Surrender Your Dog

In this article:

Do You Need to Surrender Your Dog?
Surrender Your Dog in The Safest Manner
A List of Shelters and Rescue Groups

1. Do You Need to Surrender Your Dog?

Not everyone has a choice about whether they can keep their dog.

If you are suffering from a chronic or terminal health issue;

If you are currently set-upon by some other very difficult circumstance, and;
You have no family or friends who can take, or want to take your dog then…

Please take the time to read the next section for the sake of your dog.

Most of the municipally funded: Shelters, Animal Control Centres (ACCs), and Dog Pounds in Canada and the USA including many of the – Human Society (HS) Shelters, and, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – SPCA Shelters; are high-kill shelters.

The information that I provided below will help you to make an informed choice and hopefully see your dog surrender to a truly safe shelter or rescue group.

The section further below provides a list of Shelters and Rescue Groups categorized by type – kill, no-kill, those that take dogs that have bitten people and those that won’t.

Or Maybe you JUST WANT TO Surrender Your Dog

For those of you that just WANT to surrender your dog because ‘its just a dog’ – if you have any integrity at all – you too will read the informative information just below before you scroll further down to find a listing of Shelters and Rescues.

.2 Surrender Your Dog in The Safest Manner

1. No-Kill Shelters and Rescues v.s. Kill Shelters and Rescues

It is very important to understand that not all ‘shelters’ are the same – in the absence of knowledge you may end-up dropping your dog off at a kill or high-kill shelter.

2. Surrendering a Dog That Has Bitten a Human

It is of the utmost importance to understand that if your dog has a history of biting people – it does not mean your dog is bad. It means your dog is misunderstood and has lacked the opportunity to have proper leadership in his/her life. Dogs are not, by nature indiscriminately aggressive. People inadvertently create aggression in dogs. And yes, some people intentionally create aggression.

3. Reasonable Expectations

Just because you call a rescue does not mean that they can take your dog…and if they can take your dog they may not be able to do so immediately

Most rescues are run by volunteers who foster dogs out of their personal residence.
If all the fosters are currently looking after a dog, that rescue cannot take your dog until a foster becomes available;
Second most rescues will not take a dog that has bitten a human, but there are a few rescues who will;
Third, if you take a dog who has bitten (full out bite – breaking of the skin as opposed to nip) a human and drop it off at most municipally/provincially funded shelters (Humane Society, SPCA, etc) your dog will not be put up for adoption – it will instead be killed – unless you have managed to make your way to one of the very few no-kill HS or SPCA shelters (see list below).

4. Pound Seizure – Its Lethal and Its the Law in Ontario

If you surrender a dog to a municipally/provincially funded shelter in Ontario or Quebec your dog can end up being used as a research animal (‘scientific’ invasive, lethal testing) in which case the dog will die after being used as a research animal.

This practice of using shelter dogs is called Pound Seizure – it is not only legal in Ontario it is also the law. Pound seizure is also legal and practised in Quebec.

In addition some ‘shelters’ sell the innocent dogs in their care to Random Source Class ‘B’ Dealers. These ‘dealers’ have zero ethics, are driven solely by greed. They purchase dogs from shelters and then sell the dogs to laboratories for research testing = torture and then death…and by the way…

Technology supports the simulation and complete replacement of animals for testing – and at a lower cost, financially and of course ethically. There is no excuse in this day and age for any institution who persists in doing animal testing.

Shame on all those University’s and private corporations that indulge in cruelty and selfishness and the welfare of the animals that they harm ans kill for no reason other than human hubris.

You can read about Pound Seizure here.

5. Death By Gas Chamber – Legal in Canada, used in some Municipally funded ‘Shelters’

Your dog can also end-up in a kill shelter that uses a Gas Chamber to ‘euthanize’ (euphemism for KILL) – you can read about Gas Chambers here.

6. Death Heart Sticking – Legal in Canada, used in some Municipally funded ‘Shelters’

Heart Sticking to ‘euthanize ‘ your dog . Intracardial injections, commonly referred to as “heartsticks,” are considered inhumane and cruel when performed on animals that aren’t anaesthetized or comatose. I personally consider the practice cruel and inhumane regardless of whether the animal is anaesthetized, comatose or not. Using the “heartstick” method is painful as the needle containing sodium phenobarbital (a schedule II controlled substance used to euthanize animals) passes through the chest wall and several layers of muscle before puncturing the heart. If the euthanasia substance isn’t carefully and accurately administered, an animal’s lungs could be punctured, causing them to fill with fluid. Which is an even more cruel and painful way to die.Often the sticking does not enter in the right place, so the technician will just keep sticking the dog, creating one wound after another until they get the ‘right’ location…while the dog continues to suffer. Often the dogs are not anaesthetized at all, or not sufficiently

7. Listing Your Dog ‘For Free’ on Craig’s List, Kijjij, Etc.

Don’t! Many of the dogs listed on Craig’s List for free end-up used as Bait Dogs or Fight Dogs in dog fighting rings. Bait dogs suffer a torturous death. Fight Dogs suffer great physical and psychological harm – and will die during a Fighting ‘Event’, die from injuries sustained, or be brutally tortured and killed by their ‘Owner/Handler’.

8. Your Dog May End Up as ‘Food’ for Other Dogs and Other Animals

Some veterinarian hospitals, shelters, animal control centres in Canada, the USA (and elsewhere) sell the dead bodies of dogs they ‘euthanize’ (kill) to pet food and farm animal feed manufactures. Health Canada, the FDA, AAFCO and other regulatory bodies, allow this practice. Another dirty little secret of the pet food industry. Learn more in this article.

3. A List of Rescue Groups

Rescue Groups – for dogs that have NOT bitten people

Arbed Rescue – Quebec

BARK – Bytown Association For Rescued Kanines – Ottawa Ontario

Birch Haven Rescue & Rehabilitation Services – Oxford Station Ontario

Blue Moon Catahoula and Big Dog Rescue – Finch Ontario

Catahoula Rescue(Ontario) – various fosters on location in Ontario

Friendly Giants Dog Rescue – Ottawa, Ontario

Friends of Abandoned Pets (FOAP) – Ottawa
Genesis Dog Rescue – Ottawa, Ontario

Good Dog Rescue – Manotick, Ontario

Hopeful Hearts – Dog Rescue - Ottawa, Ontario

K-911 Rescue – Manotick, Ontario

I am Alive Dog Rescue – Kingston, Ontario

Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) – Smith Falls, Ontario

Loyal Rescue Inc. – Ottawa, Ontario (email: info@loyalrescue.com)

NARC – Navan Animal Rescue Corp – Navan, Ontario

Poet’s Vision Aussie Rescue – Perth Ontario
Dedicated to rescuing and re-homing deaf and visually impaired Australian Shepherds (mixes) and Border Collie (mixes) that are the direct result of merle to merle breeding.

The Canine Rescue Team of Ottawa – Ottawa, Ontario

Trinity of Hope Dog Rescue – Manotick, Ontario

Additional Rescues in Ottawa, Ontario and AcrossCanada

No-Kill Rescue Groups and Shelters – that may take dogs that HAVE bitten people

Loyal Rescue Inc. – Ottawa, Ontario (email: info@loyalrescue.com)

Good Dog Rescue – Manotick, Ontario

NARC – Navan Animal Rescue Corp – Navan, Ontario

Arnprior and District Humane Society – Arnprior, Ontario

Gananoque& District Humane Society – Gananoque, ON

SPCA de l’ouest Quebec (SPCA of Western Quebec) – 659 Auguste-Mondoux Gatineau (alymer-Sector, Quebec

High-Kill Shelters

Understand that if you bring your aggressive-reactive dog to these facilities your dog will not be put up for adoption. Your dog is at a very high risk of being KILLED. If your dog has a history of biting people YOUR dog WILL be KILLED. If the shelter has too many dogs YOUR dog may or depending on the shelter WILL be KILLED. The method used to kill your dog will depend on the shelter - gas chamber or lethal injection or heart sticking.

Ottawa Humane Society – Ottawa, Ontario

If you surrender your dog that bites or is aggressive-reactive in any way to people and in many cases to other animals, your dog has a 99.9% chance of being sentenced to death and subsequently killed (‘euthanized’) at the Ottawa Humane Society. Death is by lethal injection.

Renfrew County Branch – Ontario SPCA – Pembroke, Ontario

If your dog strays and ends up at this SPCA or if you surrender your dog to this SPCA and it is not adopted in 72 hours regardless of the dog’s behavioural tendencies (beautifully behaved, well trained dogs included!) your dog will be killed. Death is either by lethal injection, gas chamber (takes 20 to 60 minutes to die, sometimes requires second gassing – another 20 to 60 minutes, cruel, traumatic, painful, frightening, slow torturous way to die) or may use heart sticking (painful, traumatic, cruel).

SPCA Outaouais – Gatineau, 132 rue De Varennes, Gatineau Quebec

If your dog ends up here, or you surrender your dog here you should understand that this shelter has a very, very high intake of dogs. 70% of the dogs that are dropped off or otherwise find their way to this shelter are killed at the shelter. The current rate of adoption at the SPCA Outaouais is about 30% of intake. The SPCA Outaouais facility kills at least 30% of the dogs and cats that in a gas chamber. The other +/- 60% are killed by lethal injection. The healthier the dog – the greater likelihood that he/she will die in the gas chamber. A healthy, happy well balanced dog has just as much chance of being put to death in this shelter as a sick or emotionally distressed dog. The decision to kill is based on overcrowding – a daily occurrence at this shelter.

If Your Are Not Familiar With The Use Of Gas Chambers to Kill Dogs (and cats)

Inform yourself by reading here.
If you would like to do something to stop the use of gas chambers on dogs and cats in Canada and the USA

Join Take-Action-2-Ban-Animal-Gas-Chambers-In-Canada
Or join the same group in the USA
Sign petitions on Care 2, Change.Org, Force Change, etc. – I do!

In Case You Are Wondering

YES, I am an active and dedicated dog and animal advocate (you can go to my Twitter, Facebook Account, and/or read more on this blog site to understand how dedicated I am). I donate a lot of my time to trying to help dogs (and other animals) that are treated as disposable items by humans. I live it, work it, breath it. Perhaps you see your dog as just a ‘dog’ but I know that a dog is so much more.

Working with, helping and protecting dogs is not just my job, it is my passion. Why? Because ‘I don’t have a life’? NO, becasue

I do all that I can to be a truly responsible being;
I have a strong sense of ethics and morals and the conviction to keep those senses;
I can can see all of the expressions on a dogs face that you can see on a humans face. Dogs do smile.
I know that dogs have all of the emotions that humans have – with the exception of cruelty…an emotion that belongs to humans and some primates.
My attitude IS NOT – me human, you dog and therefore you must listen to me.
I acknowledge that humans are NOT the most intelligent species on earth.
I acknowledge that humans are the most destructive and arrogant species on earth.
I understand the a human cannot own another being or it’s life – a human can however be that other beings guardian;
I know that I do not know everything;
I understand that non-human animals such as a dog have so much that they can and always do try to teach humans about being better beings…it is just that most humans do not know how to listen…I do listen, I do employ natural wisdom and that is why I do not call myself a ‘trainer’.
The relationship between man and dog should be mutually beneficial, not singularly beneficial (to the human only);
Dogs are not disposable items to be used however the human sees fit and then discarded in the manner most convenient to the human.

Because a Dog is Much More Than Just a Dog

I have seen, felt, sensed, experienced that dogs are capable of and do deploy immense intelligence- intelligence that can match and better the capability of many a human.

Because I see the facial expressions of dogs…smiling, happy, depressed, fearful.

Because I have seen and experienced my dogs when they are dreaming and when they are having nightmares…just a gentle word from me – their human mom – and the nightmare stops.

Because I have seen and experienced that they could, can and do teach me things about myself and about others that no human ever took the time to teach me.

Because I have seen and experienced that they do grieve, they do care, they do each have their own unique personalities. They do know right from wrong, they are not cruel, they are always ready to do better, they do not hold grudges.

Because I have seen and experienced that they help others without the motivation of monetary reward or any other reward other than wanting to please and just be themselves.

Because I assign as much worth to a dog as I do to a human..and sometimes more…depends on the human.

Because when a human takes a dog’s life away through neglect, abuse – cruelty, it is no different to me than taking a human’s life away.

All dogs have so much that they are willing to share with humanity.

If we are willing to open our minds to see, we can learn so much from them about ourselves. They can help us be more aware of our own behaviour and give us a second chance to grow into better, wiser and happier individuals. When you help a dog it is not just the dog that gets a second lease on life and a new opportunity…it is also the human.

Dogs feel as much pain, confusion, stress and terror as we do. Anyone who thinks differently is just deluding themselves so they do not have to take responsibility for the great injustice that they do.

When a dog ends up in a shelter it is because humanity has let the dog down.

Dogs don’t get to choose who they live with and what is done to them. Their welfare and their lives are at the mercy of human beings – will they end up with someone who truly respects and loves them or with someone who uses and abuses them – then discards their life as if it is trash. This means that we need be very serious about protecting them.

A shelter should not kill dogs, they should give provide a temporary place of safety, until a dog can be adopted. Dogs are mans best friend – to treat them as you are doing is a terrible betrayal of trust and abuse of a precious gift to mankind.

What a dog wants most is to have the opportunity to live the life he / she deserves to live – to be loved and to give love like only a dog can.

And if you don’t like my ‘attitude’ or views – well too bad.

Can You Face the Truth of What You Do Human?

Shelter Managers Letter – Kill Shelters

As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all – a view from the inside, if you will.
Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know – that puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore.
How would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at – purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays” that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.
No shortage of excuses

The most common excuses I hear are:

We are moving and we can’t take our dog (or cat).
Really? Where are you moving to that doesn’t allow pets?
The dog got bigger than we thought it would.
How big did you think a German Shepherd would get?
We don’t have time for her.
Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs!
She’s tearing up our yard.
How about bringing her inside, making her a part of your family?
They always tell me:
We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her. We know she’ll get adopted – she’s a good dog. Odds are your pet won’t get adopted, and how stressful do you think being in a shelter is?

Well, let me tell you. Dead pet walking!

Your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off, sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy.

If it sniffles, it dies.

Your pet will be confined to a small run / kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it.

If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers that day to take him / her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.

If your dog is big, black or any of the “bully” breeds (pit bull, rottweiler, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don’t get adopted.

If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed.
If the shelter isn’t full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed, it may get a stay of execution, though not for long. Most pets get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment.

If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles, chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don’t have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.
The grim reaper

Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”.

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk – happy, wagging their tails. That is, until they get to “The Room”.

Every one of them freaks out and puts on the breaks when we get to the door. It must smell like death, or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there. It’s strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs (depending on their size and how freaked out they are). A euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the “pink stuff”. Hopefully your pet doesn’t panic from being restrained and jerk it’s leg. I’ve seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood, and been deafened by the yelps and screams.
They all don’t just “go to sleep” – sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pet’s corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back, with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage.
What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You’ll never know, and it probably won’t even cross your mind. It was just an animal, and you can always buy another one, right?
Liberty, freedom and justice for all

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can’t get the pictures out of your head. I do everyday on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists and I hate that it will always be there unless people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.
Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this is DON’T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!
Hate me if you want to – the truth hurts and reality is what it is.

I just hope I maybe changed one person’s mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say “I saw this thing on a Blog Site and it made me want to adopt”.

That would make it all worth it.”

Author unknown

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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld.

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