Why Are There So Many Homeless Pets?

We have an overwhelming, inexcusable pet overpopulation problem in this country. Each year approximately 8 million healthy dogs and cats are killed simply because there aren't enough homes for all of them. This is caused by people not spaying/neutering their pets or intentionally breeding them thinking it is OK because (1) the pet is a "purebred", (2) the pet should experience motherhood (of course, the chances are much greater the pet will also experience mammary cancer), (3) spay/neuter changes the personality or appearance of the animal (will this myth ever go away?) or 4) their children should "witness the miracle of birth", (at petplace.com/cat-videos.aspx?p=59 children can see a video of the birth of a litter of kittens without contributing more unwanted animals to the world). If viewing the birth is so important, then perhaps there should also be a visit to a community shelter to view the outcome of that miracle.

There are so many homeless pets because, unfortunately, many people do not think about the long-term commitment, financial responsibility, moral responsibility (e.g. spay/neuter, heart worm prevention), and work involved when they bring a pet into their home. The decision to add a pet to your family is a serious 10-15 year commitment and should not be taken lightly. When you adopt a pet you must be prepared for the long term responsibility you have undertaken.

The top reasons people give when they bring a pet to us are:

Stray - These are pets unfortunate enough to have owners who let them roam, owners who didn't spay/neuter them (so they look for opposite sex companionship), owners who abandoned then stupidly thinking they could take care of themselves, or owners who didn't keep ID tags on them at all times. Even inside-only dogs and cats should always wear a collar and ID tag. In our county, Animal Control will take injured animals wearing collars and tags to the emergency hospital for treatment. Those without are euthanized on the spot if they are in pain.

Moving - We can't tell you how many times a day we hear this one! There are the people moving to other cities who don't want to pay to transport their pets, the ones moving into an apartment complex that won't take pets, those who don't want to pay a pet deposit, and those moving in with someone else who doesn't want or like pets. Moving is by far the number one reason why guardians dump their pets! Pets are not junk that you throw away when you move; pets should be family members that are brought along every time the family changes its residence! If this doesn't work for you then don't get a pet in the first place.

Having a baby - Why is it that so many people no longer want to keep their dog or cat (whom they formerly treated as a baby), once they have a human baby? Often they tell us the dog or cat is wonderful with the new baby, but that they simply don't have time for it anymore. Or they say the dog or cat isn't good with a baby and we find that they have selected a pet that is known to be incompatible with babies and toddlers. Had done a little research prior to getting the pet and had they exposed their pet often to small children, they probably wouldn't have had a problem. Also, we find that some dogs don't do well with babies because the families dump the dogs into a permanent backyard existence or an ignored existence once they have a baby. We recommend that people have their family first and then adopt a pet. If that isn't possible, pick a breed or mix that is known to be good with children. ASK about the particular pet's experience and interaction with children. Socialize them to children often. A good book to read is "Childproofing Your Dog" by Brian Kilcommons. Of course, don't forget that children need to be socialized to proper care and handling of the pet, too.

Don't have time for - The same people who were so enthusiastic about their new pets when they first got them often consider them a burden once they realize that they are living beings who have certain needs that cannot be ignored. They are not toys that can be put away when you feel like it. The needs of a pet can be inconvenient to a human. That goes with the territory. The dog doesn't care if it's raining when he needs a walk. The cat is not impressed that you wrote a great report for work instead of cleaning his litter box. People call us and say "I'm traveling more now", "I'm working more now", "I'm going out a lot now", "I'm not home enough and the dog isn't getting the attention it deserves", "I feel guilty but don't have time for the cat". You have a resposibility to make time for your pet. Don't get a pet unless you can make a 10-15 year commitment to its care.

Puppy/kitten has grown up - "The puppy has gotten too big", "We wanted a small dog", "The cat's not cute anymore", "The dog gotten too big for inside the house/apartment", "Now that it's 9 months old it's acting too wild", "It's too rough for my kids", "It's too hyper", "The cat sheds all the time and the ants come in after her food". Be very careful when you adopt a puppy that you are prepared to handle the dog when it reaches adult size. Don't just look at the tiny puppy or kitten and think how cute it is. That cute little puppy and that fluffy little kitten are going to do something amazing in just a few short months. The instead of a puppy or a kitten, you'll have a dog or a cat in your home! Look at the expected adult size of a puppy or kitten and make an intelligent decision based upon your home and your lifestyle. Think hard because those things may change but the dog and cat will still be your responsibility. They will still look to you for their safety and well being. They will still be bonded to you, no matter how your home and lifestyle may change. Keep in mind that a puppy needs lots of training and exercise in order to become a well-behaved pet. Sign up for a good puppy obedience class and practice often. Most dogs and cats will not exercise themselves...you need to exercise them by providing long walks, ball-throwing, play sessions, etc. Remember that the large breed puppy may play rough and may be too active for your small children. Keep in mind that kittens and puppies are a lot of work and that there are hundreds of thousands of well-behaved adult cats and dogs being killed at our shelters every day. One of them might be a better choice for your family pet.

Behavioral problems - "Dog barks too much", "Dog chews everything up", "Can't get it housebroken", "Too hyper", "Dog jumps on us", "Dog digs up garden", "Dog runs away or jumps fence", or "Dog is aggressive to strangers or other dogs". "Cat hides all the time", "Cat scratched my grandchild", "Cat scratches the couch", "Cat doesn't use the litter box". Just like children, animals need training to learn the rules. Dogs who are raised as outside-only pets are usually unhappy and bored and will develop many of these problems. Don't get a dog unless you will keep it mainly as a house pet. Puppies can't get housebroken unless someone is home during the day or can come home from work often enough in order to let it outside. Dogs who are not obedience-trained will often act hyper and wild. Dogs who are not socialized to strangers and other dogs when they are young will often act aggressively to them when they grow up. Dogs that are not spayed/neutered will try to escape from a fenced yard to find a mate. Make sure that you have both the time and the money to spend on a cat or dog before you consider adopting a pet. If you don't want chewing, don't get a dog under the age of 3. Puppies and young adult dogs naturally will chew, that's a promise. They need to be confined to a "dog-proofed" room with plenty of chew toys when you're not there. Cats not socialized to strangers when they are young will often hide. Cats not given scratching posts and appropriate surfaces to scratch on will turn to your furniture. Cats need to scratch. That's how they're made. Provide them with their own scratching "furniture". Most cats will not use a litter box that is dirty, in a high foot traffic area or too near something fearful (another pet that attacks, a loud noise like a washer/dryer makes). A kitten has more energy than a 2 year old, can be just as stubborn and gets bored as easily. A kitten left alone all day, with no other cat companion, will find ways to keep itself busy and amused. Chances are, however, you won't be amused. If no one is home all day, get two kittens. They'll amuse one another, work off their energy on each other and won't be bored and lonely. If that's not possible, then get one cat over a year old.

Children have lost interest - Loving parents often adopt a pet for their children with the intent that caring for the pet will teach responsibility. We have found that children lose interest in caring for their pets fairly quickly and it then becomes a battle between the parents and children. Please don't adopt a pet unless you, the parent, want the pet as much as your children do. Children cannot handle the responsibility of housebreaking, training, exercising, feeding, brushing, health care, etc., so don't let their begging influence you. Face the fact: YOU will be the one responsible for this pet.

Elderly caretakers - We get many calls from the children of seniors who pass away or enter a nursing facility. No prior arrangements have been made for the care of their beloved pets. Please make arrangements in your will for the care of your pet. Designate who is to care for your animals if something happens to you. If you are a senior citizen and are thinking about adopting a dog or cat, please add 15 years to your current age to determine how old you will be when a young cat or dog reaches the end of its life span. If you think you will be too old to care for it, then consider adopting one of the many wonderful, already trained older pets. Senior pets need homes and love, too. If you are nearing a time when you will need to enter assisted living, look for a pet friendly facility. More and more facilities are recognizing the importance of pet ownership and are allowing residents to bring a pet.