The Flat Puglet Project is all about raising awareness. We want the world to know how perfectly perfect a recycled dog can be.
We’re out to bust the myth that something must be “wrong” with a dog who’s been recycled. The truth is, dogs end up in shelters and rescues for all sorts of reasons. A study by the National Council on Pet Population cites the Top 5 reasons as:
- Moving
- Landlord not allowing pet
- Too many animals in household
- Cost of pet maintenance
- Owner having personal problems
Sadly, many dogs never make it out of the shelter for just as many reasons. Shelters do their best but most are overwhelmed by the number of animals they are asked to take in. Faced with limited resources, most shelters are forced to euthanize animals deemed ‘unadoptable’.
A dog can be ‘unadoptable’ for many reasons:
- the shelter is too crowded
- the dog has a medical problem (this can be something as simple as an ear infection)
- the dog isn’t doing well in the noisy kennel environment
- the dog is too old ( “old” can mean 2 or 3 years in an overcrowded shelter)
Lat year, approximately 3.7 million animals were euthanized in the nation’s shelters. This number would be even higher if it weren’t for rescue organizations. As their name suggests, rescues take care of the dogs no one else will. Unlike shelters who have a physical location, government funding and a paid staff, most rescue organizations are made up strictly of volunteers and a network of foster homes. Some groups are dedicated to a specific breed, while others may focus on at-risk dogs, like seniors or special needs. All are extraordinarily devoted to finding each recycled dog a loving, forever home.
By adopting a recycled dog from a rescue or animal shelter, you have the chance to save two lives: the dog you adopt and the one who fills the space he leaves behind. When it comes time to bring a dog into your life, please consider giving a second-hand dog a chance. They’re just as good as brand news one!
