According to the Humane Society of the United States, companion pet overpopulation is a national problem. Pet welfare nonprofit organizations such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is among other leading organizations that suggest people can take local action with fundraising. The ASPCA logo color is orange with white lettering. Selling unique safety t shirts featuring pet pictures and amusing captions can be a way to raise awareness and funds for local animal welfare needs. Fundraising can be done online, offline or both.
Scientists advise that both domestic pets and humans are overpopulating Earth. U. S. Residents number 6,893,000,000 according to the U. S. Census Bureau. This exceeds the Earth’s capacity to provide sufficient human habitats.
According to one scientific report, humans are present 10,000 greater than the norm of the animal kingdom rules. The Humane Society reports that there are 77.5 million dogs owned. The ratio of female to male dogs is about equal. Only 19% of owned dogs came from animal shelters. The average dog owner owns approximately 2 dogs.
U. S. Domestic cats are estimated to have a population of 93.6 million. The feral cat population is more than half of the domestic cat population, 50 million. Female cats are more popular than male cats, comprising 70% of all domestic cats owned.. Cat owners adopt cats from shelters 22% of the time, and acquire 2.5 cats on average. Cat owners spay or neuter their cats 87% of the time.
The annual dog and cat population at shelters is between 6 and 8 million. Roughly 3,500 U. S. Animal shelters house and care for these animals that are from the litters of family pets. Dog owners reclaim their dogs from shelters at a higher rate than cats, respectively 30% and 2-5%. Three to four million pets are adopted from shelters. However, 1 pet is put to sleep every 8 seconds for a total of four million deaths each year.
Shelters are unable to keep pace with the need for services or shelter. Pet welfare organizations, shelters and rescue groups suggest that every one can get involved to help the overpopulation of pets and the need for animal services. Pet owners can get their own pets spayed or neutered and if possible do the same for stray cats. People are encouraged to adopt pets from local shelters and to donate or fundraise to take care of community pet needs.
Animals encounter abandonment, neglect, poor health care, and unfortunate living conditions when they are unwanted or strays. Worse, they may become victims of cruelty. Top reasons for dogs and cats to be relinquished are relocation and pet maintenance costs, according to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy. Challenging economic times and natural disasters may subject pets to harsh circumstances or abandonment. Globally, private and public funding sources spend millions on capturing abandoned animals, caring for sheltered animals, and putting them to sleep. Using safety vests is a great way to raise awareness.
At the other end of the scenario is the comparatively more humane and less costly intervention of spaying or neutering to curb overpopulation. The Humane Society provides national and state information about veterinary medical care. Spay USA is a nonprofit that provides inexpensive or free spay or neuter services nationwide. People can make a difference in their communities to manage a global problem. An safety tee shirts, for example, with a pet-friendly face and some words of encouragement can create change that makes a world of difference.
