Pet overpopulation is a serious problem. Animal shelters become overcrowded and are unable to care for the millions of homeless pets in the United States. Sadly, not enough people adopt their pets from shelters to help ease the crowding. In many cases, animals live lonely lives in the streets where they are even unable to survive because of lack of food and water or even shelter
Why are there so many homeless companion animals?
- There are too many puppies and kittens being born who are unwanted. Sometimes people let their dogs and cats have babies and then can’t find homes for all of them. Sometimes homeless animals wandering the streets have babies. Since they do not have a home, there are no people to take care of them.
- Pets get lost. If they don’t have proper identification, like a collar with an ID tag, they can’t be returned home.
- Pets are surrendered, or given up to animal shelters because their guardians can no longer care for them.
- Not everyone goes to an animal shelter to adopt a pet.
How to help end the pet overpopulation problem
- Have your pets spayed or neutered. Veterinarians perform a simple operation on cats and dogs to prevent them from having unwanted kittens and puppies.
- Adopt your next pet from your local animal shelter. There are a lot of wonderful dogs, cats and other companion animals just waiting for a loving home.
- License your pets. Make sure they have an identification tag and collar.
- Learn about pets before you adopt to make sure you are ready for the responsibility.
- Tell others about pet overpopulation and how they can help.
