The Problem of Overcrowded Animal Shelters Leading to Mass EuthanizationEssay Preview: The Problem of Overcrowded Animal Shelters Leading to Mass EuthanizationReport this essayThe Problem of Overcrowded Animal Shelters and the Resulting Mass Euthanization of AnimalsSomething that concerns me greatly in my community, is the large number of companion animal euthanizations. There are an astounding number of animals that are destined to meet an untimely death. While a small number may be adopted, the sad truth is that most will be euthanized. Although the process of euthanization itself is reasonably humane, it is still an unfortunate and preventable occurrence. There are many societal factors to blame for this sad and unfortunate problem.
Those who are considering owning a pet should educate themselves about the long term responsibility and commitment of pet ownership. Many people do not give adequate consideration to the probability of possible career or relationship mandated relocation prior to acquiring a pet. In surveying and speaking to the Animal Control administrators in Rutherford, Davidson, Williamson, Marshall and Maury counties I found that the number one reason for pet surrender was relocation of the owner due to career or relationship status. While those are often unforeseeable, it can be argued that many owners do not take the responsibility of pet ownership seriously enough and instead see their pets as disposable. The data I obtained from talking to these administrators indicated that most of the pet owners who surrendering their animals had a complacent attitude about doing so. They indicated that taking the time to work diligently to secure a good home for companion animals in this situation did not seem to be a priority. In quoting one of the animal control administrators (who wished to remain anonymous) he sadly reported, “People just don’t seem to care. Most people we see who surrender their animals in simply, hand over their animal, and walk out as if they just dropped off their laundry. Their complacency and apathy is astounding. It is like they drop them (the animals) here, and mark that off their to do list.”
Feline and Canine overpopulation due to the lack of animals that are spayed and neutered is another reason that was given for the over crowding of animal shelters and thus the necessity to euthanize so many cats and dogs. According to the Humane Society of the United States, a fertile cat can produce three litters a year, and a fertile dog can produce two, with each litter consisting of an average of five and seven animals respectively. Of all the counties listed above only one did not have an income based financial assistance program for those unable to afford spaying and neutering their animals. All of the counties had outreach community education programs. Financial assistance and educational programs notwithstanding, there are still a vast number of animals roaming free that are not spayed or neutered. This is another contributing factor to the astounding number of animals that are euthanized
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How do I find a dog/cat that I can live with?
To get in touch with a local animal shelter or animal crime prevention organization, contact your county’s spaying/neutering center or animal crime prevention organization, and visit www.narcisskircher.org for the official spaying/neutering numbers and more information.
If the local animal shelter or animal crime prevention organization you plan on contacting is unable to provide such information, then call your county’s spaying/neutering center, which will inform you.
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Who can I contact if I feel they need to spay or neuter a stray cat or dog:
Shelters and other animal control operators in general will not provide this information, so this information cannot be used for determining any individual spay/netter information. There have even been instances in which spay/neuter-related information was provided about the actual behavior of the spayter in many cases.
We do not encourage spay and neutering at the cost of shelter costs, but it is clear that spaying or neutering is the most appropriate behavioral intervention for your animal. For example, many spay newts become aggressive when they are under the influence and have a hard time controlling it. This behavior was referred to as an “attachment,” which refers to a physical altercation at such a time. Since no one can know exactly where an animal is, the only information that a law enforcement officer could make about an animal is a name and address. You cannot make this data available for the public. However, if an animal becomes aggressive and is being spayed or neutered, it should be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency as soon as possible.
There is only one reason that some shelters may not be able to identify what they are doing and when.
We are looking for those shelters that will provide a variety of information about spay and neuter operations. Those organizations include Animal Protection Task Forces, Family and Community Service Organizations, and The Pet Care Home Association of U.S., or any of our member-funded groups. If an organization does not have a website that gives information on spaying and neutering, then click on the relevant link and try and find your organization. You can also use the links provided through the “Contact” icon below:
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How is my animal listed on the Humane Society of the United States?
Animal protection groups make it extremely difficult for people to find their furry friends and family members. If you cannot find your furry friend’s name online, you can send us your information anonymously by providing them with the name of the breeder that owns the house that you live in on the Animal Protection Coalition website. Many people find it difficult to find other furry friends and family members on the National Animal Registry, such as animal advocates with websites like The U.S. Animal Welfare Society or the American Pet Rescue Association.
“We’re here to help. It’s one of the most important human concerns, and when you start asking people to do such things to them, they aren’t aware of the ramifications of such action.
In the case of a new pet spayed or neutered on a pet.org account we do not have any information you will share with us. If you are interested in having any information you can give