Overpopulation and Euthanasia of Dogs and Cats
Euthanasia is the single largest cause of death for dogs and cats in the United States.
In our throwaway society, roughly four million companion animals are killed in shelters and pounds every year because there aren't enough homes for them.
Who’s to blame?
• Irresponsible pet owners who fail to spay and neuter their animals
• Rescues and shelters that release unaltered dogs and cats
• Puppy mills that churn out millions of puppies every year for the pet trade
• Hobby and professional or show breeders
• Backyard breeders who indiscriminately breed for profit, selling to anyone with cash
• Unscrupulous rescue groups who sell unsterilized (intact) shelter pets for profit
Prevention is the solution. The killing of healthy, adoptable dogs and cats in our shelters (ironically by those who care the most about animals but end up doing the public’s dirty work) could be prevented by spaying and neutering.
Mandatory spaying and neutering of dogs and cats in animal shelters and pounds should be at the top of the list.
Establishing low-cost spay neuter clinics in impoverished areas (both rural and urban) is imperative.
How to help
• Spay or neuter your own dogs and cats and encourage others to do the same.
• Adopt from your local animal shelter.
• Never buy animals from pet stores, which perpetuates the abusive puppy mill trade.
• Don’t buy animals from breeders, which only results in more breeding.
• Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
• Help pass legislation mandating spaying and neutering of animals adopted from shelters and pounds.
An HSUS ad from one of its earlier overpopulation campaigns still resonates almost 15 years later:
It doesn’t hurt pets to be spayed or neutered. It hurts when they’re not.
Note: New Jersey has its own animal overpopulation problems so it begs the question, why are so many out-of-state "rescues" bringing in even more dogs, adding to our already overcrowded animal shelters? The euthanasia numbers for 2009 alone should be a loud wake-up call!
NJ Animal Euthanasia Stats 2009
Recommended Books on Pet Overpopulation and Euthanasia
Don't Dump the Dog, by Randy Grim with Melinda Roth, 2009
Disposable Dogs, Heartwarming, true stories of courage and compassion, by Steve Swanbeck, 2004
Second-hand Dog, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1988
The Chosen Puppy, How to select and raise a great puppy from an animal shelter, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1990
The Pet Surplus, What every dog and cat owner can do to help reduce it, by Susan M. Seidman, 2001
Euthanasia of the Companion Animals, The Impact on Pet Owners, Veterinarians and Society, Edited by William J. Kay, DVM, 1988
The Visitor, By Gene Smith, 1971
Pound Seizure and Pet Theft
How Shelter Pets are Brokered for Experimentation, by Allie Phillip, 2010
Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats in Research, by the National Research Council, 2009
The Animal Dealers, Evidence of Abuse of Animal in the Commercial Trade 1952-1997, by the Animal Welfare Institute, 1997
Stolen for Profit, The true story behind the disappearance of millions of America’s beloved pets, by Judith Reitman, 1992
The Crimson Cage, by Margaret Wheaton Tuttle, 1978
Almost 4 million animals are euthanized every year in shelters and pounds because people continue to buy from pet shops and breeders and support that industry instead of their local shelters/pounds.