Overpopulation in domestic pets

Overpopulation in domestic animals refers to a surplus of domestic animals, such as cats, dogs, and exotic animals. In the United States, an estimated 6 to 8 million animals are brought to shelters each year, of which an estimated 3 to 4 million are subsequently euthanized, including 2.7 million considered healthy and adoptable.^[1][2] Euthanasia numbers have declined from the 1970s, when U.S. shelters euthanized an estimated 12 to 20 million animals.^[3] Most humane societies, animal shelters and rescue groups urge animal caregivers to have their animals spayed or neutered to prevent the births of unwanted and accidental litters that could contribute to this dynamic.^[2]

Critics such as Nathan Winograd of the No Kill Advocacy Center argue that overpopulation is a myth and logical fallacy,^[4] which many animal control agencies use to avoid criticism for high numbers of killings and low numbers of adoptions.^[5] Winograd argues that traditional shelters kill animals primarily out of habit and convenience, even when space is available for the animals.^[6]:6 When shelters implement methods outlined in the No Kill Equation,^[7] such as trap-neuter-return for stray and feral cats,^[7]:4 Winograd asserts that they have been able to save all healthy and treatable animals, and raise their save rates to at least 90% of all impounded animals.^[8] In October 2014, the website "Out the Front Door" documented 212 communities in the U.S. saving more than 90% of impounded animals.^[9]

Statistics

U.S. data

Estimates of animals brought to shelters and of animals subsequently euthanized in the U.S. have issues with their reliability. The Humane Society of the United States provides shelter statistics with this caution: "There is no central data reporting system for U.S. animal shelters and rescues. These estimates are based on information provided by the (former) National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy."^[1] The HSUS provided numbers of 6 to 8 million animals taken to shelters, 3 to 4 million animals euthanized, and 2.7 million of the euthanized animals being healthy and adoptable, as estimates for 2012-2013,^[1] and also for annual figures in an August 2014 article.^[2]

The National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy conducted a survey over four years, 1994-1997, and cautions against the use of their survey for wider estimates: "It is not possible to use these statistics to estimate the numbers of animals entering animal shelters in the United States, or the numbers euthanized on an annual basis. The reporting Shelters may not represent a random sampling of U.S. shelters."^[10] Summary statistics from the survey state that in 1997, 4.3 million animals entered the surveyed shelters; the shelters euthanized 62.6% of them, or 2.8 million animals.^[10] These numbers broke down to 56.4% of dogs euthanized, and 71% of cats.^[10] The original survey was sent to 5,042 shelters housing at least 100 dogs and cats each year, of whom only 1,008 shelters participated in 1997.^[10]

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides alternate numbers, stating that there are about 13,600 community animal shelters in the United States.^[11] "There is no national organization monitoring these shelters", and "no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement."^[11] However, national estimates are provided of 7.6 million animals entering shelters each year, with 2.7 million of them euthanized.^[11]

The American Humane Association notes the difficulties in estimating numbers, and provides a higher figure, stating that in 2008, an estimated 3.7 million animals were euthanized in shelters.^[12]

A 1993 study of U.S. dog populations considered a wider range of sources than animal shelters.^[13] The study found that 4 million dogs entered shelters, with 2.4 million (or 60%) euthanized (p. 203).^[14]

Canada

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) has been collecting statistics from Canadian animal shelters since 1993.^[15]:2 A survey in 2013 included data from 100 of 186 humane societies and SPCAs.^[15]:2 However, municipal animal services agencies were not included, hence "the data in this report represents only a fraction of homeless companion animals in Canada."^[15]:2 In 2012, the surveyed shelters took in just over 188,000 animals, and euthanized 65,423 animals, representing 35% of all intakes.^[15]:8 Six times as many cats were euthanized as dogs, or 41% of cats and 15% of dogs.^[15]:5 The report noted a gradually improving trend, but that cats have a far worse outcome than dogs: "More than twice as many cats enter shelters than dogs, and though adoption rates for cats are similar to those for dogs, fewer cats are reclaimed and many more are euthanized."^[15]:7

In 2013, half a million unwanted pets were euthanized in Quebec

Bahrain

In Bahrain the amount of stray dogs has been increasing since early 2000s with the situation getting out of hand in late 2010s which caused a lot of controversy regarding the case from people claiming to be bothered and attacked by stray dogs and stray dogs puppies being inhumanely murdered (or burned). On the other hand, since 2014 an act has been put by the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) and made a plea to the government to help keep the Catch, Neuter and Return programme (CNVR) running.^[16] Frequent attacks on farms also happened, Sheikha Marwa bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa also contributed to the case and decided to build a shelter (welfare) for the strays to neuter and rehabilitate them to prevent further attacks while also cooperating with the Bahrain stray dogs society group.^[17]

Reasons for relinquishment

Unwanted dogs and cats may have been acquired from any source. Large numbers of animals are placed in shelters by pet owners each year for reasons such as moving, allergies, behavioral problems, and lack of time or money. Another common reason for surrendering a pet is because of milestones, like marriage or the birth of a new baby.^[18]

Purebred preference

One contributing factor in domestic animal homelessness is the cultural preference for young, purebred animals. Many people who prefer purebred animals choose to purchase them, often at significant cost, from breeders. One reason some owners choose to purchase a pet through a breeder or store is because people know what size and characteristics the animal will eventually have. This is not often possible with puppies acquired at a shelter. It should be noted, however, that approximately 25% of the dogs who enter animal shelters are purebred.^[19]

Recognizing the high demand for purebred animals, some people choose to engage in backyard breeding or operate puppy mills. This practice, where operators breed purebred animals for profit, is often without concern for the health or welfare of the animals involved. These animals may be sold through pet stores or directly from the breeders themselves.^[20]

Additionally, individuals seeking purebred animals may not realize that a homeless animal adopted from a shelter can have many advantages: often the shelter will have performed all necessary veterinary procedures, such as spaying or neutering, vaccination, deworming, microchipping, etc. Also, the personality of a kitten or puppy is not always an indicator of how the animal will behave in adulthood. Many shelter animals have reached adulthood and their personalities are apparent, allowing the would-be caregiver to select an animal with a personality that suits them. However, disease issues should be considered with shelter animals. Some shelter animals are transported to Northern states where there is no overpopulation problem.^[21] Such animals may be incubating disease or have parasites. Animals without a documented history may also have behavioral issues.

Organizational impact

There are several nonprofit organizations that are attempting to solve the problems associated with the overpopulation of animals, like euthanasia and high costs, through spay and neuter services.

• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) ^[22]
• American Humane Association ^[18]
• Sante D'or Foundation in Southern California ^[23]
• Pet Project Rescue in the Twin Cities in Minnesota ^[24]
• AnimalKind in North Carolina ^[25]
• Project CatSnip in Georgia^[26]

Global effects

Dealing with a population of unwanted domestic animals is a major concern to animal welfare and animal rights groups. Domestic animal overpopulation can also be an ecological concern. It is also a financial problem: capturing, impounding and eventual euthanasia costs taxpayers and private agencies millions of dollars each year.^[27] Unwanted pets are also commonly released to the wild, sometimes contributing to severe damage to ecosystems (e.g., the effect of introduction of exotic snakes to Florida's Everglades).

Controversy

Critics such as Nathan Winograd of the No Kill Advocacy Center argue that overpopulation is a myth perpetuated by traditional shelters trying to avoid criticism for high numbers of killings and paltry numbers of adoptions.^[5][28] Winograd states that traditional shelters kill primarily out of habit and convenience, even when space is available for the animals.^[6]:6 He states that there are indeed enough homes for all the homeless animals: "Based on the number of existing households with pets who have a pet die or run away, more homes potentially become available each year for cats than the number of cats who enter shelters, while more than twice as many homes potentially become available each year for dogs than the number of dogs who enter shelters."^[5] Moreover, when shelters implement life-saving methods outlined in the No Kill Equation,^[7] such as trap-neuter-return for stray and feral cats,^[7]:4 Winograd asserts that they are able to save all healthy and treatable animals, amounting to at least 90% of all impounded animals.^[8] Winograd states that hundreds^[29]:1 of No Kill Communities have been created across the U.S., and they are increasing in number throughout the world.^[8] In October 2014, the website "Out the Front Door" documented 212 communities in the U.S. saving more than 90% of impounded animals.^[9]

In a 2012 article, Christie Keith, social media adviser for animal welfare organizations, argued that the use of the term "overpopulation" to justify shelter killings involves the logical fallacy of a tautology.^[4] If a shelter with no adoption program was able to save more animals when a program was added and then enhanced, was the improvement in save rates due to a "Reduction in 'pet over-population'? Or improvement in shelter management practices?"^[4] When communities are able to save more than 90% of the animals admitted, Keith asks, "Did they reduce 'pet over-population,' or did they become a no-kill community by implementing modern, proven, progressive sheltering practices?"^[4]

In a 2008 article, dog advocate Loretta Baughan claimed that underpopulation was the reality rather than overpopulation. She pointed out that the great majority of pet owners have spayed or neutered their pets, and some shelters were importing large numbers of dogs from other jurisdictions.^[30]

See also

• No-kill shelter: an animal shelter that does not euthanize animals due to overpopulation
• Overpopulation
• Animal shelter
• Cat colony
• Trap-Neuter-Return
• No Kill Equation

Further reading

• Nathan Winograd, (2009), Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America. Almaden Books, 2nd edition. ISBN 978-0979074318.

References

External links

• National Council on Pet Population
• ASPCA Official Website
• Addressing the Problem of Pet Overpopulation: The Experience of New Hanover County Animal Control Services
• American Humane Association on pet overpopulation
• AnimalKind in NC
• Chesley V. Morton v. Georgia Department of Agriculture and Tommy Irvin in his Official Capacity as Commissioner