Should SPCA be making a call to the owner before putting an animal to sleep?

Animal shelters and rescue groups are swamped when it comes to pets right now. Unfortunately, many rescue groups are unable to take on more animals right now. All those who said mean and nasty things to you are the same people who do not rescue animals or help be foster homes for rescue groups. They are part of the problem by not helping or donating money to rescue groups.

I disagree with you that the SPCA should call a previous owner. They work their behinds off as it is and would take take even more resources (that would eat up money that helps care for the animals). They made you understand that you were giving up your dog and that this could happen. There's nothing more they can do. Most people who put their animals into a shelter would be angry if they called them. Most don't to know or think about what will happen to the dog.

The cutest and best temperament dogs are those that will live the longest, but even they aren't going to be allowed to live forever in there. Dogs that aren't as cute or don't have the best of temperaments, aren't likely to be adopted and go on a kill list soon after. Most places like that are having to put down around 20 animals a day just to make room for the animals that are coming in every day. Rescue and shelters are being bombarded by pets from people who can no longer afford to take care of them due to the economy. In most places it's up 30% more than normal. One kill shelter in Miami, florida is up over 40% more animals than normal and they are putting down around 50 animals a day to make room for the animals that come in daily.

Please please please do not get another pet. I know how much you want one, but the same thing will happen again. Wait until you have your own home and can pay all your own bills and have an extra 2000 dollars a year to spend on your animal for vet car, not including the food and toys on a yearly basis. I know how hard it is wanting a pet, but think how much harder it is to give up the animal and know it's been killed because you had to give it up?

You are not a bad person like some said. You made a mistake and if you learn from it and don't make the mistake twice, you'll be a great person! If you continue to do it over and over again, that wouldn't be nice at all.

Know that each dog can live for a long time. Up to 13 years old for large breeds and up to 18 years old for small breeds. Cats can live up to 15 on average. Some small birds live only 3 to 5 years and medium sized can live up to 25. Large birds can live up to 100 years of age. Fish can live up to 5 years fo rmost types, some even longer.

Goldfish tend to have a shorter life span of 2 to 3 years.

If you can't give an animal all of those years, than you have to make sure you don't get one. One of my birds is already 15 years old and he still looks young and healthy. I am betting he lives to be 25 at least. One lady gave me her boxer after having him for 8 1/2 years! The dog will probably live another 4 years easily. She decided after all this time that she no longer has room for him in her life because she's too busy working.

Taking on an animal is a huge commitment that many make the mistake of getting into. All you can do is learn from it and don't allow it to happen twice.

Hi there from SPCA. It is very sad that your dog had to be given to the SPCA. I am not sure which family member contacted the SPCA and surrendered the dog, but one of the first things we advise in such cases is that we do not guarantee the animal will be put up for adoption. We also ask if the person has tried to find a home for the animal. Because we have hundreds of animals being given up to the SPCA every month (including abandoned pets/strays) and only a small fraction getting adopted, we have a selection criteria based on health, temperament, age and space. When a person signs over an animal to us, it states on the form that they are giving the animal to the SPCA on the understanding that it is left to the SPCA's discretion whether the animal will be selected for adoption or humanely destroyed. The person also acknowledges that once the animal is surrendered, it becomes the property of the SPCA. If every owner could take responsibility for their own pet in that they could find it a home instead of handing it over to the SPCA in the first place, we would not have the dreaded task of having to choose which animals to keep out of the many coming through our doors daily. It is better for owners to consider very carefully therefore before they hand an animal over to us, because sometimes we have to make decisions within 24 hours as we are always filling up. SPCA is the only organisation here that takes in countless unwanted animals from owners/finders. The SPCA also informs owners that we do not inform them of the outcome.

In relation to your being told when you called the SPCA that you would not have the time to take care of the dog and that it would be better if it is adopted, could you call Rita at 62875355 ext. 29 during office hours (Monday to Friday) so that we can look into this ?

Unfortunately many people have the impression that SPCA is a holding place where they can leave their animals indefinitely whilst they think things over or try to find alternative solutions but we do make it very clear to those giving up an animal of the possible outcome. It is therefore better for owners not to hand over an animal if there is any doubt in their mind that they are unable to accept that the animal may be put to sleep. In your case it is most unfortunate that the family was not in full agreement over the issue, and this resulted in your dog being given up to us. The SPCA does not want to put animals to sleep, but we have no choice when there are too many being handed over to us.

You can also refer to SPCA's website www.spca.org.sg for more information under "Help us Save Lives"

You sign over the dog when you bring the dog to the SPCA. I know the SPCA in Texas you even sign stating that once the dog is surrender you are not able to adopt the dog back. So what is the point in contacting the previous owner to let them know it is going to be put down when they are not able to get the dog back. Just to upset the person knowing the dog is going to be put to sleep. If you were so worried about the dog being put to sleep or not wanting the dog to be put to sleep why did you surrender it..rather than try to find a new home for it yourself if you couldn't care for it.

Why was your dog SENT there? Did you Sign him over? If so, then SPCA can do what they want with him, since he is no longer your dog! If there are a lot of dogs, then that is even more reason for them to PTS (Put To Sleep) a sick or aggressive dog as soon as it comes in. I worked at a shelter for 2 years, and we NEVER called the old owners when we put animals to sleep for any reason. Even if it was for space. If the owners cared for the dog to begin with, it never would have ended up there in the first place! They examine every dog as soon as they come in, so they can put them to sleep if they are not adoptable.

If they just said your dogs 'not there' assume he is dead. They have way too many other things to do than to be calling every old owner of every dog they pts to see if he/she will possibly come get the dog back.

So no, they should not call the old owner before they PTS. The people should never bring there dogs in to begin with if they dont want them killed. There is a slim chance of being adopted, but you can never count on that happening to your dog.

Spca Singapore

First off I'm sorry. I know losing a dog (even one you might not be able to care for right now) is a big loss. I've been there before myself. I'm sorry people have been so full of judgment and lack of compassion as well. It always amazes me how sure people can be that they would never be in the same situation as another when the only thing promised in this life is death. We could all be in your shoes.

To answer your question I think it would be impossible to contact all the owners who are unable or unwilling to care for their pets any longer. For one thing many of those phone calls would be for nothing since many people wouldn't want their dog/cat back anyway. For another thing, if the person wasn't able to care for their dog, what could really change in a couple of days?

I know this is a painful experience and I'm sure your wracked with guilt. I once had a cat I could no longer care for put to sleep at the local vet because he was a cat that would likely not be adoptable as he was terrified even after 13 years of living with me spent most of his time in hiding, and I wanted his life to end as humanely as possible. I have also had to turn dogs I'd grown to care about (that just showed up at my property) over to the humane society with no knowledge of what would happen to them. It's a difficult situation.

I hope things look better for you in the future and that you can look back on the good times you had with your pet. He's in a better place.

God bless!

I don't know how your spca works in Singapore, but here in Canada, when an animal is taken into custody away from the owners, he becomes their property and the owner looses their rights. However, I do believe they should have told you, before putting him down, if they knew that you wanted him. When these kennels get over loaded with dogs they usually put the old or unwanted ones down to make room for the dogs that have a better chance of adoption. I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't get him back, and I wish you all the best.

If you give up your dog to the SPCA, you are saying you no longer want the dog, and therefore relinquishing any right to the animal. They did not need to inform you that they were putting the dog to sleep, because you brought him to them, which means you don't want him/her in their eyes. Unfortunately, it's the way it has to go sometimes. There are more dogs going in then being adopted and they can't save all of them :(

You surrendered the dog, therefore the SPCA now legally has custody of the dog, allowed to make their own decisions for the dog. I'm sorry for your loss.

Dr. Dog

Once you surrender your dog it's over. You have no more rights to that dog. Generally, in most shelters, a dog that is not adopted in a certain amount of time will get put down, regardless of health, breed or temperament. It's horrible, but it's reality. You should have known this going into it. You dumped your dog off and gave it a death sentence. In most places, owner turn ins are the first to be euthanized.