Siberian Husky Abandonment is an Epidemic

Every time when I'm out with Gatsby, people always come up to us to say hello. The first words that come out of their mouths are "OMG! It's a husky!" They start telling me how beautiful the breed is, how cute husky puppies are and how much they love the fact that huskies remind them of wolves and dire wolves. Then they start telling me that they want a Siberian Husky too. Whenever I hear this, I just start to cringe. The only thing these people really care about is looks!

Shows like Game of Thrones, movies like Eight Below and even social media has really put the spotlight on Siberian Huskies. A new movie to be released on October 25th, 2019 called The Great Alaskan Race tells the story of brave mushers traveling 700 miles to save the small children of Nome, Alaska, from a deadly epidemic. On their red carpet premiere, cameras were flashing putting the spotlight on husky puppies. I really hope this movie doesn’t encourage people to buy or adopt a husky only to return them to shelters when they realize they can‘t handle the breed. People think if they surrender their dogs to a shelter, they will always find better homes. That is not always the case. Some get lucky with rescue groups helping out, but then there are some that are sentenced for death row. It breaks my heart that these huskies have to go through this just someone didn't do their due diligence on researching the breed.

Based on an article from PETA, “Huskies are the most returned breed at Riverside County shelter. According to reports, the number of all impounded dogs in Riverside County who were husky or husky mixes jumped from 351, or 1.7 percent, in 2013 to a staggering 1,027—nearly 7 percent—this year.” Huskies account for the highest returned breeds at the shelter at nearly 13 percent, based on 2018 statistics.

According to The Dodo, "Since “Game of Thrones” first aired in 2011, shelters and rescue groups across the country have experienced a spike in surrendered and abandoned huskies, husky mixes and similar breeds." How do they know that Game of Thrones was the culprit? Well, because many of the dogs were showing up with names from the show, such as Sansa, Stark, Ice and Ghost.

You can't bring home a husky just for looks. You really need to research the breed and see if your lifestyle can meet their needs. If your current lifestyle does not meet their needs, are you willing to make any adjustments? You should ask yourself "Where do I see myself in the next decade or so?" Raising a dog is just like having children, if not more work. If you love staying at home watching Netflix, travel a lot, have a crazy work schedule, then maybe a husky isn't for you. These guys need routine training and exercise. They need to be stimulated mentally and physically everyday in order for them to thrive. They shed a lot and require consistent grooming. They are super intelligent, independent and stubborn which makes training a challenge. They love to RUN. So that means you can't let them go off lead unless you have established a tight bond with them which takes years of bonding. You have to be certain that they have recall before letting them go off lead. People don't realize the level of care, patience, money, commitment and dedication are needed for this breed. If you plan on getting a husky, be prepared to adjust your lifestyle to meet their needs. I promise you, once you are willing and able to meet their needs, they are the sweetest and most loyal.

As for me, here is how my lifestyle has changed:

• Routine - We wake up at 4:30 am EVERY DAY. There is no such thing as sleeping in late. Dogs, in general, need a routine. This is the time we take Gatsby out to pee, poo and for his daily morning, 45-minute walk. I drop him off to dog daycare before I head to work so he can socialize with other dogs and just be a dog instead of staying home all day by himself. On the weekends, instead of going to dog daycare, Gatsby goes on all-day adventures. We brush him several times a week to help remove loose undercoat fur. We also brush his teeth every night to prevent any periodontal diseases.

• A good amount of my paycheck is allocated for Gatsby - Food (Gatsby is off kibble so we cook for him), treats, pet insurance, dog daycare, toys, grooming products, dog accessories all cost A LOT of money.

• Activity Level - We are more active than ever. Siberian Huskies are highly active and that is perfect for us. We always choose to go out on adventures. We take Gatsby hiking and just about bring him wherever he's allowed. We only watch some T.V. at night when he's had his daily exercise and is exhausted. When he's exhausted, he doesn't even bother our four cats. He's never been destructive at home and doesn't have separation anxiety, mostly because we meet his needs and he's just too tired for that. A tired dog is a good dog!

• Training - I still train Gatsby every single day. We are always working on reinforcing desired behaviors. We worked with a fear-free trainer named Paul Kearney at Pawesome Dog Training when Gatsby was only 8 weeks old. I learned a whole lot from Paul and recommend him to anyone who needs help in training their dog.

My advice for those who plan on getting a Siberian Husky: In addition to researching the breed, I would also suggest reaching out to Siberian Husky communities on Facebook and search for husky parents on Instagram to ask questions. Speak to people at the shelters and Siberian Husky rescue groups. That is exactly what we did before we decided to get Gatsby. We researched for over a year. We made sure we were ready for him and it wasn't a spur of the moment kind of thing. I also think it would be a good idea to foster a husky.

For those who are Siberian Husky parents: Let's unite and continue to spread awareness on this husky abandonment epidemic together. Let's continue to educate others on the characteristics of the breed and share our experiences. Together, we can prevent our beloved husky breed from having to spend a day at a shelter feeling scared, unwanted, abandoned and unloved ever again.

Until next time,

Elaine