Since 1996, Abandoned Pet
Rescue has been a rescue partner with Broward County Animal Control. They work closely with them, pulling dogs on the euthanasia list. “Our county’s euthanasia
rate is still well over 60 percent, and until we get that number under control, I feel we shouldn’t be pulling dogs from other areas. Well over two-thirds of the dogs at Broward County Animal Control are Pit Bull mixes, and as wonderful as that breed* is, apartments and condos just won't allow any kind of Bully breed,” said Sue. Most everyone in animal
sheltering agrees that the long term solution to the pet over- population problem is having responsible pet owners spay or neuter their dogs and cats. Abandoned Pet Rescue will not adopt out a cat or dog to anyone who has an intact animal at home. Additionally, background checks are completed on all potential adopters. Mostly what they’re looking for are any cruelty issues. Adopters then sign an agreement that says the animal they’re adopting must be returned to APR should some- thing change in the adopter’s life, necessitating an owner-surrender. Even with all of these checks and balances, one of their dogs every so often ends up at Animal Control. “All of our animals are
chipped and we’re the primary address on the chip,” said Sue. “Animal Control will call us and we’ll go pick up the dog.”
*Pit Bull is not a breed of dog. The term is used to describe dogs with similar traits and characteristics — much as how the words “hound” and “terrier” are used. Some animal advocates say most dogs commonly referred to as a pit bull are either a mix of other breeds or are purebreds often misidentified as a pit bull. To identify dogs as pit bulls is imprecise and is a death sentence for many dogs. Without DNA testing, it is almost impossible to tell by visual identification what breed a dog is. And, even DNA testing is not 100 percent reliable.
www.TheNewBarker.com
Roxy’s mother was pregnant when Abandoned Pet Rescue (APR) pulled her from Broward County Animal Control. APR kept Momma, and adopted out her five puppies. About 10 months ago, Roxy and her brother came back to APR from the family who adopted them, three years ago. They had children and the dogs became too much for the family to handle. “We don't question or argue
with someone who wants to owner-surrender our dogs back to us. Once they’ve made the decision, people are going to get rid of the dogs anyway, and they’ll end up on the streets, or worse, dead. We just want our dogs back.” –Sue Hanson, Founder/Director of Abandoned Pet Rescue, Fort Lauderdale.
LIMITED INTAKE OR OPEN DOOR SHELTER?
The Humane Society of Broward County does not spay or neuter an animal until it has an adoption commitment. “They don’t want to spend the money if there is a chance the dog or cat will be euthanized,” said Sue. “They are not a no-kill facility, and are straightforward with this fact. Their staff warns people who owner-surrender their pets that the animal may be immediately euthanized,” Sue told us. Abandoned Pet Rescue (APR) is a no-kill shelter. That also means they are a limited
intake shelter, unlike animal control, which is an open door shelter. Limited intake (man- aged admission) shelters can be selective of the animals they will take in, generally animals they know are most adoptable. An open door shelter, like most municipal shelters, takes in all owner-surrenders, strays, cruelty cases and more. There are exceptions to these intake rules at both entities. For instance, while APR is a limited intake shelter, it does not mean that they won’t pull an unadoptable dog from animal control under certain circumstances. Continued on the following page.
g
Cooper has been with Abandoned Pet Rescue for five years.
Marlin was a last-call dog at Broward County Animal Control.
THE NEW BARKER 53
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