Title: startling
Description: supposed to startle the reader into wanting to read more
Example used: There is a trend in dogs. People no longer like full-sized dogs. Big dogs—those over 40 pounds, especially5-year-old-and-up dogs—are about as much in demand these days as big cars. "About the only people who come in here and want to adopt a big dog are businesses or crime victims—after something has happened to them," says the Humane Society's director, Rika Brill. Even then, people tend to tire of the animal and return it to the shelter once their fear abates. Full-sized dogs, like Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Russian wolfhounds and German shepherds, are being unloaded for some of the same reasons: cost and space. The cost of owning a big dog averages about $500 a year—just for the bare essentials. Also, more and more apartment complexes are banning or restricting pets. Most limit the size of pets to no more than 15 or 20 pounds, and charge a refundable damage deposit—in many cases, several hundred dollars. Some charge a $250 non-refundable pet fee. Other apartment complexes charge a monthly fee of $10 to $20. So fewer people are willing to adopt a big dog. Also, people are turning big dogs in to the shelter at an alarming rate. Each year, the county's Humane Society takes in more than 20,000 homeless animals. Only 27 percent are adopted. Of the 27 percent fortunate enough to find new homes, fewer and fewer are large dogs. Which means they constitute the majority of the nearly 200 dogs and cats put to sleep each week at the Humane Society.
Lead: Dogs are getting fat-shamed and punished for their weight, something our furry friends have no control over.
*Graphic created on Canva
That’s all for today!
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