Pet Overpopulation is a People Problem

It is estimated that 2,500 puppies and kittens are born in the United States every hour. The sad reality is that there are just too many dogs and cats and not enough homes. The result is the humane killing of 4-5 million animals each year, most young and healthy, many purebred. The vast majority of these dogs and cats would have made wonderful pets if only there had been a place for them. Unfortunately, this scenario plays out in our own community as well. In 2004, Valley Oak SPCA had to euthanize 6,400 companion animals, and there are two other facilities in Tulare County.

We call ourselves a nation of animal lovers, yet we inadvertently condone the killing of dogs and cats as a means of population control. People who allow their pet to have offspring are responsible. Even if someone finds homes for a litter of puppies or kittens, only 2-3 in 10 will be permanent. How many of them will go on to have litters of their own, continuing an endless cycle? How many will be discarded when they are no longer cute and cuddly? As you can see, this is not really an animal problem, it's a people problem.

In the final analysis, pet overpopulation happens one litter, one animal at a time. It's not the millions of surplus dogs and cats born each year, but one litter or one animal turned in to a shelter, given away, sold, abandoned, or no longer cared for. Until people understand the connection between their pet's litter and the animals who end up in shelters, millions of dogs and cats will continue to die needlessly. What an unfair and tragic fate, considering the simplicity of the solution-spaying and neutering.

You can save lives by having your companion animal spayed or neutered. It's the compassionate, right thing to do. It's important for the health and happiness of your pet. It's good for the community because of the associated problems of strays and the cost to taxpayers for animal control. There's no way around it no matter how much you rationalize: if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem!

Today is National Homeless Animals Day. Valley Oak SPCA will hold a Candlelight Vigil at Garden Street Plaza (Main & Garden in downtown Visalia) from 7:00-8:00pm to shed light on an American tragedy-dog and cat overpopulation, and to remember its innocent victims.