Having adopted three animals at the local pet shelter, I have witnessed the inadequate resources available to community shelters. Hundreds of animals are sometimes packed into small buildings with only a few volunteers to take care of them. Although the volunteers are passionate about their work, they are unable to meet every animals' needs.
Just last week, I adopted my third cat, Emma, from the Cats 'N' Us shelter in Dover, Ohio. According to the cat shelter's records, Emma's previous owners dropped her off because they were expecting a baby and did not want animals in the house. This otherwise healthy cat lived in the shelter for 3 months before I saved her. Emma is very loving and protective -- watching me
from the window when I leave and wanting my attention when I come home. It is obvious that Emma knows I have given her a better life than she had in the shelter. But there are over 100 cats (just at this shelter) still looking for a place to call home. I started to wonder what national pet adoption statistics were available and if my local shelter resembled "the norm." Was animal overpopulation a local or national problem?
Photo Credit: Amber James
The Truth Hurts: Facts About Animal Overpopulation & Shelters
According to the U.S. Humane Society, "Each year communities are forced to spend millions of taxpayer dollars trying to cope with the consequences of this surplus of pets. These public costs include services such as investigating animal cruelty, humanely capturing stray animals, and sheltering lost and homeless animals." Many shelter volunteers across the U.S. have been trying to educate communities by encouraging pet adoption and spay/neuter programs. But animal overpopulation is still a prevalent issue in the United States.
Even though it is tempting to run to the local pet store, shelter volunteers plea that families need to consider adopting animals instead. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy:
Just last week, I adopted my third cat, Emma, from the Cats 'N' Us shelter in Dover, Ohio. According to the cat shelter's records, Emma's previous owners dropped her off because they were expecting a baby and did not want animals in the house. This otherwise healthy cat lived in the shelter for 3 months before I saved her. Emma is very loving and protective -- watching me
from the window when I leave and wanting my attention when I come home. It is obvious that Emma knows I have given her a better life than she had in the shelter. But there are over 100 cats (just at this shelter) still looking for a place to call home. I started to wonder what national pet adoption statistics were available and if my local shelter resembled "the norm." Was animal overpopulation a local or national problem?Photo Credit: Amber James
The Truth Hurts: Facts About Animal Overpopulation & Shelters
According to the U.S. Humane Society, "Each year communities are forced to spend millions of taxpayer dollars trying to cope with the consequences of this surplus of pets. These public costs include services such as investigating animal cruelty, humanely capturing stray animals, and sheltering lost and homeless animals." Many shelter volunteers across the U.S. have been trying to educate communities by encouraging pet adoption and spay/neuter programs. But animal overpopulation is still a prevalent issue in the United States.
Even though it is tempting to run to the local pet store, shelter volunteers plea that families need to consider adopting animals instead. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy:
- approximately 8 million to 12 million animals in the United States are put in animal shelters every year
- over 5 million (otherwise healthy) animals are euthanized because they are not adopted.
Over the next few weeks, I hope to showcase (through candid interviews and photos) that no animals should be left behind.
YOUR TURN:
- What's your view of shelter animals?
- Would you ever consider adopting one as a pet? Why or why not?
3 comments:
I never realized there were so many animals being euthanized in the U.S. Sometimes shelter animals are viewed as 'less than perfect', and most people probably proceed with caution when adopting them. These stats are compelling though. Great job.
I'm so glad that you're bringing this issue to life! As an avid animal lover, I know about adoption and shelter rescue - what I didn't know was that 8-12million animals are put in shelters, or worse, that over 5 million are euthanized! That breaks my heart!
It also makes me mad knowing that places like PetLand are raking in a huge profit selling puppies for $1200+, and kittens for $200+! Meanwhile, they have kennel cough, worms, and socialization problems.
I hope that you'll reach the right people through this blog - to let them know that adoption is OKAY! It's wonderful! As for me, I already support animal shelters, and take part in the adoption process!
I look forward to your future entries!
The pictures in this blog really bring the essence of this issue to front. The fact that you have already adopted three pets because of your work on this blog are great at personalizing the blog and making it more transparent. The "Your Turn" questions at the end are effective too, because it helps readers interact and consider some of the main issues presented here further. This is a great and interesting topic.
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