LOL– anything is teethworthy from the Basenji perspective! Just like you buy them a basket full of toys and their favorite is the empty spaghetti box "found" in the trash.
It seems to me there are a couple of issues here. I don't think a shelter wants just any JoeBloe walking in one day to say "hey I'd like to help by walking your dogs". The shelter needs to know something about its volunteers though a criminal check might be a bit much. If someone has been volunteering at a shelter for some time so the staff knows them and now new policies are being put into effect, then the shelter should have some sort of informational meeting/handout for all its volunteers so they know what and why. And even when volunteers have been accepted, some mini-training should be included for handling dogs. Many shelter dogs have been abused so I wouldn't want a volunteer who grew up under the "old" system of training with spanking and collar yerking now handling a special needs dog. Actual certification for dog walkers - no - the government intrudes enough.
AJs Humana - you have a right torant. I too get annoyed about irresponsible owners.
We even get them at the shows here with Basenjis. People who say - "keep your dog away from mine" (this in the ring) "he/she snaps"!!!! Also others who wander past a crated dog with several of theirs on loose leads, poking at the dog in the crate. When the crated dog reacts they complain about bad temperament!!!
Sigh … again it all goes to funding or lack there of probably. Politics.
@lvoss:
I will again say that most animal control departments are vastly understaffed and therefore enforcement of the county's various animal related laws is complaint driven. They just do not have the staff to properly enforce the laws currently on the books. In most counties, they would probably find a huge decrease in the number of shelter dogs if they could actually enforce the laws currently in place, especially the leash law. Many of the unwanted puppies result from breedings that happen while dogs are roaming offleash. Until animal control can enforce the laws currently in place there is no reason for new laws, they won't make any difference.
