Pet Overpopulation Case Study

The facility has not had to euthanize a healthy dog due to lack of space for several years. Programs have been developed such as the “special needs fund,” which allows for expensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and adoption for many dogs who may not of had that opportunity in previous years. However, cats provide additional challenges due to overpopulation issues. Last year approximately 800 treatable-rehabilitable/manageable cats had to be euthanized. However, programs such as the trap/neuter/release program, foster care in private homes, PetSmart and veterinary clinic housing/adoptions, and free cat adoption incentives greatly reduced the overwhelming difficulties with housing/adopting cats (Nebraska Humane Society, 2014).

Going back to chapter 1, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized a year and endure being stray. These high numbers are mostly because of a big litter that was unplanned. Removing a pet’s reproductive organs is a great way to battle animal overpopulation. The price of spaying or neutering has a range of about $45-$175. That is not too much relative to caring for a whole litter of kittens or puppies. There are other great reasons to spay and neuter animals besides the fact that it doesn’t contribute to overpopulation. For instance, “spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats.” (pets.webmd.com) In summary, one easy, cost effective treatment can help with animal overpopulation and

The director of this animal shelter, Kelly Goedel, says that the cause of animal homelessness is primarily the lack of spaying and neutering along with the lack of commitment that pet owners have to their companion (Goedel). Spaying and neutering is sometimes avoided by pet owners because it is an extra expense or they may feel as if it is unnecessary. This challenge leads to an excess in animal populations without there necessarily being and increase in homes for these animals. The challenge of overcoming pet overpopulation becomes even more difficult because of a lack of funding. According to the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley, only about 20 percent of their funding comes from local government (Goedel). Therefore, they are very reliant on donors and community funds to help finance their organization. The funding issue circles back to complicate the process of getting homeless pets spayed and neutered to attempt to solve the root cause of animal overpopulation.

Pet owner’s need to be aware of the responsibility it is to be a proper pet owner. Domestic animal do not only need their love and attention they require regular visit to the veterinarians where they can take proper precautions for unwanted pregnancies. Every day there are 70,000 puppies and cats that are born there is not enough homes for all these pets.(Harvey,Alyssa) Animal shelters have endorsed sterilization ensuring pet owners that sterilizing a pet is less expensive than the cost of a litter of puppies or kittens. In Hidalgo County I found a clinic that has received a $90,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to spay/neuter to help reduce pet overpopulation. The program offers

The SPACA has a full site with statistics in which we can find that around 6.5 million companion animals enter shelter nationwide every year, of those 710,000 are returned to owners and 1.5 million are euthanized every year. All the care for shelters and the animals in them can cost to the U.S taxpayers about $2 billion dollars per year, Lafayette Humane Society declares that 70% of people who get pets end up abandoning them, giving them away or taking them to shelters. Adolescents cats and dogs and mate as young as 5 months old, this mean that if you keep a male and female from the same litter then most likely they will have their own litter. Breeders are careful on how they mate the animals and do artificial selection which according to MJ. Alba “It’s a Slap in Evolution’s Face”, breeders do artificial selection to change almost anything, from fur texture to eye

    Due to the domestication of cats and dogs their populations have skyrocketed. This is due in part to the lack of pet owners acting in a responsible manner. These responsibilities include the spaying and neutering of  pets. These numbers of

There are not enough homes for all the animals that are born every year. Adopting a animal from a shelter helps weaken pet population cycle from overpopulation . “Each year 8 to 12 million dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are euthanized because

Some shelter workers think that euthanasia, although dismal, is necessary to maintain order in shelters. This thought process stems from the reality of the shelter’s financial situation and capacity. There simply is not enough funding to obtain all the resources the animals need nor is there enough space to hold all of the animals. Jennifer Sexton and Tom Warhol go into detail on how shelter funds are utilized, “Catching, feeding and caring for unwanted animals costs taxpayers and private agencies millions of dollars each year, as do adoption and education programs. Additional costs are generated by

The problem I would like to solve is pet overpopulation. I believe this is a major problem that the US faces and something has to be done. I have always been an animal lover and cared about animals very much. My eyes to the pet overpopulation problem were not opened until some years back when I adopted my first dog as a kid. When I walked into the shelter I became very upset to see so many innocent and loving animals in a small kennel waiting for a family to take them home and give them a new opportunity in life.

Pet overpopulation is a topic that generally goes unnoticed unless you are a pet owner yourself. Every year, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized in local animal shelters. This is due to the reason that there are more pets out

Pet owners have a wide variety of views about their responsibilities. Some feel that just providing food and water is enough and therefore do not provide a secure environment which is essential for all pets. Without this secure environment, a female in heat is a target for every male around. The males will go to great lengths to get to a female in heat. Her scent is a driving force. Some owners will allow their females to continue to come into heat over and over again, making her a target for every un-neutered male around, without trying to solve the problem. The males' owners will allow their animals to continue to roam freely because they feel they are not the responsible party to the unwanted pregnancies. Homes may be found for some of the offspring, some may die, and some may just wander off. Of those to survive, the breeding cycle can start all over again. Also, many owners do not realize that having a pet is a commitment for the life of the pet. When some owners get tired of their current pet, want a new pet, or get irritated because the pet does not meet their expectations, they will dump the pet thinking it will fend for itself or find a new home. Of the animals taken into shelters, 47% of the cats and 55% of the dogs are not spayed or neutered (Patelis).

There are several benefits to having your own pet spayed or neutered besides helping solve this crisis. The benefits include reducing the risk of some of the most common types of cancers, making it likelier for animals to live a longer and healthier life, and nixing aggression problems. This causes animals mark their territory with strong-scented urine. And contray to common

Moreover, breeders are another issue to the overpopulation of dogs. Let me explain. There are two types of breeders: “responsible” and those that are not. Irresponsible breeders are motivated by profit and are not educated on how to breed dogs. One of the methods that irresponsible breeders use is a form of inbreeding called, “line breeding.” This is when dogs mate between relatives. The breeders’ purpose is to intensify certain breed characteristics. And as an effect, dogs are prone to develop genetic defects and diseases. (Bert Stoop) Irresponsible breeders might also separate a pup from the mother and litter before 8 weeks of age, and by doing this, a newborn puppy would not get the appropriate nutrients needed for its development. Studies

Imagine walking into an animal shelter, seeing the dogs and cats locked up behind bars wanting to be adopted. At an animal shelter, homeless animals are continuously looking for a home everywhere. An animal shelter in Ohio is CHA animal shelter, they are a nonprofit organization. They provide temporary care and shelter for cats and dogs and try their best to find them a loving home. Also, they provide surgery to spay or neuter the animal, and give the animal it’s required shots. Adding to, they provide an implanted microchip so the owner can track their animal if it is ever lost. CHA animal shelter has also provided a public website to view pictures of the cats and dogs and a brief background on the animal. They also have an option for donations for emergency situations, food, and supply, etc. The fact that they offer donations is remarkable because some individuals do not want to adopt a pet, but want to be apart of promoting adoption and give support to the organization. Not only does the organization try to make the pet’s life the best at the animal shelter, but CHA also hosts events to get people’s interest and gives the animals time out of the cage. I have adopted a dog from an animal shelter and it has been the best decision ever. Knowing I saved animals live brought more joy and love into my life, and nevertheless, he is the best little jack russel ever. Although I could have got a puppy from Petland, the choice of adopting a dog not only saved me money but also allowed me to save his life as well and improve his quality of life. An individual who adopts a pet is rescuing it from neglect and is giving that precise animal a second chance. In conclusion, I believe that CHA animal shelter is the best place to adopt a pet because it is less expensive than buying an animal from a pet store, it decreases puppy mills, and the individual can pick a dog or cat of any age.

For my Civic Responsibility Project, I chose to volunteer at Paws Humane, a non-profit organization in Columbus that provides shelter for homeless pets and aides in placing them with a fit owner. Paws rescues captured strays from Animal Control and accepts owner-surrendered animals. The accepted animals range from dogs and cats of all ages to small critters, such as rabbits. Paws has a no-kill policy, so the animals not adopted remain at the shelter until they finally find a home. Unfortunately, some animals remain at the shelter longer than others; some have been at the shelter 300+ days. Paws does not only adopt out animals though; they operate a clinic next door that offers affordable spay and neutering. These surgeries are an important