neuter, release), which is inhumane and puts wildlife at risk.

6. Animals in separate cages in shelters often become cage-bound, fearful and defensive, and suffer lives of deprivation in no-kill shelters when not soon adopted. Group-housing of compatible, quarantined dogs and cats in enriched habitat enclosures prevents such problems and helps make animals more adoptable.

7. Staff and volunteers must be dedicated to animal socialization. Human interaction (grooming, petting and play) with incarcerated animals is an essential aspect of optimal shelter care and post-capture or surrender rehabilitation.

8. Noise can be a big problem, especially with caged, barking dogs. Things that can help include soft music, recordings of dogs’ happy sounds, and having a resident gentle dog to calm and play with puppies and shy dogs and kittens. In group-housed cats, having a resident “ambassador cat” who shows affection toward caretakers — which shy cats will witness, thus beginning to trust people — can make a big difference in recovery and adoptability.

9. Inhumane methods of euthanasia (gas and decompression chambers, electrocution) are becoming something of the past, thanks in part to the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. Shelter staff need emotional support in dealing with cruelty and neglect cases and animal hoarders, as well as having to euthanize animals that are incurably suffering.

10. Greater community support and municipal funding of animal shelters and local humane societies is needed in many communities, as is outreach to schools and student visits to the shelters.

11. I support legislative initiatives banning the sale of cats, dogs, puppies and kittens in pet stores in order to encourage adoptions from local shelters and discourage online purchases, many of which are scams.