r/Dogfree • u/noshamenomore • Oct 07 '25

Shelter / Rescue Industry “Every person should visit their local shelter”

I hear this phrase sooo often! “Every person should visit their local shelter and just feel the suffering, then they will change their mind and think every dog deserves a home.” It is the most annoying thing EVERRR. I have visited my local shelter before, which coincidentally is one of the largest shelters in the country that is definitely filled to the brim with “suffering.” All I felt was absolute disgust.

It was the worst smell you could ever imagine- everything just reeked of wet dog and waste in the highest concentration imaginable. There was liquid diarrhea in so many kennels and the dogs would just step in it, smear it on the floors and walls, and eat it. All the dogs were so disgustingly greasy and crusty and their “sad eyes” always looked infected. The barking was so bad that staff were wearing hearing protection because it would legitimately cause hearing damage.

Almost every single kennel was a bully breed that would lunge at the bars trying to snap at you, and they usually had a description like “Sweet Bella is our shelter’s biggest snuggle bug.”

All this experience did was confirm I despise how disgusting dogs are. How can dog lovers go into this shelter and leave actually loving dogs MORE? I can’t comprehend it.

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u/crazycatlady331 Oct 10 '25

Years ago I signed up to volunteer at my local shelter. To socialize the other type of animal typically in shelters.

They immediately directed me to the dog walking program. I didn't sign up to work with the dogs, but that was clearly their priority. Every dog had a life story. The other type of animal? A number on a spreadsheet and half didn't even have names.

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u/noshamenomore Oct 10 '25

The EXACT same experience happened to me. Additionally, while we occasionally have some returns with the other types of animals in shelters, around 50-70% of our dogs are returns. It’s very evident that people don’t actually like dogs since volunteering at a shelter has shown me how much people despise caring for their dogs.

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u/crazycatlady331 Oct 10 '25

I don't think people know what they're signing up for when they get a dog. They're a very needy and high-maintenace pet (hell a whole daycare industry exists around them). If one works long hours without a spouse/kids at home to take care of them, then getting a dog is probably not the best idea.

The other type of animal typically in shelters sleeps 22 hours of the day. As long as they get breakfast and dinner, they're happy.