Someone needs to do the math!

[applesmom]

HSUS statistics:


Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year:
6-8 million (HSUS estimate)
Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)
Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)



The number of dogs and cats being euthanized annually is equal to the number that are adopted. Only one in every two pets has a chance of being adopted if all things were equal. But they aren't! The odds are much less than they seem in print.

How can the numbers of adoptable animals being euthanized be cut down to zero? The solution is surprisingly simple but totally unnaceptable to the overwhelming majority of pet lovers.

Here's where the math part comes in. Lets take a shelter that has facilities for 50 animals. Puppy and kitten season hits and they are forced to make room for more abandoned pets. The solution? Put half of the animals in need of loving homes that have been bypassed for adoption to death. That makes room for 25 more pets in need of loving homes.

Lets say, out of those 25 newly abandoned pets, 5 of them are pregnant. There's room for the dogs and their expected puppies because for the first 6 weeks at least mom and pups only occupy one space. And of course cute culldly puppies are usually the easiest to adopt out.

If each of those pregnant dogs has only 5 pups, 8 weeks later the shelter is now over it's limit by 50 percent. It's not too difficult to figure out which of the now 75 dogs up for adoption will go first and which ones will be euthanized to make room for the next batch.

The solution to needless shelter deaths is right in front of our eyes. But it will never happen!

Does anyone have a better and more humane solution than putting down millions of dogs and cats in need of homes every year that have already experienced love and caring? Dogs and cats that will be put to death through no fault of their own but simply to make room for this years new puppy and kitten crop?:confused:

[MoJo]

Slap me across the face and call me Jessie! Holy cow. Okay- my opinion may be different from others, so take heed.

I honestly believe that breeding your pet should be ILLEGAL unless you are authorized to do it. As in- you have to sign up to do it, and send in your information to Mr.Agent Man. You get assessed, and your home is visited my Mr.Agent Man, etc. OTHERWISE the animals must be spayed/neutered at the best available age (Otherwise you are fined, possibly your animal will be rehomed- fines go towards the shelters!) This goes for every pet you can think of.

AND.. to those who are allowed to breed- a strict breeding contract must be understood, understanding the rules as well. Only people who are chosen by Mr.Agent Man, etc are allowed to bypass the spaying/neutering age due to the decision that they can be future breeders. The male you breed your female to is not chosen by yourself, it is chosen by Mr.Agent Mans agency, as they will ensure ALL of the right tests are done to make sure this breeding is done to better the breed. Profits can be made off of the puppies, but in order to sign up to breed, there is also a fee.

You know what I mean? It shouldn't be just allowed. You shouldn't be allowed to have your pet breed just because you feel like it. There should be strict laws to help out with the overpopulation etc.

Down with breeding without a purpose! (OR Permit!)

[xcolbi]

Slap me across the face and call me Jessie! Holy cow. Okay- my opinion may be different from others, so take heed.

I honestly believe that breeding your pet should be ILLEGAL unless you are authorized to do it. As in- you have to sign up to do it, and send in your information to Mr.Agent Man. You get assessed, and your home is visited my Mr.Agent Man, etc. OTHERWISE the animals must be spayed/neutered at the best available age (Otherwise you are fined, possibly your animal will be rehomed- fines go towards the shelters!) This goes for every pet you can think of.

AND.. to those who are allowed to breed- a strict breeding contract must be understood, understanding the rules as well. Only people who are chosen by Mr.Agent Man, etc are allowed to bypass the spaying/neutering age due to the decision that they can be future breeders. The male you breed your female to is not chosen by yourself, it is chosen by Mr.Agent Mans agency, as they will ensure ALL of the right tests are done to make sure this breeding is done to better the breed. Profits can be made off of the puppies, but in order to sign up to breed, there is also a fee.

You know what I mean? It shouldn't be just allowed. You shouldn't be allowed to have your pet breed just because you feel like it. There should be strict laws to help out with the overpopulation etc.

I second the new law! :D

[skunkstripe]

In both rural and urban parts of the US, shelter populations have been drastically reduced. The single most successful measure has proven to be targeting low-income owners for low-cost or free spaying and neutering.

http://www.spayusa.org/main_directory/03-programs_and_clinics/statewide_publicly_funded/nj_animal_pop_control.pdf
From the beginning our neutering program attempted to reduce the shelter death toll by attacking it from two directions: neutering subsidies for low-income pet caretakers were designed to reduce the number of cats and dogs coming into shelters while subsidies for shelter adopters aimed to increase the number going out. We hoped that our shelter adoption rate would increase substantially if potential adopters could get shelter animals sterilized for a $25 (now $30) copayment.

Unfortunately it hasn't worked out that way. While the shelter adopter's program has proven to be very popular with adopters and veterinarians, the shelter adoption rate has only increased by about 20% over the past ten years. Subsidies for the low-income program have proven to be a much better investment.
http://content.petfinder.com/journal/index.cgi?article=437
http://www.spayusa.org/main_directory/03-programs_and_clinics/statewide_publicly_funded/study_three_state_programs.pdf
http://bobmckee.com/Vets/Spay%20neuter%20recommendation.doc
There is some interesting reading in there.

[Christine283]

Those links didn't work for me :(

http://www.snapus.org
has helped out a LOT where I live. We do at least two a day at the vet where I work.

[skunkstripe]

Christine-sorry about that. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, they all should work now.

[applesmom]

One of the articles indicated that in this consumer driven society; even if the problem were to finally be brought under control, breeding would increase to meet the demand for puppies. And so would the prices!

If that's the case our ancestors should never have begun making pets of them! If left alone the canine population would have been kept down by natural selection...:(

[dlambertz]

Our shelter will euthanize whole litters at a time... also we average euthanizing almost 4000 cats and dogs a year. And we are a small community compared to most. very very sad....

[kender]

Slap me across the face and call me Jessie! Holy cow. Okay- my opinion may be different from others, so take heed.

I honestly believe that breeding your pet should be ILLEGAL unless you are authorized to do it. As in- you have to sign up to do it, and send in your information to Mr.Agent Man. You get assessed, and your home is visited my Mr.Agent Man, etc. OTHERWISE the animals must be spayed/neutered at the best available age (Otherwise you are fined, possibly your animal will be rehomed- fines go towards the shelters!) This goes for every pet you can think of.


Down with breeding without a purpose! (OR Permit!)

I've been saying the same about the breeding of the homo sapien species as well! Can you add that clause in too?


No one should bring another living creature into the world without being licensed imho.

just my 2cp

[Areias]

I've been saying the same about the breeding of the homo sapien species as well! Can you add that clause in too?


No one should bring another living creature into the world without being licensed imho.

just my 2cp

Hmm, like the girl in my town that left her 9 month old, in a bathtub, for 30 minutes while she was trying to buy marijuana off someone. Not only did she leave the child in the tub, she forgot to turn off the water too. :swearing:


Back to the topic on hand...in my county at least I KNOW there are more euthanasia's than adoptions. Do those stats include "adoptable euthanasias" or any dog that is surrendered/picked up and not deemed adoptable??

(At first glance at the title of this, I thought it read "Someone needs to do meth!" LOL, overtired!)

[KatzNK9]

No matter how many times I see them, those numbers always stagger me.:mad:

[eb4i]

I'm all for Draconian measures where dog ownership and breeding are concerned.

Seriously Draconian measures.

[Mystic]

only problem you will have with that law is you then start trampling your own constitution, and thats a slippery slope, cause whos to say where it ends.

[eb4i]

only problem you will have with that law is you then start trampling your own constitution, and thats a slippery slope, cause whos to say where it ends.


I think dogs should be regulated the same way guns are up here.

Want one? Fine.

Pass this test... take this backround check... we'll be by to inspect your kenneling set up later in the year.

[Mystic]

You also have the problem of people passing that and still being rotten eb

[LiZzY]

Yeah, a lot of nasty people get gun licences.

[eb4i]

You also have the problem of people passing that and still being rotten eb


Agreed... but it'd cull out alot of them... no one wants to have to pay for tests and licences and safety courses...


This is all a perfect world hypothesis, of course. How to enforce these draconian measures is something I haven't pondered...

Armed animal control officers... Urban assault units... air support... all this I will ponder and report back to you on, in my next throne speech.

[Mystic]

Honestly the best way to stop someone from being rotten with animals is to learn their lesson, whether that be by just talking with them, or even getting reported and jailed.

[eb4i]

Yeah, a lot of nasty people get gun licences.

lol... very true.... very true. ;)

[Areias]

There are spay/neuter laws taking effect in various cities. Here's an article of one- http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/06/09/18426466.php.

[applesmom]

Restrictions on breeding will never happen in the USA. At least not as long as we manage to remain a democratic country.

[LiZzY]

Restrictions on ANYTHING will never happen ANYWHERE... well, they can be put in place but never fully enforced. Come on, does the fact that heroin is illegal deter those who are hell bent on using it? If a dodgy person wants to have an animal and they can't get it the legal way they'll just find an illegal way.

Natural selection, survival of the fittest, that's what the human race needs.

[Mystic]

The way I see it, if everyone does their piece to stop it, itll provide the best results

[LiZzY]

In a perfect world but the reality of it is (and I know not many will like this) most people care more about other issues than animal rights issues.

[Areias]

Restrictions on ANYTHING will never happen ANYWHERE... well, they can be put in place but never fully enforced. Come on, does the fact that heroin is illegal deter those who are hell bent on using it? If a dodgy person wants to have an animal and they can't get it the legal way they'll just find an illegal way.

Natural selection, survival of the fittest, that's what the human race needs.

However, every little bit helps. That's the way I see it. Every for every illegal person still doing it (well, for maybe every 2 or 3 illegals!), there is another law-abiding citizen out there. These laws are coming into place, maybe not fully enforced (and how can you?), but it is helping.

[Mystic]

People think law is straight forward, I was a law major, believe me it gets much deeper than you think

[LiZzY]

I'm in a "the human race sucks" mood this afternoon.

[Mystic]

Dont let it get to ya, if you spend life constantly letting it get to you, your going to be miserable

[LiZzY]

Don't I know it

[Mystic]

Cheer up, theres alot of us decent people out there, and we treat our animals well, maybe itll influence some of the bad eggs :)

[applesmom]

People think law is straight forward, I was a law major, believe me it gets much deeper than you think

Every law has a loophole!;)

[Mystic]

Not only that but if the lawyer is good enough anything can be instigated or mitigated

[MoJo]

I can see it now, " It was an accident.." Okay.. your let free. The next few months, the same person.. It was another accident..." Okay.. fine.

[Mystic]

Sadly that scenario would happen and most commonly what happens, and they get believed

[applesmom]

Apparently responsible pet owners are beginning to do the math as seen in the "I think my dog is pregnant thread!":)


There will always be opposing segments of the diehard rescue groups though.
One segment has come to grips with the enormity of the situation and as tragic as it may be; they spay incoming pregnant females before the pups are born.

Another segment sticks to the unrealistic claim that every life, even the unborn should be saved. It's a lofty idealism, but it seems completely unrealistic to save unborn puppies at the expense of condemning existing dogs to death!

Until the tragic circle is broken millions of dogs will continue to suffer and die needlessly!:(

[Sham]

Problem with making laws for breeding and neutering is who determines who and what dogs are acceptable for breeding? Everyone has a different opinion. How much money is gonna be spent enforcing it compared to if we spent that money expanding the resources of shelters and increasing low-cost neuter programs? And the one that effects me the most is who is going to tell me when it's healthiest to spay my dog and cat? What if I don't want to spay my dog until she's more grown up? Somewhere(I will have to go looking) are the studies done by various groups and a few veterinarians that prove spaying early increases agression in female dogs to the point that many organizations that raise service dogs no longer spay and usually also don't neuter males until they are at least 10months. Some dogs come into heat by then or quite soon after so even if you move back the dates for neuter requirements you still have the risk of accidental or irresponsible intentional pregnancies. There's a reason the new spay/neuter laws failed in california. Everyone has a different opinion on what is best for their dog. Are the responsible owners no longer allowed to decide for themselves what is best for their animal because of the irresponsible ones?

That's where I think we need to concentrate more on going after the irresponsible owners such as requiring neuter if you have over so many animals of one species, violate neglect/abuse laws, have had any of your dogs reported for biting, or break any other laws considering the care of your animal. Then reward the ones that do neuter such as the local dog park that offers a $5 discount if your pet is neutered and a $5 discount if they are microchipped. Instead of making it a law increase incentives, increase penalties, and make it easier to neuter by putting the money into low cost programs instead of into enforcing laws that threaten the rights of dog owners or even the health of some dogs. Then people can still decide for themselves, unless they mess up and prove they aren't capable, and yet the people who don't have a good reason for not neutering will be more inclined to do it.

[lovingpaws]

.....and on the one side we have PETA (who does some good work) and on the other side we have PETA Who would be thrilled that none of us ever had a pet again -euthanasia anyone?? :rolleyes: http://www.activistcash.com/biography.cfm/bid/456 (http://www.activistcash.com/biography.cfm/bid/456) & http://www.targetofopportunity.com/peta.htm


What is No More Homeless Pets campain
All across the country (http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/localnmhpprograms), grassroots organizations, humane societies, and local governments are bidding farewell to the outdated notion that killing millions of homeless pets every year in "shelters" is some kind of inevitable and acceptable "necessary evil."
http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/faq.cfm#nmhp

Some national & global reports:
http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/magazine/BFMSep01.pdf Pages12-14
http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/magazine/BFMMar01.pdf Page 14
http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/magazine/BFMMar03.pdf Pages 14-19

.... the no-kill philosophy was largely derided by the mainstream. Most foundations ruled out giving funds to "irresponsible" shelters that didn't kill their animals. Some still do. ("You're just warehousing them. You're not making a real difference.") But much has changed in the last 20 years. And the time has come for all traditional shelters to adopt the no-kill philosophy. http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/resourcelibrary/tokillnot.cfm


If this country can make it a goal, certainly we can.
With cities the world over adopting the no-kill model, the Selango SPCA in Malaysia is hoping to jump in line with the international movement.
http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/magazine/BFMMar05.pdf (http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/magazine/BFMMar05.pdf) Page 22