So last week my friends and I decided to visit the Animal Rescue spur of the moment. We’ve been following a super long detour to get around some major highway construction (great job PDOT..great job) and were feeling and bit loopy. Immediately after parking in their minuscule parking lot, we saw a new intake German Shepherd in their outdoor area, looking dejected as homeless dogs tend to. Pulls at the heart, no? If that wasn’t enough, we walked in to see the rest of the dogs. Rows of dogs, locked up in concrete cages, with a blanket over a formed plastic bed. Then we came upon Halle, a 5month old Saint Bernard Great Dane mix. Sad, but full of puppy spirit, and great looking too. If we hadn’t left at that point I would have had another dog in the house. This situation should sound pretty familiar. But then I thought..why are there so many dogs in shelters? It sucks!

According to the ASPCA, there are approximately 5000 animal shelters across the country. These include a mix of types of shelters, such as no-kill and animal sanctuaries. About 8-10 million animals enter these shelters every year, and of these 5-9 million are euthanized. There are many causes for this, largely lack of neutering/spaying programs, strays, and inability for care by owners. Many to-be owners don’t consider the time and cost of having a dog and think it’s just something you get and you’re done. If you fall into the to-be owner category, then please consider some of the following before getting a dog.

Do you have time for a dog? Dogs require exercise, companionship, and attention (sometimes overly). If you travel for work, it’s not fair to the dog to be left at home alone for days at a time.
Do you have space for a dog? Depending on what breed you get, you may need a very large space, if not large yard, for the dog. I’ve seen people with apartments get a Dalmatian or Huskies. It’s not just about you you selfish human dumbass.
Can you afford having a dog? On average it costs over $400 annually for food, supplies, vet visits, and other needs to own a dog.
Do you have the ability to have a dog? Some breeds are hard to train and not suitable for first time owners. Some to-be owners simply are unable to train a dog. This results in behavioral problems that can potentially end in the dog being dropped at a shelter. Don’t be that girl..if you can’t train a dog, don’t get a dog. I hate people with dogs that don’t listen to commands and just bark and destroy everything (you know who you are).

There are more things you should consider but that list should start you off well. If you can’t even make it through that list, then please think hard before getting a dog. This has been a public service announcement for all you would-be Paris Hiltons out there. Stop being a dipshit and keep the poor dogs out of shelters.