Solving the Pet Overpopulation Crisis
Eleven million domestic cats and dogs die in the United States each year, and alarmingly, the number continues to rise each year. Before there were 10 million, now there are 11,000,000. There are 11,000,000 lives that are extinguished simply because they do not have a home that loves them. They are healthy animals that deserve to live a long, happy, healthy, loved life, which is cut short because there is no one who loves them.
That is a very sad state of our nation and our world that such an epidemic of irresponsibility has spawned a massive genocide of defenseless and powerless creatures who have no choice in the matter of their own lives! It’s heartbreaking to consider that 11 million lovable, soft, cuddly, innocent, happy, loving, sweet would-be mates are killed because we’ve allowed them to stray, spray, and play without any limitations.
When we buy dogs and cats from backyard breeders, pet stores (puppy mills), or neighbors whose cat or dog just had puppies or kittens, we are supporting the problem, not the solution. There is a solution that has been tested in many communities nationwide that works. There is a “Shelter No Kill” movement that is designed to educate communities on ways to run “Shelter No Kill Programs” so that there is no longer a need to cull due to overpopulation. We can stop unnecessary euthanasia by following these simple steps and spreading the word to everyone we know to do the same.
First of all, if you have pets, make sure they are neutered if a male or spayed if a female. Other terms are fixed, altered, sterilized. Basically, what you are doing when you alter your animal is prevent it from producing offspring. This is the number one most effective measure we can take to significantly reduce dog and cat overpopulation. Otherwise, the results will leave you speechless as to how many offspring an ungroomed cat or dog is capable of raising in its lifetime. Go to any Humane Society website to look up research numbers. I assure you there are tens of thousands per cat or dog that add up to the gross population. Just think that just one dog or cat might or might not significantly increase the problem of overpopulation. So we can spay or neuter a cat or a dog and save lives or we can allow them to reproduce and be responsible for several hundred or thousands of deaths. You think about which one you are most aligned with in your value system. For me, I prefer to celebrate life than the morning of senseless deaths of loved and innocent creatures.
Another very effective tool to help solve the problem of overpopulation is education. There are many resources that advocate spaying and neutering our pets. In fact, all animal rescues or shelters. There are school programs that support the Humane Society and other animal groups to come in and educate our children about safe practices with our pets and also about the problem of overpopulation. But until each of us, as individuals, is willing to talk to our neighbors who think it will be a cute and fun way to earn a little extra money raising your adorable designer or lab puppy, we turn a blind eye and ears. deaf to this widespread problem. We all need to speak up, pay attention, and inform others who may not know how enormous the death toll is for our innocent pets. That’s 11 million deaths on our heads and at our hands that is 100% preventable. Have we become immune to such despair and resigned because we are used to it? But what if it was one of us or one of our beloved pets that we cherish? The numbers become more personal then. It’s like when we lose so many of our men and women in combat. We hear the numbers of all our fallen soldiers, but until one of them connects with us personally, those numbers are just numbers. But, they represent a life that has ended. And those are lives that ended and had a choice to put themselves in danger for our freedom or hopefully bring some good in another part of the world. Our dogs and cats don’t have that option. They are victims of our careless irresponsibility and laziness. We are their stewards who bear the responsibility of making that decision for them. And, what’s worse, the people who are most burdened are the veterinarians and veterinary technicians who work in animal shelters and humane societies who have the unwelcome task of witnessing every unnecessary death they know could be prevented. They are part of the solution but they have to face the consequences of the problem every day. They have to see it, feel it and do it even if they don’t believe in it. Try to live that life!
Another way to be part of the solution is to adopt or rescue pets only from animal rescue groups or shelters, such as your local Humane Society or county animal control center. When we rescue or adopt cats and dogs from such organizations, we are literally saving one life and making room for another to be saved as well. When we rescue and adopt dogs and cats, we are supporting those organizations that are part of the solution and not those that are part of the problem. When we buy pets from pet stores, professional breeders, backyard breeders, and puppy mills, we are supporting the overpopulation epidemic and showing through our actions that we don’t care and support the problem. When we rescue or adopt an animal in need of a home, the added benefit is that it seems to know we saved it and almost always, with a few exceptions, is the most loyal and graceful pet we’ll ever have.
It is not euthanasia to kill healthy, happy and full of life animals! It is a mass genocide. It is the murder of innocent creatures. When we are irresponsible and allow our domestic and stray dogs and cats to prolific, we are consummated with such genocide. On the other hand, when we spay and neuter, adopt or rescue, and educate our friends, family, and neighbors about this life crisis, then we become advocates for the lives of these innocents. The choice is yours. Save a life, rescue, spay or neuter and share this information with someone today. I assure you that there will be a cat or dog who will appreciate your efforts and will appreciate that you took the time to take a stand.
