The Truth About Pet Shelters
If you are considering giving up your pet, you have most likely thought about taking your pet to an animal shelter. You’re probably hoping that at the shelter your dog or cat will be adopted by a new family who can better care for it. While there is a chance that this will happen, statistics show that your pet will more than likely have to be euthanized.
The Facts About Pet Shelters
- The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, states that between 5 and 7 million animals are brought to animal shelters each year.
- Of those, between 3 and 4 million dogs and cats will be euthanized simply because they have not been adopted or considered unadoptable and animal shelters are overcrowded, according to Dog Adoption HQ.
- According to Pet Finder, approximately 50 percent of animals brought to shelters are abandoned there by their owners. The other 50 percent are brought from animal control. Of the animals brought from animal control, about 20 percent of dogs will be reunited with their owners, while less than 2 percent of cats will meet their owners again.
- Often there is a misperception that all dogs at shelters are mixed breeds, but there are approximately 25 percent of dogs in shelters that are purebred dogs, many who were purchased from breeders originally.
Pet shelters exist to take care of unwanted animals or animals that have found themselves without homes. Sadly, in recent years these shelters have been overpopulated and burdened with an abundance of animals. Unfortunately, this means that most animals won't find a new forever home. It is important that people understand where they are sending their pet before they relinquish them. Statistics show that every 8 seconds, a dog or a cat is brought to a pet shelter in the United States. It's more important than ever to raise awareness about this issue, and shed light on the reality of pet shelters.
How Can You Help?
If you have decided it is best to give up your pet, we recommend reaching out to family or friends asking if they could offer a good home. You can also reach out through social media channels, local online forums, and communities to see if people in your area are looking for pets. If you are considering adding a pet to your family, consider adopting from a shelter. These animals need the love and support of a good, caring family before the curse of overpopulation cuts them down. Visit How to Find Your Local Animal Shelter now for more details.
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Pets: I have a half border collie, half angel named Mikey.
Fun stuff: My dog's tongue is slightly longer than her face, so frequently her tongue sticks out a little even when her mouth is closed.
