Return-Path: Received: from h.gp.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa01991; 11 Apr 91 20:29:37 EDT Received: from h.gp.cs.cmu.edu by H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa04999; 11 Apr 91 20:28:52 EDT To: bovik@CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Stray animals Date: Thu, 11 Apr 91 20:28:48 EDT Message-ID: <4997.671416128@H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU> From: Colleen Everett Following are the responses I received in response to a query about what to do with stray animals that you can't keep, but don't want to see the get put to sleep. Among my responses (not listed here) were offers of temporary and permanent housing for a dog that had adopted me. It seems that when all else fails, Animal Friends on Penn Avenue in the Strip District are the people to see. However, there is a several month waiting list. :::::::::::::: If you can't find a home for your friend, take him to Animal Friends on Penn Ave. in the Strip. Unlike the other shelters, he will not be put to sleep if they can't find him a home. In fact, he will be kept in a "foster home" until a real home can be found for him. The people at Animal Friends really do care for and about animals. The dog will be treated with the best of care. :::::::::::::: It occurs to me that there is some group that doesn't put the dogs it gets to sleep. It's called Animal Friends. They're in the Strip District. :::::::::::::: Beware of people who collect unwanted animals and sell them to animal research labs. They put on a good show. :::::::::::: If you can't find a home for the dog, I STRONGLY reccommend that you take the dog to Animal Friends. They have the cleanest cages and walk the dogs regulary. This is not true everywhere. :::::::::::: Good luck in your search for a home for your friend. A few years ago, I had to part with my beloved German Shepherd. Since I really cared about her, I was interested in finding a real good home for her, and I didn't care about getting or not getting money for her (she was purebred and was worth quite a bit). So I ignored vague advice I once got from my vet, and I advertized "free to a good home". I was contacted by a woman who created the impression that she really wanted a dog, but couldn't afford one. I visited her home, and got the feeling my dog will be well cared for. I gave her the dog for free. A few weeks later I called. She barely remembered who I was talking about, claimed that she gave the dog to "a friend in the country", and found an excuse to end the conversation. Every time I think about where my dog must have ended, I feel terribly sad and guilty. In case I didn't make myself clear enough: there are people out there who acquire dogs (by stealing, "finding" or getting for free under misrepresentation) and then turn around and sell them to research. I am writing all of this to ask you to be very careful in your meeting tonight. I suggest that you ascertain very carefully that the lady you are meeting with is truly the owner of the dog (eg, she must have pictures of him, which you may ask her to bring with her). If you don't find the original owner, I suggest you ask for a modest donation to any cause, unless it is someone you know or can otherwise trust. I understand it is hard enough to find someone even for free. I think, though, that it is better to give the dog to a shelter than to give it to a stranger. In the shelter at least you are guaranteed he will be treated humanely. Also, I believe one of the shelters in the Pgh area does NOT kill animals. I don't remember the name - contact me if you can't find it. ::::::::::::::