How To Combat Animal Overpopulation
- Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Ensuring your pet is spayed or neutered is the most effective step you can take to curb pet overpopulation in the Central Valley. Prevention is key to addressing this issue.
These routine procedures, performed by veterinarians under anesthesia, involve removing the ovaries and uterus in females (spaying) and the testicles in males (neutering). Apart from reducing the risk of unwanted litters, spaying and neutering offer additional health, behavioral, and environmental advantages
2. Do not buy animals, Adopt them
Instead of purchasing a pet from a breeder, adopt from a shelter or a rescue. When you adopt your adoption fee includes a spay or neuter surgery, microchip & registration, vaccinations (dogs – rabies & DHPP, cats – FVRCP), dewormer.
Since the adoption fee includes all of these services, it saves you time and money. These services would normally cost between $1000-2000 or more at veterinary clinics. By having these services already completed, your time spent at a veterinary clinic is reduced.
By adopting a pet, you become a hero, saving a life and offering a forever home. Additionally, you contribute to decreasing the population of homeless pets within our community.
3. Microchip your Pet
According to the American Humane Association, approximately 10 million dogs and cats go missing in the United States each year, with many ending up in shelters due to being lost. Sadly, most of these pets are not reclaimed by their owners and are put up for adoption or euthanised.
Microchipping offers a simple and efficient solution to reunite lost pets with their owners. By microchipping your pet, you gain peace of mind, knowing that if they become lost, they can be swiftly returned to you.
4. Educate Your Children, Family Members, Friends, and Co-Workers
A significant number of California residents remain unaware of the severity of our pet overpopulation crisis. Raising awareness is crucial, but it’s only the first step. Join the fight against pet homelessness by actively educating others within your community. Together, we can make a difference.
Spread awareness about the significance of spaying and neutering among your friends and neighbors. Inform them of the importance of these procedures that by taking this step, they can help reduce the number of homeless pets in California.
5. Think Before You Breed or Purchase from a Breeder
There are responsible breeding practices for companion animals. However the existence of inhumane and inadequate breeding facilities, urging caution when purchasing animals from breeders and suggesting alternative methods for acquiring pets.
Please advocate for adoption through humane societies and rescue organizations due to the high number of animals in need of homes. These shelters and rescue groups accommodate and place purebred animals, often saving them from euthanasia or abandonment by breeding operations. Mixed breed animals frequently exhibit desirable traits without the health issues associated with certain pure breeds.
While responsible breeders contribute to preserving breed characteristics and prioritize the welfare of their animals, it is important to educate yourself on inherited disorders and responsible breeding practices. Breeders should make informed decisions that do not exacerbate pet overpopulation.
For those considering purchasing animals from breeders, thorough research is essential to avoid supporting irresponsible breeding practices. Common characteristics of irresponsible breeders include substandard health and environmental conditions, inadequate animal care, and breeding practices leading to genetic defects.
6. Commit to Keeping Your Pet for Life
Before you adopt or purchase a pet, understand the lifelong commitment involved. Dogs and cats can live upwards of 13-15 years, sometimes even longer. Remember, pets rely on you for their entire lives. While puppies and kittens may be adorable when young, consider how you’ll feel as they age and lose their youthful charm. Will you still love and care for them or consider surrendering them to a shelter? It’s important to recognize that senior pets often struggle to find homes and may not adjust well to shelter environments.
Evaluate your lifestyle to determine if bringing a pet into your home is the best decision for both you and the animal. Consider what type of pet best suits your lifestyle and choose a breed accordingly.
7. Take a Stand Against Puppy Mills
The ASPCA estimates there are around 10,000 puppy mills across the United States. These are commercial dog breeding facilities that prioritize profit over animal welfare, selling puppies through pet stores, online platforms, or directly to consumers. Dogs in puppy mills endure overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, lacking proper veterinary care, nutrition, water, and socialization.
Despite the Animal Welfare Act’s federal regulations on commercial dog and cat breeding since 1966, puppy mills continue to operate, disregarding the well-being of the animals they house.
Puppy mills focus solely on profit, often breeding female dogs excessively without adequate recovery time between litters. When these breeding dogs become physically depleted and unable to reproduce, they are often euthanized.
To combat puppy mills, refrain from purchasing puppies from non reliable sellers. Instead, consider adoption as the most humane option.