Animal shelters are overflowing with dogs and cats. But why did so many get there? Were they strays? Did they escape or were they just dumped at the first place someone could find?  "It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million."³  What else can we do that would help stem this seemingly never ending tide of pets landing up in shelters. I was curious if our assumptions as to what the causes were in line with what some recent national studies revealed.

Why Do Pet Owners Take Animals to Shelters?

One of the surprising items I found out when reading a  series of studies made available by Colorado State University was:  "...the majority of pet owners who surrender their animals to shelters are under 30 years of age and that more dogs are taken to shelters than cats and all other animals combined."²
In 2012/2013 there is still no central data reporting system for U. S. animal shelters and rescues. It is estimated that the number of dogs and cats euthanized each year in shelters has decreased, from 12–20 million to an estimated 3–4 million. Thanks to so many new organized volunteers at the shelters. but that still leave and estimated 2.7 MILLION healthy shelter pets are not adopted each year.

Trying to put your head around the numbers?

Try these...

  U.S. pet-ownership estimates from 2012

 It can be hard for us dedicated pet lovers to understand how someone could just surrender his or her companion. When a dog ends up in a shelter, it is not their fault. Most behavioral issues, for instance, can typically be traced back to the way in which their former caretakers handled them.

1. Lack of training: Shelters are filled with dogs that have potty training, socialization, and obedience issues, all of which could have been prevented through proper training.¹  House soiling (3.37%). These are both preventable. Any dog can be house-trained. Other common behavior problems include excessive barking, tearing up furniture, digging, chewing things like woodwork, digging or tearing up carpet, jumping up on people, and so on. Although frustrating, there are solutions for all of these behavior issues. But they can land a good dog on death row in an animal shelter.
2. Lifestyle changes: People losing their job, getting a divorce, having a new baby, or encountering difficulties with their health are also common reasons that dogs end up in shelters. A person may become overwhelmed by a dog when they have a new baby, may be unable to attend to them if they are unhealthy themselves, or find themselves too stressed to pay attention to a dog because of a demanding new job.
3. Moving: Sometimes people move and cannot take their dog with them. The home that they relocate to might not allow dogs. They may be moving in with a roommate who is allergic to a dog or simply doesn’t want them in his or her place. There are also cases of people moving into a new house and not wanting to bring their dog along with them so as to keep it clean. Moving (7.3%) Landlord will not allow pets (5.3%).
4. Not enough time for a pet: Our lives are busy, and having a dog requires making time to properly care for it. One of the main reasons that dogs end up in shelters is that their people get busy and start to prioritize other things above the dog, thus neglecting its needs. Often, children who pushed their parents to get them a dog by promising to take care of it become interested in other things, thus leaving the responsibility of the dog to their overwhelmed parents.
5. Cost of dog ownership: Between vet bills, boarding, buying food, toys, and grooming, pets can be expensive. Many people underestimate the amount of money that owning a dog will involve, especially if there are special needs or health issues involved. Cost of maintenance of pets (4.1%)
6. Health issues: Old dogs and dogs with injuries and other health-related issues require more money, time, patience, and attention than healthy dogs. Some people make the decision to get rid of the dog versus continue to care for them once an illness or ailment arises. Requests for euthanasia because of illness (7.4%). Euthanasia because of animal's age (4.6%)

Animal is ill (4.1%)
7. Biting: Dogs are often hauled off to shelters because they have bitten a member of the family. If a dog exhibits aggressive behavior, it must be dealt with immediately. Biting can be avoided if a dog is properly trained and socialized, and if behavioral issues are addressed before they worsen.
8. Too many animals in the home: Pets are cute and can adopt them impulsively. However, when there are too many animals in the home, it can become a problem. People that fail to spay or neuter their pets may end up with a whole litter and find themselves with nowhere to place the puppies. A dog may be fighting with a cat in the house or may not be getting along with the other dogs in the pack, thus resulting in it being sent to a shelter.  Owner has too many animals (4.8%)
9. Allergies within family household: If someone in the household develops an allergy to a dog, it may wind up in a shelter. People may have developed an allergy to the dog, might have a significant other move in who is allergic, or may have a child that is born with or develops a dog allergy.   Allergies within the family (3.98%)
10. Strays and rescues: People who find dogs on the street often take them in on a temporary basis while searching for its family. If the dog’s people are not found, these dogs are often given to a local shelter in the hopes that they will be placed in a home. Found animal (of unknown origin) (6.6%)
"Only 10%of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered, while 83% of pet dogs and 91% of pet cats are spayed or neutered."³

¹www.cesarsway.com

²Colorado State University's Epidemiology and Animal Disease Surveillance Systems is the scientific coordinator for the council. The center is based in the department of environmental health in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.© 2009 Colorado State University
³The ASPCA

WHAT ARE BELLY BANDS AND FEMALE PANTIES

Belly Bands are cloth bands that wrap around male dogs. The Velcro really helps keep the band on securely; therefore, it is difficult for the dog to get off, when the band is on good.
Your foster homes will like it better to have a few of them.
You know each dog is different in adapting to them.
Some have no problem with them and others will take a bit to get used to.
The right size is very important. You need a good fit with a Belly Band. If it is not wide enough they will not work correctly.
Belly Bands can be washed and dried, many times. To wash them just make sure the Velcro is together and wash in warm water and hang to dry. One hint is if they pee a lot; put a maxi pad in the band it will help absorb the pee.

Sue Hernandez: They work well for males of course. We always tell people they are a tool, and not going to potty train your dog, but would do well for a senior dog.
Charlene Bowen:  Be careful to keep them very clean, because they can give them infections.
Gabby Calvert Vogler: Belly bands are usually velcroed wraps that go around the penis so the dog does not pee all over everything he is not supposed to. Very helpful for show dogs and any male dog that marks. It will save your house.
Lisa Pieper Cochran-Kmecik: I always used the male generic brand of "Depends" pads in mine for the boy dogs. They fit in there just as a maxi pad would. You just change them out when you need to. Then you just put the Belly Band in the wash once a week, or more if needed. So, depending on the size and gender of the dog, I would use either a Depends or a maxi pad. You can also cut them to fit, and if you are concerned about budget, you can use the inserts that come with them and wash them. But frankly, they do not wick away the urine like the pads do.
Betsy Aust: I use the "Simple Solutions" brand, buy them online instead of the pet store. They have an absorbent area sewn into the band that works pretty well. I keep several, and launder often. For my male fosters that are habitual markers, the bands are worn 100% of the time indoors. Some males will be discouraged to mark while wearing the bands; some will mark inside anyway, wetting the band. Better wetting the band, than wetting the corner of my sofa.
Dezi-Ray Hoover: Had an incontinent older beautiful girl.. Momma used baby diapers, oneises and under drawers on her. Saved our bed (we all sleep together in a king sized bed at night), saved our floors, and helped our lovely lady not feel so bad about letting loose!!! She lived to be 21 years old. The last five years of her life, she had potty issues (peeing that is) and she became deaf over time. Other than that, she had no problems and lived a gracious, regal life.
Dee Ann: The Velcro really helps them, hard to get off if it is on good. Any rescue you would talk to would tell you how they are lifesavers and foster parents will be happy to foster again. Now when you let them outside, take the band off and then they can mark all they want without the band. I have found once a marker always a marker. I know with my belly-bands they can be washed and dried... I like to hang them to dry. You need a good fit with a belly band. If it's not wide enough they will not work correctly.
Pam Satterfield: Yes! I had to use diapers on my two dogs that had congestive heart failure. I bought the cheap store brand. For a male you probably want to buy a size 2 and use like a belly band, attached with Scotch brand packaging tape at the top. Don't buy generic tape because it will split and peel. The Scotch brand packaging tape will not hurt his skin. It’s super easy and makes life so much better when they start having this problem. I use them for new fosters too until I know if they are house-trained. I use a baby diaper as a belly band on new male fosters, and my Eddie when we have a new male in the house. They are cheap and will actually work better than a belly band. I attach them with clear packaging tape. it won't hurt their skin. I know Becky and Adam use this method too on their marking male fosters. Herbie is on furosemide and he has always been a leg lifter to begin with, so now it is extra bad. I made my own Belly Bands out of some super soft old t-shirts and they work great.
Melisha Culver: November 18, 2010:  Take an oversized Wool Sock. Put a Sanitary napkin inside it and tie is securely around his private area. Works as well as the ones I have bought off the internet that were custom made.  I only have to use them when Mr. Tanner is around NEW things. Seems he has to mark them.  
Princess Sophia: November 18, 2010: We used toddler diapers and female pants on our 15 1/2 year old pom. It helped her but I think the bands would be easier. We had to lift her tail which we think may have had some arthritis and made her uncomfortable sometimes.
Kathleen Griffin Coyle: I used Belly Bands on Thai and he was potty trained in no time. You just put in an incontinence pad (one with the sticky tape) and then it Velcro’s around their mid section covering their privates.
Boston Terrier Network: Gracie Mae is our Diaper Girl. She has no control when she is pooping and peeing. To allow her any normal freedom to be a young Boston she will have to wear panties for her lifetime, when she is inside.  She wears human baby size 4 diapers, covered by the doggie panties.. I use baby wipes, warm water and a cloth or baby diaper rash cream to coat both areas after cleaning up (NOTE:  from my research on this area I find that just because a product is used on Human Babies that doesn’t make it safe!!!!Please read below about diaper creams containing ZINC. GEE Whiz!)

HOW TO KEEP THEM CLEAN AND HEALTHY

If the dog is also urinary and fecal incontinent you have additional challenges. They are not insurmountable. The dog obviously cannot groom himself, it is important that the dog is bathed frequently.  Even with frequent bathing, you will still smell urine or feces at times and bathing may be more difficult with a large dog. 
If dry skin becomes a problem with frequent baths, obtain from your vet a moisturizing rinse.
Be sure to maintain good flea control. You will need a waterproof product, such as Frontline
Dry shampoo, that is available for "spot" cleaning.
Caution:  Zinc based creams (commonly used for diaper rash) on dogs is toxic if licked, so do NOT use this! Zinc oxide can cause intra vascularhemolytic anemia, gastrointestinal upset from direct irritation, and, potentially, multi organ failure. READ YOUR LABEL.
Baby wipes are especially handy in caring for the dog, as is self-rinsing shampoo.

What are their other uses?

House Breaking Training Aid

Protection Submissive/Excited Urination

 How Not to Use a Belly Band or Female Pantie

The purpose of Belly Bands is not for birth control.
The Belly Band is not designed as a “catch all” when you are away and cannot be back for his regular break.
The Belly Band should only be worn while supervised.
Please consult your Vet to make sure your pet's urinating problem is not health related.
Ask your Vet for his recommendations on how and when to use any type of Belly Band.

An example of an undersized ill fitting Belly Band

 If you would like or need custom made Belly Bands, Female Panties and suspenders or other special orders We recommend that you check out these social media friends.

 Sources custom made from our social media friends:

DeeAnn McCann

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DogWearbyDeeAnn/sold?ref=shopinfo_sales_leftnav

DogWearbyDeeAnn
www.etsy.com

Maryruth Monahan

Www.etsy.com/shop/coolcanineclothing 

(Gracie Mae is so happy with her suspenders that she wanted to show them to you )

Other sources suggested from some of our social media friends:
 Belly Bands for Dogs that Wet in the House  www.bellybands.net

Percy Henryman: these are the best belly bands...http://www.bowwowsbest.com/Male_Dog_Belly_Band_p/dds-bspp-022007.htm 

Because most aggressive behavior involves fear or anxiety of some kind, training designed to resolve the discomfort underlying aggression work far better than domination and power plays. Techniques like desensitization and counter-conditioning are particularly effective. ¹

 In some pet dog packs, there is a clear rank order, with one “top dog” and the rest falling in line like rungs on a ladder. In other packs, the order of the dogs depends on the resource. For instance, one dog is the boss when it comes to food, and another is the boss when it comes to toys. In still other packs, there appears to be no ranking of the individuals at all. They follow more of a “finders keepers” rule for determining who gets what. Finally, some dog packs just seem to share things without strife.¹

Dominance among dogs seems to be a function of age, size, reproductive ability, status history and motivation. Older dogs are often more likely to dominate younger dogs. Sexually intact dogs are more likely to be dominant over altered dogs, especially if they’re males.

The status quo can have a major impact on who’s dominant. A dog who has held the top position for some time may keep it, even as he ages and his physical abilities deteriorate. Prestige sometimes carries more weight than power. Once a relationship between two individuals is established, the subordinate animal defers to the dominant animal, and the dominant animal may, in turn, rule over the subordinate. In dogs, these relationships are reinforced through a sophisticated language of highly ritualized postures and gestures. Although dominance relationships are normally stable, certain events, such as the death or departure of a group member, the addition of a new member or the sexual maturation of a young animal, can trigger upheaval and restructuring of the hierarchy.

When animals and people are afraid of something, they prefer to get away from that thing. This is called the flight response. But if escaping isn’t an option, most animals will switch to a fight response.

They try to defend themselves from the scary thing. So a dog can be afraid of a person or another animal but still attack if she thinks this is her only recourse. A fearful dog will normally adopt fearful postures and retreat, but she may become aggressive if cornered or trapped. Male and female dogs are equally prone to fear aggression, and this type of aggression is common in both puppies and adults.¹

In my experience with dealing with fosters, the Bostons that were more likely to exhibit this fear aggression behavior turned out to be young male Bostons in the 24 to 48 months age group.  While intact dogs may have a higher tendency towards fearful aggression, spaying or neutering alone will not solve the problem once it has started. Effective treatment involves behavior modification, combined with anti-anxiety medication, if needed.

Here is another point of view for you to consider:
When dogs fight, it’s because something is causing them to feel stress. Violence among dogs is not normal – it’s a sign something is wrong.
Family dogs are usually not related to other dogs in the home or to the humans in the household, nor were they born into your social group but instead arrived as youngsters or even adults. The relationship between your dog, other dogs in the home, and the humans in the family was imposed on him. He was not born into it. It is therefore not his “pack.”
We also use the term “pack leader” to describe a dog’s human owner or caretaker. And we’ve been led to believe we must exercise our “leadership” by dominating our pets. But here’s the thing – your dog knows you’re not a dog. And he expects to have a different relationship with you than he does with other dogs.
Once again I went to our friends on social media for their input on this subject of fear aggression in foster dogs how to identify it, how to work with it.

Anya Woronzoff: The best results we got with Rudy was seeing a licensed behaviorist, but we had to shop around for one we liked. There were some who used a lot of choke leash correction stuff that did not make us happy because it seemed cruel. Rudy was new to us and did not trust us, and we wanted him to trust us not fear us. Instead we went to someone who was all about positive enforcement. We found Rudy's "high value" reward treat and used that first to get him to trust us and then to start working with other people. We also taught him how to use a "safety mat"... it was just a mat we got that became his safe place (kind of like a crate) we trained him to go there and stay there when the doorbell rang and we asked people not to look, talk or touch him. It began to feel like his safe zone so we started doing the same thing at parks and the vet. He still uses it today, but now he knows to come off the mat when he is ready to greet someone. I was pretty skeptical at first, but that mat trick is amazing. We also did tons of other stuff: trips to the vet without getting any checkups, trips to Petco without stepping inside. Everything became a lesson in building his confidence. We've had him for about three years now. He's not perfect by any means, but he can greet new people, go to the vet without incident, and go to day care, so we are pretty pleased with the results.

Lori Kozielski: We tried a behaviorist with our Frazier and it helped quite a bit. He has been on prozac for nearly 10 years now. One of the other things the behaviorist recommended was desensitization by taking him to the park and exposing him to other dogs passing nearby, in a nonthreatening way. This, as well as private trainers, helped somewhat, but we came to the conclusion that this was as far as Frazier was able to progress. At this point he is able to be around my kids, my mom and a couple of friends. When anyone else comes to the house he is safely crated away. I do feel like he's missing out on some of the fun in life, but the alternative would be unthinkable. Hope that helps....  Unfortunately, our Boston is deaf so we can't do that. I use a gentle touch and signs to show him he's good. Other people can't get close enough, because he turns into the Tasmanian devil with his snarling...

April Argo: I had a fearful little Chihuahua one time, and I crated her right next to the door while people came in and out of the house. I told everyone who came in to just talk to her but don't stick their hands or anything in the crate. After several months she did finally come around. Wire crate where he can see them come in and out, just ask them not to touch him, and ask them to pretty much ignore him, but allow them to walk by real close (not close enough to get bit, of course), or stand there a minute ignoring his gestures or aggressive behavior. Our chihuahua would back up in the corner of the crate and sometimes even growling, but if the person didn't show fear or didn't try to touch her, she would sit there a bit and calm down.

from an unknown source on breaking the cycle of aggression in dogs:
Avoid potentially dangerous situations. Do not do the things that cause an aggressive response in the dog, whether it is staring at the dog, hugging it, or disturbing it while it is sleeping. If the dog growls when her food dish is handled, give the dog something else to do while the dish is removed; fetching a ball, going for a walk. Do not use any treats or toys which may cause the dog to become possessive. If the dog starts to show any aggression, re-direct her attention. Take out the leash, or a favorite toy, and ask the dog to come to you and sit. You can also just walk away. Later, when the dog is calm and comes to you for attention, ask her to sit or lie down before you pet her. Keeping a long leash on the dog whenever she is inside can help you to move the dog when needed.

Mya Chuskie: And respect the dog. I can't stand people who think they can touch the dog without permission. I always followed the no-touch-talk and eye contact ever since I remembered handling dogs. Let the dog check you out first then if he wants affection they will stay around. Give them space just like we like our space to.

If you notice signs or symptoms of inter-dog aggression you should contact a local dog trainer or your veterinarian to seek advice to help your dog.

 ¹ http://www.aspca.org/

 ² Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall of the University of Pennsylvania