Animals Key to Stopping Overpopulation
Posted by Contributor on Jun 20, 2009 in Pets • No commentsLast week the Prescott Humane Society held a poodle dress fundraiser. There was fun, games, t-shirts, promotional pens or promotional pen for those interested. This is the fourth year of the fundraiser. The members of the society use the fundraiser to raise awareness about animal cruelty, responsible pet ownership, and to raise funds for shelters.
Most people love animals, especially cats and dogs. We call them our best friends, spending billions and billions on food and other supplies for them as a nation every year. But every year in the United States millions of cats and dogs become strays or wind up in shelters. Pet Overpopulation has become a serious issue in this country. There arenot enough pet shelters, only about 5000 pet shelters in the whole of the U.S. Although shelters are able to take in 7 million cats and dogs every year, only half of these will find good homes from the shelter. The rest are euthanizedbecause pet shelters cant accommodate them.
If we truly love these animals as we say, we must take drastic measures to protect them from what they cannot protect themselves against: themselves. It is up to us to institute sterilization programs so that we can control the population. Cats and dogs reproduce much faster than humans. Cats can have as many as 3 litters a year of 4-6 kittens and dogs can give birth twice a year and have 6-10 puppies. Population can increase exponentially. Sterilization programs can prevent a lot of unwanted animals, and in areas where such programs have been started there has been a dramatic 30-60 percent decrease in the number of animals in shelters that need to be euthanized.
There are many complex parts that need to be taken into consideration when implementing such a plan. The community needs to get involved, local veterinarians, educational session and campaigns, and subsidized clinics. Legislation is one solution.
Action must be taken. There are too many animals crowding the shelters. Some animal shelters have become warehouses for animals. This widespread cruelty to animals encourages and permits cruelty everywhere. Extra animals means extra problems. We can prevent dog bites by sterilizing. Overpopulation results in dangerous dogs. Instead of trying to deal with the consequences of overpopulation, we need to eliminate the problem from its roots. Sterilize your pets.
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