08/28/2025
This is a must read for everyone, not just rescue. I'm going to address the very ugly TRUTH about overpopulation, owner surrenders, and euthanasia. We have to euthanize - period. For lack of space, for lack of staff/funds/adoptions/fosters, and for lack of people not giving a damn about their pets... Not enough spay/neuter services, puppy mills and backyard breeders go unchecked, rescues are full- and closing down every day, sanctuaries are full - and shutting down. Shelters are full - and closing their doors to intake , mostly due to the destructive BFAS "no kill" policies and procedures that have caused this crisis in the first place. I'm calling BU****IT on "no kill", I suggest strongly that you take the time to get informed on that subject. Spay/neuter is an obvious part of the solution, but we are way past it being THE solution. Designer dogs became the "thing" years ago, it's bigger business now than it's ever been, and growing every day. Stopping/regulating backyard breeders that flood dogs into the system HAS to be addressed - by legislative actions and laws. Dog fighting, which is probably the biggest unaddressed issue in animal welfare today, manufactures pitbulls by the thousands - just look at the general population in any shelter - pitbull types in ALL of them, in disproportionately high numbers. GET A CLUE. Now the big one: We have made a huge cultural shift in the last few decades, and not in a good way. Technology has overtaken our lives and over ridden our humanity in many ways. We have plugged into an Internet/computers/phones/social media as our only contact with each other. People no longer socialize face to face, texting has replaced conversation, Amazon and Door dash deliver anything we want immediately to our doorsteps, no interaction required. Our brave new world has dulled our senses and evaporated our emotions, people are self absorbed, self centered, and selfish. Immediate gratification is the only goal, patience, perseverance, and the ability to see to any needs outside of their own - sadly, gone. There is no commitment or loyalty to family/friends/home/work - anyone or anything that demands too much mental or emotional attention goes quickly to the wayside. People have become incapable of forming deep, emotional attachments/real empathy/ genuinely sympathetic responses. We commit to nothing, we care about nothing - that does not concern the immediate self. LAZY - self explanatory. NOW: there are times when people really do need to re-home a pet, hard times hit everyone. But, I don't believe for a minute that hard times are the biggest reason people are throwing away pets in record numbers- and neither do the shelter staff that have to constantly take these dogs in. The social shift I stated above is in direct contrast with what it takes to be a good home for a dog. Pet ownership requirements include commitment, compassion, sacrifice, patience, perseverance, hard work, and love. Deep emotional attachment, the ability to really love another living creature, that depends totally on you for every need, even when it's "inconvenient", is essential for taking home, and keeping, a dog for life. There's just not much of that out there anymore. We can't shift back, the horse is out of the barn, and ran over a cliff- you can make people do a lot of things - except CARE. Euthanasia: THERE ARE NO HOMES for the millions of animals already in the system, with literally thousands of new animals entering shelters every day, all over the country- what is the answer??? AGAIN - shelters/rescues/sanctuaries - FULL. Adoptions/fostering/support - has never been lower, and on the way down. Predatory mega nonprofits are deliberately destroying our sheltering system for millions of dollars - GET INFORMATION ON THIS ONE. Backyard breeders and dog fighting run rampant. And the big one, a society that is apathetic and ambivalent to everything around them, and that includes their pets. Neglect and abuse is being reported in record numbers- where are the good homes? I can't imagine what it would be like to put down animals every day- big dogs, little dogs, old dogs, injured dogs, entire litters of puppies, healthy, adoptable dogs... I'm done with the idiots that call these people killers- they do the ugly job, the necessary job, the heartbreaking, soul crushing job, that everyone else turns their back on/criticizes/denies/ or hides. TODAY, I would like all of the loud, ignorant critics who think they can place millions of unwanted animals in loving, responsible, forever homes to come forward, TODAY. If you have a safe place to put thousands of animals, many with medical/behavioral issues that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and pay the bills/staff that it would take to have such a place, I need to know TODAY. Warehousing dogs has led to horror stories and hoarding. I need to know TODAY what your solution is, where are the GOOD homes for millions of animals that are NOT always receiving the care they need in over crowded shelters. I need to know NOW, because thousands (approx 10,000 a day, I think the numbers have to be much higher) are euthanized every day, and don't forget about the thousands being surrendered right behind them, on the same day... What is the answer, if you can fix this NOW, what the hell are you waiting for? You could be saving thousands of animals TODAY, if you have a better way, you need to step up NOW!!!! All of rescue will be waiting for your answer, TODAY. PERIOD. God bless TAILSEND
Euthanasia and the Ignorance
Every day, SPCAs face harsh criticism over our euthanasia policies.
But we have to ask: do these critics ever stop to consider the real questions?
Where do all these animals come from?
Why do SPCAs resort to euthanasia?
And why are the numbers so high?
Let’s be clear:
It’s not the SPCA that breeds irresponsibly.
It’s not the SPCA that moves away and leaves their pets behind.
It’s not the SPCA that lets animals roam the streets or gives them away for "free to a good home."
It’s not the SPCA that says, “Let her have just one litter,” or, “I only have a male—it’s not my problem if he gets the neighbor’s dog pregnant.”
It’s not the SPCA’s fault that so many animals are abused, neglected, and abandoned.
So, who is responsible for the heartbreaking number of animals being sent over the rainbow bridge every single day?
Let us tell you the harsh reality.
Many SPCAs have started publicly sharing their monthly intake figures.
For example, our SPCA (serving Randfontein and Westonaria) takes in around 150–200 animals every month.
We have fewer than 60 kennels.
Where are we supposed to find the space, food, medicine, and staff to care for every single animal?
And then we hear:
“Why can’t you be like no-kill shelters?”
It’s simple: no-kill shelters can turn animals away.
We don't.
One of the SPCA’s core mandates is that we do not refuse admission of any animal—because we know what happens if we do. And it’s horrific.
If we stopped euthanizing, we would be full within two weeks. Then what?
We also hear:
“Your adoption process is too strict.”
Yes—it absolutely is. And that’s on purpose.
These animals have already been failed by humans. We won’t let it happen again.
We’ve put policies in place because we’ve learned from the past. We’ve seen what happens when we’re not careful.
Our adoption process exists to protect the animals—ensuring they go to homes where they are truly safe, loved, and properly cared for.
We will not send an animal off to a fate worse than death.
So, next time you feel tempted to join the online mob calling SPCAs “killers,”
please stop and ask yourself:
What is really going on?
Who is really to blame?
Who is truly paying the price for ignorance and irresponsibility?
It’s not us.
It’s not the SPCA.
But we carry the emotional burden, make the impossible decisions, and do the best we can with the little we have.
We will not stop putting the animals’ needs first.
We will continue to be the solution—to a problem caused by others.
Even when it breaks our hearts.
