One Shelter Volunteer, Countless Dogs, and the Quest to Find Them All Homes by Amy Sutherland
A Book Review.
The last time I walked through an animal shelter was decades ago. The idea of ‘No kill’ shelters was a novelty back then and most ‘pounds’ kept the animals for only five days before euthanizing them. This was back in the early 1990s when their main focus was to reduce the homeless pet population. Shelters and attitudes toward “second-hand” pets have changed dramatically since then.
Several decades ago, shelters euthanized 80% of homeless dogs, now they have 80% adoption rates. Dogs are often groomed and some receive training to make them better pets. Many shelters now have their own veterinarians and most of the dogs available for adoption are in good health. Some shelters even have pet behaviorist.
This post contains an affiliate link to this book. If you click on it and order it, I will receive a small compensation. However, this review represents my own opinion of the book.
Rescuing Penny Jane is not just about the lives of a few shelter dogs, although it does cover many wonderful stories. It is also a memoir of how the author became involved as a shelter volunteer, and especially about one of her dogs.
Penny Jane was a feral dog, unused to the presence of humans and terribly afraid of them. She loved the outdoors and often refused to enter their house at night. Eventually, the author learned to ignore Penny Jane, which made the dog much happier since she wasn’t comfortable around people. A feral dog is much different than the usual stray pet that ends up at shelters.
The book also covers how shelters have changed over the years. Some of these changes include:
- How Rich Avanzino from the San Francisco SPCA helped father the no-kill movement by pushing the city to become the first no-kill city in the United States. He won a historic court battle challenging the law back in the 1980s that regarded animals as property.
- No-kill means that animals that are too ill or dangerous can still be euthanized.
- The dream of many shelters is to all become 100% no-kill.
- The wide spread practice of spay/neuter programs changed shelters in the past few decades from having mostly puppies to having almost exclusively adult dogs.
- How pit bull mixes (pitties) have become very common in shelters since the 1990s. The breed or any dog that looks like it might have a bit of pit bull has a huge stigma because of a few attacks. Landlords may not allow them, some homeowner’s insurance policies may not cover damage (bites) caused by them, and some cities even ban them or have restrictions (such as wearing muzzles on public property). Some of these laws are slowly being repealed since many people cannot adequately identify pitties and many of these dogs are not dangerous.
- Many homeless dogs are shipped from southern and southwestern states, where there are too many homeless dogs, to northern states, where more people adopt them—especially small dogs.
- Adoption rates for senior dogs have increased and one shelter, Muttville in San Francisco, specializes in only having senior dogs.
- There is a discussion on why people give up their pets and how to help them keep their dogs. Often they give them up due to lack of funds to care for them, or sometimes it’s because of an argument at home. Methods are being developed to encourage people to keep their pets, such as low cost veterinary services, and having to make appointments to drop off an animal at the shelter.
Rescuing Penny Jane has made me think about volunteering. Most dogs need the attention of walks and playing outdoors, which is the main activity for volunteers. Volunteers often receive training in how to handle these dogs.
I also didn’t know that volunteers could sometimes take dogs home for an overnight visit. I had thought that home visits would break a dog’s trust, not only in the volunteer, but also in all of humanity. But this is not so, bringing dogs into a household helps them recuperate from the stress of the shelter.
Most dogs become stressed from all the barking and the lack of attention. As the author mentions, it’s not usually, “if” a dog will succumb to the stress of a shelter, but “when.” Often it takes months, sometimes years, but dogs, all dogs, need to eventually find a home to feel safe and happy.
I loved this book and learned so much about shelters. I give it a five star rating.
Sounds like a great book. I hope it gets widely read so people understand about Shelters and adopting. I learned a lot filming Talent Hounds “Rescues Rock” as I went to quite a few locations and interviewed many rescue organizations and rescue dog owners. Things have generally improved but I had no idea one of our own local city shelters had quite a high kill rate until a particular dog was in danger and I tried to help a rescue pull him (he lived). It is true there are very few puppies these days. Two adoption events I know of have been cancelled as not enough dogs and no puppies. I try to volunteer at adoption and fundraising events and do PR and videos for rescues.
Wow, that’s great that you do so much. I’d like to see your film “Rescues Rock”. I’ll have to check out your website and see if it is available. Thanks for commenting.
So much good info here, Sandy. Where I live, spay and neuter programs are so effective that many shelters and rescues bring pets in from other locations, including the south. I just read a goal of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah to eradicate killing countless homeless pets in shelters by 2025. I’m hopeful although distraught over the ones that won’t be saved.
Thank you for commenting. Yes, I learned that a lot of dogs are moved around the country, especially from the south and southwest. Best Friends has a fantastic goal! I hope they reach it!
This sounds like a great book! My Yoshi came from a kill shelter. He was found as a stray and his time was up at the shelter. Luckily Releashed Rescue stepped in and saved him! I can tell Yoshi isn’t super used to humans either. Huskies are naturally friendly and trusting dogs. Yoshi trusts me. However, he is a little hesitant with strangers. I have been taking him out and getting him used to people and interacting with them. He is doing great!
Lucky for Yoshi! You saved him! I’m so glad you have been able to help him.
I have this book on my bookshelf – waiting to be read!
I’m so glad things have changed, for the better. Still plenty of room for improvement.
Yes, It’s a good read – very enjoyable.
I love the idea of taking shelter dogs home to give them a break from the stress of a shelter… that’s so sad that dogs “succumb” to shelter stress…. I was rescued, but the group that rescued me took me to a big rescue farm and I lived there until I was adopted.
Mishu, I hope the rescue farm wasn’t too stressful.
I think that sharing real stories is so important. Nothing has more power to touch people’s hearts than real stories.
Recognizin’ that no-kill shelter still euthanize really sick cats and dogs, who are in pain, and cannot be helped, is SUPER IMPORTANT, ’cause I’ve heard a number of negative peeps say things to the contrary on Twitter and Facebook. Things like no-kill shelters allow animals in pain to suffer. THIS SIMPLY ISN’T TRUE! It’s important for peeps to understand that the no-kill means not killin’ to make room, or for the “convenience” of peeps. purrs
Back several decades, animals were euthanized just to make room for new arrivals – and they did group euthanasia – how sick! Now they try to adopt out as many as possible. Obviously, some are too ill or dangerous to be adoptable. Thanks for your comment.
Oh that’s an interesting history … one I never thought to look into. And I am glad that it’s moving in the right direction. I learned recently that Amsterdam no longer needs them. the laws are so strict around pet ownership and spay and neuter programs (you have to apply for a license to breed and prove you have a home for puppies BEFORE… ) anyway … I have hope. We are looking at maybe doing senior dog staycations at our place… 🙂
I like the licensing of pet breeders and not the accidental pregnancies. I hate to say this, but my stepson’s family has had several “accidental” pregnancies. At least they found homes for all the puppies. Good for you to offer your home for senior dog staycations!
Great points about shelters. YAYDog Andy was in a shelter for five weeks, yikes. Some shelters are doing music feeds which cut the barking and help calm dogs. Thanks for all the good information which may encourage people to adopt or volunteer. I walked dogs at my local shelter for almost 2 years and it was a beautiful experience.
I’m glad you found the time to walk dogs. They really need it. Unfortunately, the closest shelter by me is quite a long drive.
I really enjoyed this book as well. Most of my hands on volunteer experience has been with cats and rabbits. I’m now starting to work with more dogs. I took in a feral kitten years ago. She was deaf so couldn’t live safely outside. She lived with me for 17 years and only in the last few years of her life did really start to trust us. It was challenging at times but I have absolutely no regrets.
Wow, it took so many years for her to trust you! That’s like the Penny Jane story – the dog didn’t really trust them unless they kind of ignored her. I’m glad you have no regrets.
Sounds like a book we should all be reading! I can’t tell you how sad it makes me whenever I speak to someone who got their dog from a “breeder.” There are so many amazing animals waiting for loving homes, I wish more people believed in rescue not just as a concept but as the only option. I’m definitely encouraged by the “No Kill” movement and increased number of senior pet adoptions. Shelters still have a long way to go but it’s nice to see so many are on the right track.
Thank you for your comments. Shelters have changed a lot in the past few decades and so have people’s opinion of them.
This sounds like a well researched and deeply affecting book. I had no idea about the wholesale slaughter of cats in New York until I met friends on Twitter who daily share the cats (and dogs – often pities) at risk. Compared to what things used to be like it must have been horrific a decade or so ago but we are still in urgent need of eradicate the ignorance of so many people – who consider animals disposable. this book will help many people think more about pets and shelters.
I wholeheartedly agree. Thank you for your comment.