About Dog Pounds

Dog pounds are more commonly known as animal shelters. Named originally for the pounds used to pen up loose cattle until they could be sorted out by their brands to the correct owners, dog pounds are today known as a place to house homeless animals, particularly dogs and cats. These animals are either kept until adopted, turned over to rescue organizations, reunited with owners or put to sleep after a certain amount of time.

  1. History

    • Dog pounds earned their common name from the use of the 'pound' in agricultural communities. These loose pens would be used to house stray cattle until they could be claimed by their owners through the use of their brands or other identifying marks. The pounds were just loose pens set up near town centers or common areas where the stray cattle would be sure to be seen. The oldest pound in existence in the United States can be found in Glocester, Rhode Island. Built in 1748, the stone pound is recognized by the National Historic Register.

    Significance

    • Most dog pounds, or animal shelters, are run by municipal agencies within local cities and townships. The shelters may be contracted by the city to provide services related to animals including stray animal collection, the removal of animal remains (road kill), reports of animal abuse, euthanasia of old and sick animals, animal adoption and vaccinations for animals. Most municipal animal shelters require spaying or neutering of all pets adopted through their facilities.

    Function

    • Different dog pounds function differently. In some towns, the dog pounds offer an open door policy. Pets can be dropped off without fee or question by owners who either can no longer care for the pet or don't want to care for the dog. These open door policies are instituted to help prevent animal abandonment. In other towns, a nominal fee is charged to help pay for the animal's care and feeding until it is adopted. Many rescue organizations work with dog pounds in order to make sure the dogs are adopted before they are put to sleep. In some cases, the rescue will 'adopt' the dog from the dog pound.

    Considerations

    • Dog pounds (animal shelters) are nonprofit agencies supported by municipal monies and donations. They often cannot afford to be heavily staffed and rely on volunteerism from local residents, veterinarians and animal activists. Most dog pounds accept donations of time, money and goods 365 days a year. Due to space considerations, the limits on how many dogs, cats and other animals that these pounds or shelters can help can be improved dramatically with increased financial and placement support.

    Misconceptions

    • Dog pounds are often associated with evil dog catchers as displayed in films ranging from "101 Dalmatians" to "Lassie" and "Benji." The dog catcher is not out to destroy animal homes or rip beloved pets from their family, but rather to remove stray animals from neighborhoods and streets in an effort to protect not only the local populace, but also the animals themselves. Stray dogs in neighborhoods can lead to animal bites, accidents and even death for the dogs. Dog pounds, despite their bad reputation, are necessary in large urban and suburban areas and will continue to play a vital role in animal health as long as dog and cat owners abdicate their own responsibilities towards them.