Siberian Husky Abandonment is an Epidemic

People always come up to me to say hello whenever I’m out with Gatsby. 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. They want a Siberian Husky for looks and don’t realize that they are so much work. This is why Siberian Husky abandonment is an epidemic.

Movies and Social Media Are To Blame For Siberian Husky Abandonment

Shows like Game of Thrones, movies like Eight Below, and even social media has really put the spotlight on Siberian Huskies. A new film to be released on October 25, 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 to 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.

Raising a Siberian Husky is hard work

You can’t bring home a husky just for looks and you 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 pups need routine training and exercise. They need to be stimulated mentally and physically every day to thrive. They shed a lot and require consistent grooming. They’re also super-intelligent, independent, and stubborn, making 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 sure that they have recall before letting them go off lead. People don’t realize the level of care, patience, money, commitment, and dedication that is needed for this breed. If you plan on getting a husky, be prepared to adjust your lifestyle to meet their needs. Once you are willing and able to meet their needs, I promise you that they are the sweetest and most loyal.

Here is how my lifestyle has changed

We have a routine

We wake up at 5 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 at 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. Instead of going to dog daycare on the weekends, 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, we feed him a raw diet), treats, pet insurance, dog daycare, toys, grooming products, dog accessories all cost A LOT of money.

My Activity Level is increased

I am more active than ever! Siberian Huskies are highly active, and that is perfect for me. We always choose to go out on adventures, take Gatsby hiking and just 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!

I still train Gatsby everyday

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

Advice for those who plan to get a Siberian Husky

In addition to researching the breed, I would also suggest reaching out to Siberian Husky communities on Facebook and searching for husky parents on Instagram to ask questions. Speak to people at the shelters and Siberian Husky rescue groups. That is 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.

We can stop Siberian Husky Abandonment Together

Let’s unite and continue to spread awareness on the siberian 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. ?

If you want a successful life with a husky, you’ll have to shape its world to be as well-suited to its instincts as possible.

BLAIR BRAVERMAN

Do you really want to bring home a Siberian Husky puppy? Prepare yourself by reading my puppy 101 and training tips blog posts.

YouTube Video: Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Getting a Siberian Husky