DogBoston Interactive Forums » Suggest Dog Places

1. Danielle
   Member

   Hi--I'm a journalist with BostonNOW writing an article on places people leave unwanted pets in Boston-and-a-little-beyond. Does anyone have experiences where they've seen this happen, or places they go to rescue animals? Thanks.

   Posted: 2007-06-04 18:12:01 #

2. snickdog
   Member

   Hi,

   Well, as someone on the professional end of the spectrum, I'm one who prays this stops happening, but I've seen it far too often to say it will. As long as there are people who are irresponsible or who look at a pet as a 'thing' or 'possession' rather than as a sentient life, we'll have 'pet dumpers'.

   <heavy sigh> Places I've personally seen living animals dumped and places that I know living animals are dumped (because of eyewitness reports:

   The back or front steps of any humane society or rescue organization.
   The side or middle of the highway.
   The side or middle of the bridge.
   In the water (ocean, lake or river).
   Abandoned houses/apartments.
   The woods.
   Vacant Lots.
   Parking Lots.
   McDonalds / Burger King / Wendy's.
   Flea Markets.
   On the front lawn or steps of people's houses where they know the people inside will take it in because they have done so before ('unofficial rescuers').
   Dumpsters.
   Garbage/trash barrels.

   Many of these animals will be taken in by those who find them; others are taken to any of the major veterinary centers near where they are found. MSPCA Angell gets a lot of them -- you can probably get a lot more information from them.

   Jo Jacques, CPDT, CPCT
   WiggleBums!
   Dog-Friendly Training and Behavior Consulting
   http://www.wigglebums.com
   http://www.trulydogfriendly.com
   President, International Siberian Husky Club
   http://www.casinstitute.com/
   Ask Jo at dogBoston.com
   IAABC# 023
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   ABMA # 221012

   Posted: 2007-06-04 18:54:21 #

3. Brian
   Key Master

   I'm not sure how prevalent this is, but I've heard some really bad stories about college students in the area who get a dog, thinking it would be the perfect companion for them during school, and then when they go home, the dog stays behind. I'm not a journalist but I'd be very interesting in seeing someone really dig into that and see how true it is.

   Posted: 2007-06-07 01:55:57 #

4. jandumas
   Member

   Sorry I just looked at this today, I thought I sent you a list of people to talk to.

   Anyway, thanks for the great article.

   Brian, since I worked at two pet stores, and befriended the employees at the store near me in Revere, yes students do dump pets at the end of the year. They do not get dogs or cats very often, they are hard to hide, but fish, mice, and reptiles. My bearded dragons, Tris and Izzy were dumped at a pet store by a college student. Fidget was dumped at the Petco in Brighton. It happens way to many times to count. Pet stores are really not allowed to take animals in, but many do because it is that or death for the animal.

   Shelters demand people write out why they are dumping the animal, and sometimes charge a fee. Many, as I found out a few days ago, will not take intact animals.

   Posted: 2007-06-09 01:30:16 #

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