For years I've been trying to understand why people who keep these animals are prepared to invest so much money, time and emotional resources. Superficially, there's no apparent gain from it.

Many shelters conduct behavior-based evaluations on animals they take in, but there are few better descriptions of a dog's temperament than an honest assessment from its owner through a questionnaire. Shelters are not in the business of giving up on the animals they receive, and they need the best information the owner can provide to keep both the animals and potential adopters safe.

We are trying to get people to relate the pressure they put on animals with the pressure they put on people in the workplace,

These owners might think they are bettering their pet's chances by concealing behavior problems, but what they don't realize is that they are really worsening things for both their pets and the shelter.

People are buying animals who are not aware of the circumstances, ... You spend a lot of money, $400 or $500, the animal dies shortly thereafter, and you have no recourse.

I hope to make people realize how totally helpless animals are, how dependent on us, trusting as a child must that we will be kind and take care of their needs... [They] are an obligation put on us, a responsibility we have no right to neglect, nor to violate by cruelty.