Pet Overpopulation - by the Humane Society of the U.S.
Is the problem of pet overpopulation serious?
Yes, very serious. In the United States, more than 70,000 puppies and kittens are born each day due to the uncontrolled breeding of pets. Add the offspring of stray and abandoned animals to that number and the total becomes even more staggering. When these figures are compared to the 10,000 humans born daily in the United States, it becomes obvious that there can never be enough homes for so many animals. In fact, for every contented animal in this country, another four pets live out their lives hungry, cold, and at the mercy of humans. As for those dogs and cats that end up in America's shelters, an estimated 7.5 million are destroyed each year because they are not wanted by anyone, anywhere.
Are there other concerns besides just too many pets?
Yes. Too many pets for too few good homes is the most obvious consequence of uncontrolled breeding, however, there are other equally tragic problems that result from pet overpopulation. The transformation of some of America's shelters into "warehouses" or cheap sources of animals for use in bio-medical experimentation, the acceptance of cruelty to animals as a way of life in our society, and the stress that caring shelter workers suffer as they are forced to kill one animal after another are just a few of the consequences of society's carelessness. Today, living creatures have become "throwaway" items to be cuddled when cute and abandoned when they become inconvenient. Such disregard for animal life is pervading and eroding our culture.
Abandoned and stray animals that survive in city streets, alleys, and warehouses also pose a health threat to humans and to other pet animals. Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and anger citizens who have no understanding of their misery or needs. Some stray animals scare away desired wildlife - such as birds - or terrify small children.
The growing number of dog bites is also due in part to uncontrolled breeding of pets. Bites by so-called vicious dogs have spurred an enormous amount of media attention recently, and fatalities by dangerous dogs are a reality. According to Dr. Randall Lockwood of HSUS, there appears to be a much greater incidence of biting in unaltered animals. "Of more than twenty fatalities investigated over the last two years," says Dr. Lockwood, "we have found that none was caused by spayed or neutered dogs."
Also viciousness in dog breeds can often be attributed to irresponsible breeding without regard for temperament. Halting reproduction will both benefit the breed and protect the human population. Each year, communities are forced to spend millions of taxpayers' dollars trying to cope with the problems that pet overpopulation causes.
Can such a huge problem be solved?
Yes. Only by implementing widespread sterilization programs, only by spaying and neutering all pets, will we get a handle on this problem. Consider the fact that, in six short years, one female dog and her offspring can be the source of 67,000 puppies, while in seven years, one cat and her young can produce 420,000 cats. With such high reproductive rates, it stand to reason that, when carefully planned and implemented, sterilization programs can produce a dramatic reduction in the numbers of unwanted animals being born in only a few years. In fact, in towns and cities that have implemented such programs, we've already seen declines in numbers of animals being euthanized by 30 to 60 percent! For example, before the first three of Los Angeles' spay/neuter clinics were opened in 1971, approximately 145,000 animals were handled at the animal shelter. Ten years later, the number had dropped to 81,000. Equally successful programs have been implemented in other parts of the country. Only through the establishment of such programs nationwide will we begin to see an end to the tragedy of pet overpopulation.
Are there other ways to help solve the problem?
Yes. Legislation can have the most direct impact on this problem by requiring that every pet adopted from municipal and county shelters be sterilized within a certain period of time.
Similarly, differential licensing laws - laws that substantially increase license fees for pets that have not been spayed or neutered - provide owners with an incentive to sterilize their animals. Education, too, is an essential part of solving this problem. Unless people know the facts about pet overpopulation and sterilization, they are virtually helpless to do anything about them.
Reduced spay/neuter fees play an important role in solving this problem, as well. Low-cost spay/neuter clinics in some communities have already helped bring down the cost of sterilization, and in areas where veterinarians have agreed to reduce their spay/neuter fees, we've seen a significant decline in the numbers of animals being euthanized.
Is it alright to breed my pet if I find good homes for all the offspring?
No. Each time you place one of your pet's puppies or kittens in a loving home, there is one fewer potential home for another animal. There are already more than enough animals for every potential home, and, each day, tens of thousands of dogs and cats are destroyed because no one wants them. If someone you know wants a puppy or kitten, urge him or her to adopt one from a local shelter, thus saving it from a tragic fate.
Won't my pet become fat and lazy once it is sterilized?
No. Your pet will actually benefit from spaying or neutering because it will lead a healthier, longer life. Spaying a female eliminates the possibility of its developing uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the chances of breast cancer. Neutering a male reduces incidence of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer later in life and will make your pet more affectionate and less likely to roam, get in fights, or become lost. Pets become fat and lazy as a result of overeating and lack of exercise, not from spaying or neutering.
Sterilization is an important part of being a responsible owner, but responsible pet ownership also means providing adequate food, water, and proper veterinary care; obeying the leash and licensing laws in your community; and giving your pet the love, companionship, exercise, and attention it needs.