The Heartbreaking Statistics of Homeless Dogs
Of the 7.6 million animals who enter shelters each year, 3.3 million are dogs. Why does a family surrender a pet? The most common reason cited is ‘pet problems,’ according to a survey, accounting for no fewer than 47 percent of dogs re-homed in a year. These problems included dog aggression and other behavior issues, more growth in the animal than the family anticipated, or bigger health problems than a family could handle.
Because of these heartbreaking statistics, we have chosen to make September the month of helping Dachshunds in need. We have chosen to support The Dachshund Rescue of North America, as they are one of the largest Dachshund Rescue Organizations Worldwide. Here is a brief overview of their mission, and what they do:
About the DRNA
“Dachshund Rescue of North America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with one sole purpose — rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing needy dachshunds and mostly dachshund mixes. We are a network of experienced rescuers with representation in the northeast, mid-Atlantic, and southeast and have placed almost 12,000 dogs into their forever homes. DRNA began with a small number of rescuers who worked independently for a year before incorporating in 1999 to realize the benefits of combining resources.”
So How Will Your Donation Be Used? Here Are Just a Few Examples:
1. Food And Shelter – Many Dachshunds that come into shelters have been homeless for most of their lives. This means that they often have not had any access to food, water or nutrients that help to keep them strong and healthy. Therefore, many shelters use donations to purchase dry food, canned food and milk replacers that will help provide Dachshunds with nutrients to help nourish them back to their proper health.
Dachshund Health
2. Vet Expenses – All veterinary expenses for Dachshunds that are in animal shelters are paid for by the shelters themselves. The local government or animal control centers do not pay any vet expenses for the animals that are brought in. Unfortunately, quite a lot of Dachshunds coming into a shelter, as well as many surrendered animals, need an initial vet visit to undergo a routine health examination and update them on any vaccinations that they may not have.
In more serious cases, Dachshunds with illnesses may need extra medical care. This means extra costs for helpful medications, doctor visits, and blood work that may need to be done. Monetary donations are what help make this entire process possible for Dachshunds who are in need.
Last But Not Least
3. Training – Sometimes all it takes for a Dachshund to become adoptable is a little extra training to ward off any bad behaviors or habits that may have formed before they arrived at the shelter. In these cases, many shelters will invest money in training a Dachshund so that they can become a good, adoptable pet for a family.
However, a few weeks with a trainer can be costly and this option is not always available to shelters due to budget restraints, even though it may make a world of difference in the attitude and temperament of a future household dog and future family member.
The Goal of “Get 10 Give 10”
Our hope is that we can all work together to raise awareness and lower the heartbreaking statistics. This is just one of many ways we can do that! What are other ways we can shine a light on this issue and and help these precious Dachshunds we love so much? Let us know in the comments below.
