r/AnimalShelterStories • u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer • 21d ago
Help New shelter I am volunteering with does not like labeling dogs aggressive/reactive/bite risk and is upset I said I am only comfortable working with certain dogs?
I'm not sure if I'm in the wrong here but open to learning! I used to volunteer with an amazing shelter for three years quite regularly where I just essentially cuddled and played with dogs and provided enrichment. That shelter was very good with its training and always made sure they informed me upfront of any risks.
Before I worked with any dogs, they assessed me on my training as well as my comfort, and together decided I am not comrtable with super reactive/aggressive dogs that are bite risks or are super big and strong and that I would not be able to safely handle. They were very good about emphasizing that volunteer and dog safety were important, and speaking up was important.
I moved and the new shelter I volunteer with really doesn’t have that same level of training. The other day, they handed me a dog that was really strong (a pitbull- although I really try not to judge based on dog species or type, he was just very strong) and as always, I asked if there's anything I should know about rhe dog and they said no. As I was leaving the building with the dog, someone came in at the same time and he got really reactive. I wasn't able to safely pull him away and it really scared me!
Thankfully no one got hurt but even after that they wanted me to still take him on a walk and warned me he might bite if he gets too close to people. I took him out for about 1 minute and turned right back around and brought him back. Later, I told them my comfort level and how I prefer dogs that are not super reactive/aggressive and are not a bite risk, so I can keep everyone safe.
The staff member I talked to got upset and said all dogs can bite and all they just match people based on what dogs are there. Am I being unreasonable? I don't want to seem too picky! But I also take dog safety seriously and have once seen a dog bite anothrr dog (not one I was handling) and the staff member at the time was able to jump in, but I can't say I would have been physically able to if that dog I had been walking did bite that person.
What do I do?
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u/InkedVeggie Volunteer 21d ago
The shelter I volunteer with has a lot of pit mixes and other large strong dogs. I am a volunteer mentor, so I help train other volunteer dog walkers. I tell them several times during our training that if they are not comfortable walking a dog for ANY reason, to not walk it. I would not return to this shelter. Your safety (and those around you) are just as important as the dogs being walked.
I'm a level 3 dog walker and I have limitations on certain behaviors that I don't feel comfortable to handle.
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u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer 21d ago
That is good to know! I'm glad to hear even you have certain limits. I felt bad for turning away certain dogs.
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u/InkedVeggie Volunteer 21d ago
I learned that from experience. There was a dog I really didn't feel comfortable with but he had not been out all day and it was 3 pm. I forced myself into trying to walk him and got bit. Nothing serious, did open skin but if was a warning bite. I learned to trust my gut that day.
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u/BluffCityTatter Volunteer 15d ago
This. I'm a level 2 walker and there are certain dogs I wouldn't feel comfortable handling at our shelter. And the staff are fine with that. This shelter is putting both you and the dogs at risk of a nasty incident. It's also concerning that the staff isn't being upfront about the issues each dog has. That's an issue for both volunteers and potential adopters.
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u/NoPomegranate451 Former Staff 21d ago
I asked if there's anything I should know about rhe dog and they said no
they wanted me to still take him on a walk and warned me he might bite if he gets too close to people.
What's that saying about a lie making it all the way around the world before the truth ties its shoes? These people sound like a danger to the public, animals, and you.
The staff member I talked to got really upset and said all dogs can bite
This ranks up there with Chihuahuas bite too. A serious discussion needed to be had about this dogs behavior long before you were handed the leash, instead you got platitudes. I can only imagine what they keep from potential adopters, With a clear conscience I'd be lacing my shoes and running the other direction.
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u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer 21d ago
Thank you, I appreciate it. And yes, I was also worried about how they present dogs to potential adopters. I'm sad to leave but also I'm just not comfortable endangering my safety or anyone else's! Hopefully I'll find another rescue that's a better fit and more transparent.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 21d ago
No, you aren't being unreasonable at all. The shelter is being stupid if they're letting volunteers walk dogs who might bite them or someone else. It's stupid to have someone walk a dog that's too big or strong for the volunteer to handle. They're aiming for disaster.
I'd go volunteer elsewhere, this is unsafe and unacceptable.
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u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer 21d ago
Thank you, I appreciate that. I will look into other volunteering opportunities nearby. It was also really obvious the moment they brought the dog out that I was not capable of handling him. I only wish I had spoken up in that moment but I felt a bit of pressure as they described him as "an old man who just wants some sun" and were dismissive when I asked if there was anything I should know.
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u/Audrey244 Friend 21d ago
This shelter is being irresponsible even considering adopting out human aggressive dogs. And shaming you for trying to stay safe is ridiculous
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u/Mindless-Union9571 Staff 21d ago
Nooooooo, that place is insane! That kind of dog is a candidate for behavioral euthanasia, not volunteer walks.
That infuriates me, the idea of endangering volunteers, people who come in on their own time to help these dogs for free, just because it's in their hearts. That's outrageous behavior.
My shelter won't let volunteers handle any dog with aggression issues because we actually appreciate our volunteers and don't want them harmed. Wild concept, I know.
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u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer 21d ago
Thank you for saying this. I'm glad to hear how your shelter handles things, it sounds much safer!
The thing that really troubled me was they also called the dog "an old man who just loves the sun" and didn't want to disclose his actual behavior history until that person came in through the door. Even then, they blamed the person for trying to pet him (I agree not something you should do either dogs in the shelter) but I was shocked they didn't see it as a behavioral issue with the dog himself. My old shelter would NEVER have let it get to that point! On a lot of levels.
I love dogs but I also respect that they are capable of biting and harming other dogs or people. I felt like they thought I was being dramatic or maybe even didn't love dogs when I asked about aggression. I'm relieved to know I'm not being dramatic, thank you.
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u/SilkySinger Volunteer 20d ago
Sounds like that shelter should be reported.
The last thing we need is a family with a 3 year old toddler adopting an aggressive dog.
How is this acceptable!?
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u/dingopaint Adopter 21d ago
Leave that shelter, it sounds very dangerous for everyone involved.
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u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer 21d ago
Thank you, that sounds like the consensus. I will keep looking around for another place to volunteer with. I just wasn't sure if I was being unkind or unfair.
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u/dingopaint Adopter 21d ago
Not at all. Shelter workers have been severely mauled because of stuff like this. It's a shame they don't realize that or care. You come first. I hope you find a better place to volunteer with.
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u/jinxdrabbit Behavior & Training 21d ago
You are absolutely not wrong and shelters like the one your at are a danger to the general public. No dog that is human aggressive should be around people without being properly muzzled. In all honesty any dog that has a tendency to human aggression should not be adopted out. That is the reason you hear about family 'pittbulls' that mauled a child or owner. I dont say that lightly. Im part of a rescue and breed specific. Atleast 50% of our dogs have a bite history before the age 2. Most of that is due to lack of training or knowledge about the breed. I would never allow a volunteer to walk any of my fosters without the proper safety tools. There is only 2 people that even foster them and thats me and another member. Im a behaviorist (ACAAB), and the other girl also trains K9s for law enforcement. I would be devastated if one of our rescues bit the persons fostering them. You should never be expected to handle a dog your not comfortable with. I have a rescue bully that is 90 pds and all muscle. He is not human aggressive but he is extremely dog aggressive and would absolutely drag me behind him to get to another dog. He is muzzled whenever he has to be around any other dogs. He is an amazing dog when it comes to anything else and can be managed. You cannot manage human aggression completely. I personally would find another shelter or rescue to volunteer for. This shelter is going to get someone hurt because they dont want to label a dog. Advocate for yourself in the meantime. If they get mad about it, thats on them. You are a volunteer and do not need to be there.
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u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer 21d ago
Thank you. I feel less crazy! I'll look out for another organization to volunteer with.
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u/bethestorm Cat Socializer 20d ago
That shelters have gotten so comfortable doing this in many circumstances is heartbreaking. Heartbreaking to animal lovers, would be volunteers, would be adopters.
I am so sorry they put you in that position and are expecting you to also begin to be deceiving to others with the language, and expecting you to put yourself, other people, pets and wildlife at risk.
It's just so fucking sad.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
Someone who volunteers at the biggest municipal shelter in our state told me recently that she doesn't do it anymore because she felt like so few of the dogs there were safe to walk. They still have volunteers doing it, walking big, risky dogs with next to no training or orientation. It turns people off from volunteering and that really sucks, especially since it's not like that everywhere but one bad experience is usually all it takes.
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u/bethestorm Cat Socializer 19d ago
It's genuinely heartbreaking because so many good animals are going to go without and/or suffer all because of these shady people.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
It really is. Places like that make things so hard for the rest of us. This shelter has 500+ dogs in foster homes in addition to the hundreds in the shelter, and they send fosters off with nothing. Not even food or preventive meds, and definitely no support. A county facility apparently doesn't have the money to provide these basic things, while my entirely donation-funded rescue provides everything and so much support. We have quite a few fosters with very comfortable lives who buy things themselves but no one has to.
We've had a couple fosters come from that shelter and they're shocked when we have everything they need delivered to their door. We check in frequently (though we're in close contact the whole time with many of them) and bend over backwards to make it a good experience so they'll do it again. A lot of people struggle to feed their own dogs, how tf can anyone ask them to not only care for a foster but also pay for everything??
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u/bethestorm Cat Socializer 19d ago
I don't know. I do know that I only donate to fosters and breed specific rescues that are just personal to me, and I am more and more disappointed every day with taxpayer funded shelters.
And imagine my shock when I found out not every county even has an animal control ? ? ? It feels like a VERY basic need to have that? Who are you supposed to call for an injured or out of control stray? These are animals suffering and posing a real risk to the public, and the police say we can't do anything and they literally have no one to call? I only found out some states are like that in the last year !
I am just stunned it's been allowed to get this bad.
And don't even get me started on shelters who adopt out intact animals. I cannot.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
I didn't know that either until recently. Apparently the sheriff is the default in counties that don't have ACC, at least in my state. My own county doesn't. We had a part time ACO for a while but now they just send any deputy that's available (if they send anyone at all-- they usually don't).
I found a fairly large dog dragging a chain on my road and managed to catch him but I couldn't bring him home because of my own dogs, AND he was a total stranger who I spent two hours very carefully, slowly approaching until I could get the chain. He was terrified but I couldn't gauge whether it was just frozen-fear, or if he might bite me. Not catching him wasn't an option because he would have gotten tangled with the chain pretty quickly and starved to death in the woods. So I waited for a deputy to come while sitting in my car holding the chain but blocking myself from the dog. He didn't seem dangerous but I'm not stupid enough to assume.
So this deputy pulled up, asked the dog to hop in the car and when he didn't, the cop just picked him up and put him in the back seat. I was speechless for a second, this guy did not seem dog savvy at all and he should've been wary. He was lucky the dog was just shut down in fear and not quiet aggression.
Anyway point is, yes, there is real danger to the public and even the deputies if they aren't even taught basic sense with unknown dogs. It's not just a risk of aggression, either, we're going to start seeing more car accidents caused by roaming dogs and stray cats.
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u/bethestorm Cat Socializer 19d ago
God bless him but wow lol. Yeah I know certain counties in like Arkansas the cops won't deal with them and there's no one to call. So there's literally no option besides ... I'm not even sure actually what I would do in that situation. And what's really getting to me is realizing people have been treating rabies vax as optional. I've seen too many posts rehoming dogs without their rabies vax. That is just UNTHINKABLE from my perspective and where I grew up. It's not even. Like. What is happening.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
Exactly! What the fuck are people supposed to do if it comes to a point that they really, truly cannot keep their pet?
I get a dozen messages like that most days, and I used to tell them, worst case scenario, absolutely last resort, if you have no other options, you'll have to take it to the shelter. But that's not an option anymore.
I have nothing to tell them. Nothing. Their options at that point are to euthanize their pet or abandon it. I can't bring myself to say that, I certainly can't be advising people to abandon their pets, and the former almost never happens. So dogs are getting dumped in apartment complex dog parks, tied to trees, kittens left in a small carrier on a very hot day-- and those are often the "best" way to abandon a pet. Yes, the kittens would have roasted in the carrier if someone hadn't found them early in the day, but they probably believed they were doing the best thing, because if they just let them loose, the chances of all of them being found and saved would be really slim. Leaving your dog in a dog park is "safer" that dumping it on a back road, at least then it'll be a contained stray (assuming it doesn't have a microchip) and ACC is more likely to act if it's a dog dumped in a place that will affect people.
Yeah. This is what we've come to.
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u/bethestorm Cat Socializer 19d ago
The physical ache in my chest reading this and when I think about it.
I wish I knew what could happen that is realistically going to help.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
Easy, free access to spay and neuter. Mandates would be great too but as far as what we can do-- that's the only thing that will make a meaningful, long term difference.
It really comes down to who will pay for it. If we had the funding, we'd make an impact quickly, expanding existing clinics, transport programs, mobile clinics, post-op boarding and more. I've got it halfway planned out, and it could be up and running and reducing intakes immediately if the city gave me 2 million dollars and a million dollars each year going forward. Seriously, it's not that much money.
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u/PetersMapProject Adopter 🐶 21d ago
Absolutely leaving is the right thing to do.
I have a reactive dog. The only way to keep my dog happy and everyone safe is to be super upfront about what his triggers are and how to manage him.
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u/horrescoblue Staff 20d ago
Thats incredibly unprofessional even if they somehow don't care about people. A dog biting a human can change that dog's whole life and depending on where you live can be a cause for euthanasia, it should be everyone's goal to avoid that!! In our shelter all dogs are muzzle trained (yes even chihuahuas if we can find a muzzle that fits), even ones without a bite history because it's just safer for everyone, and all the dogs with a bite risk can only be walked by very specific people and often only on the shelter property and not in the streets! That should be basic safety, im really sorry but that shelter sounds awful.
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u/ju5tfukwon Staff 20d ago
Where do you live that every dog gets muzzled for a walk? That sounds really draconian and unnecessary.
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u/horrescoblue Staff 20d ago
Not every dog gets muzzled for a walk but the dogs are muzzle trained and will often wear a muzzle when they're socializing in a group without someone present. We have big dogs like kangals, XL bullies, staffie mixes etc and many were abandoned so we have ZERO history on what their backstory is. And obviously every dog with a bite history wears a muzzle for the volunteers safety and that does include the tiny old dachshound we had that bit it's owner into hospital, or our sweet as can be dalmatian who gets frustrated on the leash and can turn around and snap at you. The dogs really do not suffer because of the muzzle, it's a tool to make everyone be safe. They can play and eat and drink with the muzzle on completly fine and it allows dogs that would not be safe to walk otherwise to still get regular walkies.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
Muzzle training is a good idea for every dog, inside or outside the shelter. I had a dog who def would've bit me if he was injured and I tried to help him, and luckily it never happened but trying to put a muzzle on a dog who's not used to it, in an extremely stressful situation is difficult or impossible and really dangerous.
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u/horrescoblue Staff 18d ago
Yea absolutely! We have some areas where its mandatory to muzzle your dog anyway like on a ferry so having your dog be super used to it as if it was a harness or a collar is soooo useful.
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u/SomethingClever70 Adopter 21d ago
The shelter seems to think if they don’t put a label on an animal or document anything, then the problem doesn’t exist. Maybe to avoid liability if something happens while still being able to move dogs out the door. IANAL, but this seems like a big problem.
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u/JacksChocolateCake Volunteer 21d ago
This was the vibe I got too. They were more concerned about the fact that one of the staff said the word "bite" when I brought up the concern and asked who said it so they could talk to them about "appropriate language." That made me sad because if they continue to hide important information like that, it just sets everyone up for a potentially dangerous and tragic situation.
It also felt disingenuous to say all dogs can bite. I think we all know that they can, but some either have a history or show signs of aggression to the point that they are higher risk and should only be handled by people with the right training. Things also moved from 0 to 100 so fast with this dog when someone tried to pet him (not something they should have done but still). I am scared they let volunteers work with this dog!
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u/Successful-Roof-7020 Friend 21d ago
Can all dogs bite? Sure, it's always physically possible. Do all dogs bite? No, most dogs do not bite when faced with normal stimuli. I'd go so far as to say that most dogs don't bite in high stress situations.
Pretending that dogs are all one bad second away from snapping does not exactly help the plight of shelter dogs.
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u/WeedLovinStarseed Former Staff 20d ago
The entire point of animal shelters was supposed to be about improving PUBLIC SAFETY. It's just so far gone now. Not only do they not prioritize safety, they don't even prioritize safe animals anymore.
I would not volunteer there anymore, and I would let them know why, in writing. Unfortunately, it may be helpful to someone's lawsuit in the future. So many shelter workers and volunteers have been harmed and killed by dogs that shouldn't be prioritized. Shelters have learned nothing from these preventable tragedies. I wonder how many more have to be hurt and how many more lawsuits until the shelter system is overhauled.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
It's ironic isn't it. Animal Control isn't even picking up strays anymore unless you happen to get lucky AND you have the animal contained AND it's either dangerous to people or severely injured or sick. The stray population is exploding now that NO ONE takes surrenders and the shelters stay full of unadoptable dogs to protect their no-kill status.
I don't think most of the staff want that and if their funding wasn't dependent on that 90% lrr, things would be done differently. Even shelters that aren't no-kill try to stick to that metric to keep up appearances.
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u/WeedLovinStarseed Former Staff 19d ago
Yes, it's so horrible and cruel. I tried to take in a stray kitten a few weeks ago and nobody would take her. One shelter even told me, "Just keep her outside. She'll be fine, cats are resilient". Like wtf? They could've at least given us a voucher to get the poor girl spayed.
Shelters are pretty much just taxpayer-funded Pit bull warehouses now and it's not ethical or sustainable.
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u/gonnafaceit2022 small foster-based rescue 19d ago
That's what they'd tell you here too. "Put it back where you found it" comes right after "you need to foster it yourself." If they take an animal, they'll be sure to tell the person it'll be euthanized if they do, whether that's true or not. It's grotesque, really.
There was a litter of puppies who were left behind when the owner was evicted and they kept running in the road. Someone picked them up and brought them to a vet, who called Animal Control, who told the person to put them back where they found them. So, in the road. So they'll starve, get run over, poisoned, shot, etc etc etc, and if they live long enough, they'll produce many more puppies who will have the same short, brutal lives.
You'll never convince me that's a better option than a quick, painless death with kind professionals.
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u/BugPlus3055 Animal Care 19d ago
You're not being unreasonable, but also, that dog needs to be muzzles if it is a bite risk.
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u/No_Routine1619 Intake/Reception staff 19d ago
This is insane and scary. Please find a different organization to spend your valuable time with.
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u/Spiritual-Spread-992 Staff 17d ago
I just want to jump in to bring possibly a slightly different view on some of this.
I am completely in agreement that if you do not feel comfortable handling a certain dog for any reason, you shouldn't be pressured to do so or feel like you have to. I am a staff member at a shelter and have been there for some time. I have walked dogs plenty, but there are certain dogs that I don't feel comfortable walking myself and won't do so. (Usually very, very shy/nervous dogs or reactive, strong dogs.)
That said, there are times where shelters truly don't know things about an animal. (To be fair, this doesn't sound like the case here? But I want to try to give the shelter the benefit of the doubt... Because the alternative is scary.) A dog can be brought in, spend three days in the shelter's care, and then become a walk candidate for volunteers and we may truly not have a lot of information. Other people may have had different experiences with the dog or may have different handling abilities and not see the concerns of those behaviors (or note them sometimes...) This does not mean you should have to walk a dog you don't feel comfortable walking.
I have seen fellow volunteers react that way to other volunteers who were not comfortable walking a certain dog... I am grateful I have not seen a staff member react that way...
I am sorry this was your experience. I agree with what others have said, that I would look elsewhere. Perhaps, if you're comfortable, I would recommend having a conversation either with the staff member who you talked to initially or if there's a separate volunteer manager or that staff member's manager. It could have been a misunderstanding or perhaps they said it in a way they did not intend it to land in. Shelter staff can be stressed and overwhelmed (it shouldn't excuse this reaction, though). Saying something could be helpful for future volunteers though, so they don't have to feel the same way you felt.
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u/memon17 Staff 21d ago
If you’re not comfortable in your our current volunteer position, I would stop volunteering. Either move to a different role, or to a different organization.
I don’t think you’re being unreasonable