(Note: I accidentally did not click excerpt, so am posting the remainder of the article. I apologize for any confusion .)
The Dichotomy of Disclosure
The case of Hershey shows the dichotomy of disclosure. What is shared about the dog’s true nature depends upon the intention of the shelter. If the intention is get the dog into the home of a gullible family, they encode and conceal the dog’s aggression into a “baby talk” style adoption listing. If the intention is to obtain a different holding place for the dog, they are pragmatic: “stranger aggression as well as dog aggression” and “aggression towards his person/handler.”
Due to the prevalence of fraudulent adoption advertisements, we remind the public to always request the uncensored behavioral and medical files prior to adoption. As noted in our earlier piece, it is critically important to understand that “disclosure” is not the same as “full disclosure.” In order to gain full disclosure, you need to see the complete case file. Otherwise, you may wind up with a Hershey — a dog disposed to mauling or killing a beloved pet or seriously injuring a person.
When Adopting From a Shelter
Do your research
Go in with questions
Bring a trainer with you to the shelter to evaluate for signs of aggression2
Request all behavior records for the dog
Request all medical records for the dog
Request all “outcomes” for the dog (if the dog was returned to shelter)
Animal behaviorist and author Alexandra Semyonova provides analysis and a special report: Behavior Testing Shelter Dogs — A Summary of Where We Are Now
web advertisements of aggressive shelter dogs
“Save them all” is a myth with real life consequences. People pay. Beloved pets pay. The unplaceable dog pays and hearts are broken. There is no such thing as a “forever home” for dogs like Hershey. Not even reputable sanctuaries want dogs that cannot be safely handled and require a “prison-like” existence. We first obtained a copy of the letter to the sanctuary in late April. It is unknown what the final outcome was for this dog. Humane euthanasia would have been kind.
1The dog came into the shelter in October 2017 as a stray. It was adopted out the first time on November 10. So the February 25 advertisement was likely written after the dog was returned a second time (after two failed adoptions).
2Preferably a trainer who is not a fan of any breed in particular. The idea is to eliminate bias.
Related articles:
09/20/16: What’s Behind the Click and Bait Web Advertisements of Aggressive Shelter Dogs Available for Adoption Today?
true! Our golden retriever “rescue” was let go because he bit a child.and had big time trust issues.
No one told us. We took him to training classes and the instructor asked where we got him from. Said the name of the rescue and she said’ oh! you got the biter”
They don’t want to put dogs to sleep so they foist him on dummies like me.
There are keywords on government websites, foster websites, and other websites that are giveaways to the possibility of maladjustment. A devastating tragedy, which part of the problem stems from allowing the children To sort of write their own bio. But, it gives an insight into that particular Young Person’s upbringing at that point in time.
There are keywords on government websites, foster websites, and other websites that are giveaways to the possibility of maladjustment. A devastating tragedy, which part of the problem stems from allowing the children To sort of write their own bio. But, it gives an insight into that particular Young Person’s upbringing at that point in time.
Is this why our local pound has so many Border Collies and GSDs who look like pit bulls in their pictures?
To their credit, I just checked out their website and a huge dose of honesty seems to have been swallowed. 90% of the dogs waiting for adoption come from fighting breeds, but the pound no longer pretends they are “Border Collie mixes”.