I asked a question earlier and presented these stats from the Brevard County Florida, county run KILL shelters:
Number of stray animals cared for: 17, 041
Number of dogs and cats euthanized: 8,866
Number of dogs and cats adopted or returned: 5,995
Average cost per animal in care: $75.32
The cost to care for these animals comes from our county taxes. So, it cost us about $667,787.12 for the animals that had to be destroyed. That is only in one year! That is only the amount the county paid, it does not include the cost of the donated supplies.
I just did a little more research and found out my county has about 426,953 adults. So that means that on an average, 1 in every 25 adults in this county has an animal that went to the county pound. (Again, this doesn't count the 3 privately run shelters, So I think a more accurate estimate would be 1 in 15.) And this is for THIS YEAR ALONE!!!!
What do you think of this? What are your area stats? What can we do to fix this?
2007-09-09 10:25:04 · 7 answers · asked by Katslookup - a Fostering Fool! 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Education, education, education ...
After reading most of the questions and answers on the YA pet forums, it's no wonder that there are so many unwanted animals in the shelters. So many people are just flat out stupid about pets!
If more people would educate themselves about pet health, reproduction, training, caring for, and living with an animal; there would be fewer unwanted animals roaming the streets and in shelters.
I know there are many frequent visitors to this forum that make an honest effort to educate folks about their dogs, but I often feel like many of the better posts fall on deaf ears ... (sigh).
2007-09-09 12:13:41 · answer #1 · answered by Ginbail © 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
somehow peoele need to be educated
I am sorry to say but the very bad experience I've had with shelter dogs and the local dog shelter near me I will never adopt.
Teh shelter near me does not have a vet, the animals are sick, I don't know how many times a year they have parvoe and leukemia running through the shelter.
They are not spayed or neutered although you have to sign you will but I know many that never have and it's been well over 5 years
I do feel sorry for those that are put down but that's the way it is and not much can be done.
I wish it was required in school for kids to be taught about how to care for animals as no one else seems to.
I hate to say it but one vet in my area charges a wopping $125 for a cat castration ( yes castration not spay) I believe he charges $300 for the spay But I live in an area where there have been a lot of layoffs
2007-09-09 19:52:31 · answer #2 · answered by Kit_kat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really feel strongly that if a program were created to offer FREE spaying and neutering more people would do it. Shelters have vets on hand already, so this shouldn't be a major issue. Wouldn't it be much better for our tax dollars to go to that than to euthanasia??? I would feel better about it that's for sure. I've said it many times.... FREE services = more people participating = fewer unwanted pets. There will always be idiots who won't do it for what ever reason. Regulating it punishes the people who are legitimate breeders and that's not fair. Responsible breeders aren't the problem, it's the people who breed because puppies and kittens are cute, or wouldn't it be neat? Where I am there is a program that offers spaying and neutering for $5 and shots for $3. Every time I have gone there, either for my own animal or a clients it has been booked solid, which is wonderful to see. Just something to consider.....
2007-09-09 17:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by Sniggle 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Wow...I knew it was bad...but not that bad. A very sad situation.....I know more people are spaying and neutering than before. I wish more people would consider it. Many of these dogs are results from uneducated people who are selfish and don't care. I don't know if this can be fixed 100%, but I know it has gotten better over the years with more people spaying and neutering and getting the word out there. Just keep educating...that's the least you and I and everyone can do!!
2007-09-09 17:41:10 · answer #4 · answered by ♥ Liz ♫ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My town has 143560 people
And through July, 13,339 animals were surrended or turned in as strays to my shelter.
So for every 11 people, 1 of them surrenders an animal. However, that does not include if people drive south across the border to the nicer no-kill shelter in a different town. They receive FAR fewer animals but you have to make an appointment to surrender.
All right - what can we do? Let's see. NUMBER 1: SPAY AND NEUTER!!
Number 2: tell people to SPAY AND NEUTER
Number 3: steal other people's outdoor only animals, have them SPAYED AND NEUTERED and then return them with a nice note (I would like to do this to the unmobile home near us that has 6 cats and 9 kittens always sitting in their driveway).
Number 4: make SPAY AND NEUTER t-shirts
Number 5: purchase bill-boards across the country that gives statistics, have pictures of an animal receiving euthanasia with the slogan "Spay and Neuter, prevent Euthanasia
Number 6: establish some sort of criteria for being able to breed. But this brings the government in to clean up after irresponsible people . . so not my favorite option.
Number 7: Continue - at all costs - the Spay and Neuter Police objectives - to encourage all pet owners to spay and neuter
Did I mention - spaying and neutering your pets?
2007-09-09 17:37:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
People can help by spaying/neutering. Just look at all the people on here with asinine questions about breeding their dogs. It's a job best left to professionals who actually know what they're doing and are doing it for the RIGHT reasons. *sigh*
2007-09-09 17:30:29 · answer #6 · answered by sysxperts 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I am a fraid you cant fix this
2007-09-09 17:29:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋