Overpopulation

Introduction

Are dogs and cats the nation's most popular animals? It doesn't seem so when millions[1]of healthy dogs, cats, puppies and kittens have to be killed each year in private and public shelters due to lack of responsible homes. Countless others starve or freeze to death, are killed by humans or animals, or die from untreated illnesses and injuries after being abandoned to fend for themselves. If given the chance, most of these animals would have made excellent companions.

The Problems

The breeding rate of puppies and kittens greatly exceeds the number of homes available to animals. Negligent individuals who fail to have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered to prevent reproduction, commercial and hobby breeders, and puppy mills, continue to bring more puppies and kittens into an already overpopulated world, thereby ensuring that the vast majority of animals brought to shelters will not be placed in adoptive homes. The way by which many people acquire animals also contributes to the mass killing. Instead of adopting from a shelter and signing an adoption contract, many people:

Answer "free to a good home" or "animals for sale" ads.
Buy from a pet shop.
Buy from a breeder.
Acquire a puppy or kitten from a neighbor’s or friend’s unwanted litter.

Acquiring animals from the above sources condemns shelter animals to death. Only 2.2 to 15% of dogs and .2 to 3% of cats brought to shelters are placed in homes. The rest are killed, or worse, turned over to dealers or laboratories. On average, 25% of animals killed in shelters are purebred. In some regions, 50% are purebred. The most popular breeds are often found in shelters in the greatest numbers.This endless killing perverts a major purpose of humane societies, which is to prevent suffering and to investigate and prosecute cases of animal cruelty. Vast numbers of animals briefly cared for and then killed in shelters are an enormous drain on both public funds and on private philanthropy. Governmental agencies and humane societies are forced to devote their resources to processing and killing animals, while education, investigation, and prosecution go without funding.

The Solution

The solution is to adopt animals only from shelters and have them spayed or neutered to prevent the cruel overpopulation that condemns millions of animals a year to death in the United States. We may facilitate this solution with the following actions:

A forthright discussion of the problem, in which humane societies and shelters disclose the number of animals they are forced to kill (see ISAR’s Special Report entitled “Model Euthanasia Statistics Statute,” which contains model legislation).
Implementing mandatory adoption sterilization in every state, requiring every dog, cat, puppy and kitten adopted from an animal shelter to be spayed or neutered as part of the adoption contract (see ISAR’s SpecialReport entitled “mandatory Adoption Sterilization Statute,” which includes model legislation).
Passage of mandatory spay/neuter legislation to dramatically reduce the number of unwanted animals (see ISAR’s Special Report entitled “Model Mandatory Spay/Neuter Statute,” which includes model legislation).
Establishing low cost spay and neuter clinics. Areas with efficiently run clinics have seen dramatic reductions in the number of animals killed in shelters. Vancouver, British, Columbia, and Las Vegas,Nevada, are two examples.
Frequent media coverage of the daily killing at shelters, combined with public appeals to spay and neuter companion animals, and to adopt from shelters rather than buy animals from pet stores or breeders.
Educating the public on the tragedy of purebreds. The unnatural process of inbreeding causes painful and life threatening conditions. Hip displasia in the larger breeds, spinal disc ailment in dachshunds, and respiratory distress in short-nosed breeds are only a few of the more visible problems. See ISAR’s AKC Special Report for more information.
Cessation of animal sales by pet stores and commercial and hobby breeders. Animals should only be acquired from shelters. They are not commodities. They should not be sold. Please see ISAR’s Special Report on puppy mills for information on how these deplorable breeding factories contribute to pet overpopulation.

The Advantages of Spaying & Neutering

Spaying and neutering not only saves countless lives by preventing the birth of more animals into an overpopulated world, there are also many direct advantages to both guardians and animals when pets are spayed or neutered. By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets) your animals.

Here are some of the medical benefits:

Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.

And behavioral benefits:

Your spayed female pet won't go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house!
Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways escape from the house. Once he's free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals.
Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he’s neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering.

Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter.

Debunking Spay/Neuter Myths and Misconceptions

Spaying or neutering will not cause your pet to become overweight. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor her food intake.
Neutering is not a quick fix for all behavior problems. Although neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, there’s no guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after he’s neutered. Although the surgery will reduce the amount of testosterone in your dog’s system, it won’t eliminate the hormone completely. Neutering will also not reduce behaviors that your pet has learned or that have become habitual. The effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog’s individual personality, physiology and history.

When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

For dogs: While the traditional age for neutering is six to nine months, puppies as young as eight weeks old can be neutered as long as they’re healthy. Dogs can be neutered as adults as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of post-operative complications in older dogs, dogs that are overweight or dogs that have health problems.
For cats: It is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. In animal shelters, surgery is often performed at this time so that kittens can be sterilized prior to adoption. In an effort to avoid the start of urine spraying and eliminate the chance for pregnancy, it’s advisable to schedule the surgery before your own cat reaches five months of age. It’s possible to spay a female cat while she’s in heat.

Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best time to spay or neuter your pet.

Helping Your Pet Before and After Surgery

Your veterinary clinic will provide pre-surgical advice that you should follow. In general, avoid giving your cat any food after midnight the night before surgery. A puppy or kitten, however, needs adequate nutrition, and your veterinarian may advise that food not be withheld.

Your veterinarian can also provide post-operative instructions for you to follow. Although your pet may experience some discomfort after surgery, your veterinarian can take various measures to control pain. Depending on the procedure performed, medication for pain may be sent home with your pet.

Here are tips for a safe and comfortable recovery:

Provide your pet with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals.
Prevent your pet from running and jumping for up to two weeks following surgery, or as long as your veterinarian recommends.
Prevent your pet from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with treats or by using an Elizabethan collar.
Avoid bathing your pet for at least ten days after surgery.
Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing.

If you notice any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, please contact your veterinarian. Also call your veterinarian if your pet is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting or has diarrhea or any other concerns following surgery.

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Spaying

Behavioral Benefits – Spaying eliminates reproductive cycling. Therefore, a spayed dog or cat will not attract packs of male animals. The spayed animal is content to stay at home and is not inclined to roam and annoy the neighbors. Spayed animals are less likely to bark or howl excessively. Spaying also prevents personality changes caused by hormonal differences.
Health Benefits – Spaying eliminates false pregnancies, uterine infections and the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancers. Spaying also greatly reduces the risk of many diseases, including breast cancer. See ISAR’s Special Report on Juvenile spaying and neutering for more information.

The idea that an animal will become fat and lazy if she is spayed is untrue. Inactivity and overfeeding cause weight gain and laziness, not spaying. The thought that a dog or cat should be permitted to have one litter before being spayed is also mistaken, as is the notion that children should witness animal births. For those who want their children to witness “the miracle of birth,” consider instead offering them a valuable lesson in responsibility. Responsible people would not want children to witness the killing of animals in shelters because caretakers did not have their animals spayed or neutered.

Neutering

Behavioral Benefits – The neutered male cat does not spray or fill the house with an obnoxious odor, as does the unneutered male. Unaltered males are more likely to exert dominance over family members and are more apt to bite than altered pets. Neutering curbs aggression, fighting, and excessive barking and howling. Neutering reduces the tendency to roam and prevents the male from trying to get out to pursue females in heat, thereby decreasing his likelihood of becoming lost or being injured by other animals, unkind humans, or being struck by motor vehicles.
Health Benefits – Neutering eliminates or greatly reduces risk for the following conditions: testicular tumors; perianal tumors and hernias; prostate enlargement, infections, and cancerous tumors; and, neutering reduces the chance of urinary problems which tend to occur in later life among many unaltered male animals.

Due to health and behavioral benefits, spayed and neutered animals live an average as twice as long as their unaltered counterparts.

There are also human safety benefits derived from spaying and neutering dogs. The media reports horrifying accounts of people being knocked down, bitten and sometimes killed by dogs or dog packs. Few people realize that the cause is often that the child or adult has been near an unsprayed female dog and the scent of that dog is on the person, thus attracting the unneutered dog or dogs. According to the Associated Press, Dr.Richard Fondrk of Hope Veterinary Hospital, said the female’s smell would prompt male dogs to compete for her attention even if she was absent and “cause some aggressive behavior in the pack.”

In the interest of safeguarding human life, responsible people have their animals spayed or neutered.

More Info

Neglect, Abuse & Indifference

We can teach respect for sentient life to children by being responsible in our care of animals. In turn, children will realize that all life deserves respect and care.

Have your animals spayed or neutered.
Urge friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers to do the same. The overwhelming importance of spaying and neutering warrants you to encourage acquaintances, perfect strangers, and even mortal enemies to spay or neuter their companion animals.
Always adopt your companion animals from shelters. Encourage others to do the same.
Don’t shop at pet stores that sell puppies or kittens and be sure to let them know why they won’t be getting your business. Suggest instead that they offer adoption days in conjunction with local shelters. Likewise, be sure to write a letter of appreciation to pet stores that do not sell animals. For stores that wish to take a stronger stand against pet overpopulation, you may wish to suggest they offer a discount one day a week to guardians who provide proof that their pets are spayed or neutered.
If your local shelters do not operate a low cost spay/neuter clinic, ask them to contact ISAR for information on how to establish one.
Seek introduction of a mandatory spay/neuter statute, euthanasia statistics statute, and adoption sterilization statute (available from ISAR) in your area.
Attend or coordinate a candlelight vigil for National Homeless Animals’ Day, sponsored by ISAR. Contact ISAR for information on this annual event held on the third Saturday in August in remembrance of homeless animals.
Help us spread the word! There are many ways you can help us to educate others about the tragedy of pet overpopulation and its solutions. Please inquire for information on how to be a volunteer for ISAR.
Visit local schools and other gatherings of young people and speak about pet overpopulation and the importance of responsible pet care. ISAR is developing an educational program designed specifically for children. We will provide literature for distribution to various age levels.
Create displays in public libraries, malls, schools, etc. which focus on pet overpopulation and set up information tables at community events. Materials are available from ISAR.
Ask your local radio and television stations to air ISAR’s Public Service Announcements on pet overpopulation. We currently have radio PSAs recorded by Bob Barker and Brandon McKennah. Soon, we will also have a radio PSA by Steve Allen. TV PSAs are available by Bob Barker.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper on pet overpopulation. Form letters are available from ISAR.
Bumper stickers and t-shirts are an effective way to state your message. Contact us for a current listing of merchandise with our important spay/neuter message.
Distribute copies of this Special Report, available without charge from ISAR.