But then there is another way to look at it....
it's terrible to get rid of a dog you've had it's whole life when it gets "too old" for you to bother dealing with....
BUT if they really just don't love the dog anymore, the dog is better off going to a new family taht will take care of all of the issues that aging brings on and will be loved and cared for instead of just tolerated and get half arsed care.
I agree in general, but I'm much more inclined to be more "forgiving" if the dogs actually had a chance at adoption. There are different cases of course, like at least knowing your old dog is going to be treated well. With the 2 dogs I mentioned, I'll use the mastiff as an example. Huge dog- strike against adoption. Mostly black- another strike. Old- third strike. Animal control, not a low-kill shelter with foster homes- fourth strike. The best you can get for that is the hope that dog can escape the cage before she dies. At least the chihuahua has the appeal of being small, even if he is 11 years old.
I know I sound all fired up, but it's not towards you.
I just am still reeling from all the dogs there, the deals they're coming up with- like pay for the license and give any donation you want, even if it's just $5- to try to get dogs adopted. I volunteered at the local humane society, which is in the same group, but still a whole other animal, and I can't fathom how someone can leave any animal there, let alone one with such low adoption chances.
I get sooo angry at ads getting rid of senior horses. Mainly ones that say something like:
"Free senior horse. Rosy is 20 years old and too old to ride now. I grew up with this horse and love her so much, but it's time to make space for a horse that can be ridden. NOT FOR SLAUGHTER!"
Translation: I wore this horse out but feel guilty about discarding her and don't want to pay for her feed, medical, and boarding expenses for the next ten years, so want someone else to take responsibility for all that while getting zero benefit from being able to ride her. Oh yeah, I think I'm entitled to say she can't go to slaughter, even though I'm not willing to give her a nice retirement.
Ugh! Agreed! Especially since a lot of people who auction old horses off for the slaughter truck can be very convincing as a lovely home for the horse. Get free old horse, take it to auction, sell it for a bit of change for a good meal and some glue. Previous owner acts like she did a great thing for her horse. She gets a nice shiny new one and as the years pass the cycle continues. It's amazing the denial of their own ignorance people have.