Why Do People Kill Animal Shelters?

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.

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.

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.

An animal shelter is a place where stray, lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals, mostly dogs and cats and sometimes sick or wounded wildlife, are brought. Animal shelters are essential in the United States because of inattentive pet proprietorship and uncontrolled breeding of animals. People often get pets without a full understanding of the time, money, and space that they require. Regrettably, that recurrently results in pets being abandoned or abused by these owners. Apart from accountable breeders, owners should spay or neuter their pets to stop the serious overpopulation problem, which is happening in the United States. Shelters do not treat or stop the problem of unwanted pets but without them the stray pet population would be astronomical. There would be more problems with disease spread and an increased incidence of stray animal-induced injuries. A shelter should also be a domicile where animals could be benign and feel loved and taken care of; not just a drop off. The shelter in my community tries to do their best with their animals, but I feel that the shelter needs to be able to do their jobs better and for the animals to feel comfortable.

Some of the shelters in California are amazing, at Sonoma County’s animal shelter has new policies for the crowded conditions and are working to reduce the number of healthy animal’s that are killed. Dog and cat owners who may want to give up their pets have to make an appointment with the shelter staff to discuss alternatives. Healthy animals will be taken in only if the space is available, otherwise the owners must wait. According to one source, “Most public shelters have around 393,000 cats that enter public shelters and it increased to 25,000. About 278,000 cats were killed in shelters in

Finally, many animals that are declined from limited admission shelters are dumped on city streets and in rural areas creating the potential for uncontrolled reproduction and thus creating more homeless animals. Overall, opponents of the no-kill shelter philosophy see it as misleading and possibly harmful to the management and wellbeing of stray animals.

(Charity Navigator, 2015, Charity rating) These numbers are a far cry from what Mr. Bergh told the Governor of New York when he paid a visit to the ASPCA and he stumbled over a hole in the old, tattered carpet and told Mr. Bergh to buy better carpet and send him the bill, Mr. Bergh simply replied, “No, thank you, Governor. But send me the money, and I will put it to better use for the animals. (as cited in Winograd, 2012, ¶3)” Moreover, for the last 15 years, the shelters, rescue groups, feral cat caretakers and No Kill proponents who have tried to restore Bergh’s vision through the No Kill revolution have been opposed by those like past ASPCA CEO Ed Sayres, supported by a Board of Directors content to count the money, all of whom appear intent on squandering Bergh’s noble legacy. When we look back on Mr. Berg’s life’s mission and what he wanted to accomplish and then look at the ASPCA today, one must wonder what happened? While it is not an easy task to undertake, we will take a look at animal “shelter”

Due to the cost of the TNR program, these areas have found it better for population control and more cost effective to simply trap the stray cats and euthanize them. The result of this policy of killing is that over 70% of all cats entering animal pounds and shelters in the counrty are killed, according to Sharon L. Peters, article in USA Today. Euthanasia at shelters is the number one documented cause of death for cats in this country. Those in support of the TNR program believe this to be proof that the catch and kill program is not only ineffective, but inhumane treatment of

To begin with, we need to know what’s the main differences between these two spaces. And, it’s basically profit, ways of taking care, and the probability of death. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, known as ASPCA for its initials, many pet stores sell pets from puppy mills, which is a large-scale commercial dog breeding facility where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Stopping to buy cats or dogs from pet stores will make run out of business this cruel industry. Although many people believe that pet stores will be bankruptcy for not selling animals, the truth is, that pet stores’ major income comes from selling cloth, food, toys, and supplies for pets. On the other hand, shelters are establishments, especially supported by charitable contributions, that provides a temporary home for dogs, cats, and other animals that are offered for adoption (Dictionary). In it, pets are well treated with proper veterinary care and food. However, after a period of time, pets that are not adopted are KILLED.

The animal that are not put in shelters are put out in the street to survive by themselves and exposed themselves to disease. Because of low funding shelters it causes overpopulation in shelters because there’s no funding for more space, supplies, and staff. Lots of shelters take volunteers but some don’t even have the experiences to deal with the situation that they will be faced. Many animal shelters do not have veterinarians/hospitals to help animals, most veterinarian only open half the day then full time duty. Low funding is one of the causes why animal shelters are overpopulated, because if there was a solution were the government were to spend more money on animal shelters it helps animals get into homes faster, and not worry about being in the streets. Many shelters accept donation for food, pet supplies, and time to help around the shelters, that one solution that helps the

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

Countless lives locked away in cages and forgotten about have overwhelmed our society, it has left blood stains on our history as a species and if history has taught us anything, it’s that we have a choice to change our ways of adjusting to situations. A war which was fought in pursuit of ending such criminal means, yet we as human beings do little to nothing to end the horrific crimes of animal deaths in shelters. It is no secret that this world has become infused with problems that have extended from one side of the globe to the other. Amongst these problems lies a terrible truth: nearly every year, sums of almost eight million cats and dogs have been placed in shelters around the world. Out of these vast numbers, half will be

Many may ask, why waste a valuable life? Why kill when you can just save them and adopt? Animals deserve the chance to live just like any person in this world does. Over the past 20 years, animal shelter communities in the United States has been grappling with the overpopulation problem of domestic animals (Rowan). Nationally, around four million animals are killed in animal shelters each year. Of the animals killed, roughly 95% of the shelters animals and treatable and healthy (Winograd). Each year between two to four million animals are euthanized (Winograd). Normally these animals are domestic such as dogs, cats, horses, and so on. Most people like to believe that the animals are being put down because an incurable disease but that is far from the truth. You have to take in account those who are euthanized because there are not enough homes or space to

What if California orphanages killed children to make room for more children? This is a repulsive thought, but the animal equivalent happens daily. In kill-shelters across California, dogs and cats are given a limited time to be adopted before they are put to sleep, to make room for the thousands of others flying in by the second. These dogs may be aggressive, fearful, friendly, furry, bald, playful; It doesn't make much difference, but the pets that will be focused on today are those who do not have temperament problems or health problems. In other words, these animals have not injured someone, and they are not sick. Kill shelters are open to everyone, and therefore can take in any amount of animals, but these shelters take in far more animals then they adopt out: The others leave in dumpsters. Is it morally right to do this, or is it more important for one dog to get adopted than

In my opinion, this is a terrible issue. These animals are dying because of this with no fault of their own. If the overpopulation in shelters continues we will not have a place to put all of these animals except for in the ground. A shelter is supposed to be used as a safe place for lost, homeless pets, but it is being abused and turned into a trashcan due to the overpopulation. Some may argue that there are “no kill” shelters, and although that is true to some extent, it is not entirely true. The sad truth is that “in most cases even when a shelter calls themselves a ‘no-kill’ shelter it simply means they give the dogs they don't want to a shelter that IS a kill shelter” (Maguire). Overpopulation is costing animals their lives. Do you know what else overpopulation is costing? Us. It costs the United States taxpayers $2 billion a year “to impound, shelter, euthanize, and dispose of homeless animals” (“Animal Overpopulation”). These statistics are hard to take in, but they are very real and this is why I think something needs to change.