It felt like the right decision.
Bring the dog in. That is what shelters are for.
Bart was friendly, healthy, and clearly loved. His family was facing a temporary crisis and could not keep him for the moment. When he arrived at the shelter, he wagged his tail, ate his food, and leaned into attention. On paper, this was a straightforward intake.
A few weeks later, he was no longer the same.
The constant noise, confinement, unfamiliar smells, and lack of routine began to take a toll. He paced in his kennel. He stopped engaging with staff. He began reacting to other dogs through the bars. Nothing about the dog had changed. The environment had. What started as a short-term safety plan quietly became a source of chronic stress.
This is not an unusual story. It is one shelter across the country that encounters every day.
Even well-run shelters are stressful by nature. Research shows that dogs in shelters experience elevated cortisol levels, a hormone linked to chronic stress. Prolonged stress weakens the immune system, increases the risk of illness, and can cause behavioral changes such as fear, anxiety, and reactivity. These changes directly reduce adoptability. Animals that already face challenges, including seniors, shy dogs, large dogs, or those with medical needs, are affected the most.
Long-term shelter stays are consistently associated with poorer outcomes. The longer an animal remains in a kennel environment, the more likely stress-related behaviors and health issues become. This is why modern animal welfare has moved away from the idea that every animal should automatically be brought into a shelter.
Instead, evidence-based sheltering focuses on alternatives that keep animals safe while minimizing stress.
One proven approach is keeping animals in their homes whenever possible, with temporary support. Many surrenders are driven by short-term issues such as medical costs, housing changes, or lack of resources. Providing food assistance, basic veterinary care, or short-term help can prevent unnecessary intake.
Foster-based care is another critical solution. Foster homes allow animals to live in a normal environment, maintain routines, and recover emotionally and physically. Foster care is especially important for puppies, kittens, seniors, fearful animals, and those healing from illness or injury.
Direct rehoming is also increasingly used. When pets can move directly from one home to another with guidance from shelters or rescues, they avoid the stress of kennel housing altogether. These placements are often faster and more successful.
Shelters remain essential for animals who truly have no safe alternative. Injured animals, cruelty cases, and those without caregivers need immediate protection. But for many others, the most humane option is not a kennel. It is support, community-based solutions, and keeping animals out of the shelter whenever it is safe to do so.
Compassion Without Borders is committed to good outcomes for all animals, and we are ready to define what that looks like through strategic planning rather than collecting dogs and placing them in shelter kennels by default. That commitment includes building a stronger foster network and welcoming more community members to spend time interacting with the dogs in our care. Regular human interaction, enrichment, and engagement are proven ways to support mental health and emotional stability. If you have ever considered fostering, volunteering, or simply spending time with shelter dogs, this is your invitation. These actions are not extras. They are essential to better outcomes.
