Rough Draft Pet overpopulation might be a major issue, but is it right to kill an animal because it is unwanted? The United States has been faced with a major enigma: what can be done to prevent the overpopulation of animals in shelters and shrink the population of animals on the streets? It is a very long and complex problem that needs to be solved, but that is no reason to give up on these animals. All animals deserve the chance to find a home and a family that can love and care for them, but unreasonably high euthanasia rates in shelters take that chance away. Animal shelters should provide spay and neuter services and work towards becoming no-kill because this can help control the problem of pet overpopulation and homelessness while providing a safe environment for animals to keep them away from euthanasia. Animal overpopulation has been a major issue in the United States since the early 1940’s and it has only gotten exponentially worse (NCPPSP). Overpopulation will turn into a “statistical black hole” and if nothing is done to properly control it (Rowan). Instead of attempting to find homes for these animals, most shelters choose euthanasia as a control for their population. Euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly, usually done through an intravenous injection of an overdose of anesthetic. It was originally used to put down suffering animals, but around 1970 euthanasia rates began to rapidly increase(NCPPSP). Shelters are now using euthanasia to control
The euthanasia of animals is a very problematic social issue in the world today. Approximately there are about 7.6 million companion animals that enter animal shelters each year. Of those, about 2.7 animals are euthanized, and cats have the highest rate, according to “The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” (2017). When you hear the term euthanasia in reference to animals, you think of a painless process that ends the countless suffering your pet had to endure over the span of their lives. There are many reasons for which these animals are “put to sleep.” When most pet owners put their pets to sleep it is because their pets have incurable disease, painful illness, behavioral problems and are of old age. When an animal is suffering and is no longer able to recover, this process may be the most humane thing to do. However, euthanasia turns into murder when perfectly healthy animals are killed. Since there is an overpopulation of animals there are many animals left on the street wandering alone. When there isn’t any room for all these new animals being brought in from off the streets, shelters have no other option, but to euthanize. Each year more and more dogs and cats are born and sent into shelters, but for every animal being born another one has to leave and once the animal leave they are most likely going to be euthanized. No matter the situation animals are losing their lives for no clear reason.
Thesis: Addressing what a No Kill Shelter is and that they should have standards for using specific euthanasia methods, treating “unadoptable” animals, and evaluating the Live Release Rate will help decrease the unnecessary deaths of shelter animals around the world, especially with the help of shelter based programs.
In the United States, about 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters every year. The overpopulation of these animals and the fact that they have no homes leads to about 40% of them being euthanized (ASPCA). This is a global issue, but the root of it can be found within the local community at The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley.
A problem has grown among animal lovers. On one side are the traditional shelters that euthanize to make space for more animals. On the other side are those that call themselves “no kill”. They represent a rage of shelters from all over the country that won’t euthanize any animal on their property. No-Kill shelters are gaining popularity in the United States, According to one source, “More than 600 shelters and that’s just a fraction. The popularity has put pressure on the other shelters to become no-kill” (Fasseas). Now there are two different sides to the story, half of the people agrees upon euthanize animals for space and the other half agrees that there should not be any kill shelters here in this area or anywhere in the country.
When Mary Ray of Woodbury, Minnesota unexpectedly passed away at her home during the winter of 2012, the last thing she would have expected was that her beloved perfectly healthy, young pet cat would be euthanized by the Woodbury Humane Society shelter instead of being sent to the home she had detailed in a note posted on her refrigerator. In retrospect, this would not have happened if the Woodbury Humane Society shelter had adopted the new and growing trend of “no-kill” philosophy for animal shelters, which simply stated, is an operating philosophy for a shelter that is based upon the premise that no healthy adoptable animal should be euthanized for any reason and that they should be sheltered until they find a loving home. The number of
The final issue is that animal shelters that have been labeled as high-kill due to the rates of animals they euthanize, are being passed up by adopters. The communities
Should shelters have the ability to euthanize one animal in order to have the ability to serve more animals? The ownership of an animal is perhaps the biggest factor in euthanizing an animal. Emotional reasonings, such as determining when will it be an acceptable time for an animal to be euthanized, can be easily answered with logic that identifies the condition and future of an animal. No matter the outcome one should keep in mind the standards of an animal’s welfare in order to make the best decision
Overpopulation is one of the top reasons for animals being euthanized in shelters. About 1.5 million sheltered animals are euthanized annually due to overpopulation, illnesses, or behavior (ASPCA.org). In order to prevent the amount of euthanizations in shelters, domestic animal populations have to be controlled to some extent. There are several
Advocates of kill shelters often complain that no-kill shelters are a hindrance due to excessive dependence on volunteers and funds and the risk they bring of pet overpopulation. In reality, no-kill shelters work avidly to mitigate the chance of overpopulation through desexing animals, encouraging adoption, and using foster homes; additionally, these shelters only use euthanasia as a final recourse unlike kill shelters that use it as the primary method. Moreover, shelters that adopt the no-kill policy provide more economic benefits than their adversaries because they use less expensive methods of care, bring in revenue through adoption, and use more volunteers than employees. Most American citizens agree that saving and caring for animals is an important goal; in order to complete this mission, Ohio shelters should abolish their kill philosophy and adopt the kinder, more humane no-kill
Nationally, roughly four million animals are killed in shelters every year. Of these, roughly 95% of all shelter animals are healthy and treatable. (No Kill Advocacy Center). No animal should have to ever be a part of these awful statistics. What will it take to help save these innocent animals from being killed senselessly? Animal kill shelters are horrible, inhumane, and overall completely unnecessary for multiple reasons: No Kill shelters improve adoption rates, all animals lives are valuable, and No Kill shelters save more money than other shelters.
Every year 7,600,00 animals enter the shelter, and of those animals approximately 2,700,000 are euthanized. These numbers were shocking to me; I thought that no kill shelters were on the rise and I wondered with a heavy heart why so many healthy animals were still euthanized each year. In lecture and through further
Sadly, euthanasia is being used to solve pet overpopulation but the problem is that healthy, adoptable animals are being killed. First, let me give you the definition of euthanasia according to Merriam Webster dictionary, it is “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.” Now that definition applies to not only people but
Kill shelters and stray dogs have been a growing concern for many years. People for the ethical treatment of animals (PETA) and Los Angeles City Council have shared views with regards to this issue. However, many LA County animal shelter employees would disagree. While PETA and the LA City Council hope to reduce stray animals and the rate of euthanasia by banning pet stores all across LA County, local shelter employees have become remarkably overwhelmed with the amount of strays that have appeared over time, eventually causing many to contemplate suicide due to the devastating conditions animals are in. I present a proposal that will show a significant drop in both areas; stray animals and euthanasia, and psychological disorders acquired over
There are a significant number of amazing animals available for adoption, many of whom are held in shelters, which desperately seek forever homes. Sue Pethick corroborates this point by stating, “The humane society had plenty of healthy, adoptable dogs” (192). Consequently, one of the most fulfilling reasons for animal adoption is reducing the exorbitantly high euthanasia rates. According to Vegetarian Times, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported that approximately 7.6 million animals exist in shelters; of those, 2.7 million each were adopted and euthanized (Barley 48). Upon further examination, felines were euthanized at a rate of 41% while dogs were put to death at a rate of 31% (Barley 48). However, the future does not have to remain bleak
Animal abuse— not a fun topic. Something that goes unheard by the news and other mass media, only whispered in a darkness that briefly reveals itself in the grey area of our local newspaper, or ignored by turning a deaf ear to those annoying “animal extremists.” Us humans, as functioning members of society, are naturally dependent on attention, love, care, or some other form of comfort that is capable of filling the sacrosanct hole in our hearts. Whether it would be seeking comfort in friends, family, or lovers, some find amenity in pets. Now, how would you feel if you were unable to take care of your animal due to a shortage of money, an illness, or any other negative factor contributing to the inevitability of tending to your pet, and you find yourself in need of a place that would end your pet’s life in a humane way? Entrusting a quick death or return in animal shelters, (known as TNR) may prove to be a risky choice, considering the “inhumane” policy of euthanasia.