Rewards are High but Intangible

Starburst, a pit bull/husky mix with
lopsided ears and one blue and one
brown eye, was adopted when she
was 6 months old

For people who love animals this headline is a tragedy:

San Francisco is euthanizing more stray dogs [bold added]

These shelter records are full of heartbreak — stories of people abandoning their dogs because they couldn’t afford veterinary care or housing. Last year, such cases propelled Animal Care and Control, the city’s public shelter, to the highest rate of euthanasia since 2013, and it’s on track to worsen this year.

The problem is playing out across California. When veterinarian clinics closed during the COVID-19 outbreak, spay and neuter surgeries stopped, creating generations of surplus puppies. Huge numbers of people adopted pandemic pets, but now demand for dogs, especially large ones, has plunged.

As might be expected, dogs that are larger or older or have health or behavioral problems have a tough time being adopted. Taking responsibility for such an animal can be a heavy commitment.

Speaking from personal experience, however, I can attest to the rewards being high if one takes the plunge.