2. The Reality of Homeless Animals
• There are about 15 million
shelter animals in the US.
• About 9.5 million of these
animals are euthanized
annually.
• Although many are very ill
or too aggressive to be
adopted, most euthanized
animals are healthy and
perfectly adoptable.
3. Shelter Animals
MYTHS FACTS
• They ended up in the shelter • They ended up in a shelter because
because they were badly behaved their owners:
animals
- Acquired them without doing
• They are inferior to animals appropriate research
bought from pet stores and
- Don’t have time for them
breeders
- Can’t afford them
- Die, divorce, have children, or
move to a location that doesn’t allow
pets
• Many came from breeders or pet stores
• Have no more behavioral problems
than any purchased puppy or kitten or
untrained, owned adult
4. Benefits of Shelter Animals
• Extensive socialization: Animals
are handled multiple times during
the day by different workers and
volunteers.
• Preliminary health and behavior
testing: Each animal up for
adoption has been screened for
injuries and illnesses, and has
passed species-specific behavior
tests.
• Disposition: Many people find
shelter animals especially friendly
and eager to please, due to past
lack of human attention.
5. Benefits Ctd.
• Price: You must “buy” your pet to offset its veterinary and care
costs. However…
SHELTER ANIMAL: $50-$300 for dog, $30-$150 for cat. All age-appropriate
vaccines and medications have already been given. In most cases, the animal
is already spayed/neutered.
PET STORE/BREEDER ANIMAL: Depending on the breed, $300-$3000 for
dog, Free-$3000 for cat. Vet costs (average): $40 for visit, $60 for age-
appropriate vaccines, $150-$300 for spay/neuter depending on animal’s
weight and species.
You make the comparison.
6. Why Bother Spaying/Neutering?
• Protection against reproductive system diseases/emergencies, such as:
- Cancers of the testes, prostate gland, ovaries, and uterus
- Painful prostate gland inflammation (males)
- Pyometra: Infection inside the uterus (females)
- Uncomfortable menstrual bleeding during heat cycles (females)
• Behavioral modification:
- Stops roaming, aggression, territorial urine-marking, and inappropriate
mounting in male cats and dogs
- Stops yowling during estrus in female cats
• Save lives:
- Avoid having to find homes for unwanted litters, and avoid having your male pet
create unwanted litters that may be euthanized when found and turned in to a
shelter.
7. What if I Want a Purebred?
• 25% to 30% of shelter animals are purebreds.
• There are hundreds of purebred-specific breed rescues in the US.
Searching for homeless purebreds is easy at www.petfinder.com.
8. Mixed Breeds are Wonderful, too.
• In general, animals of mixed breeding tend to have less physical and emotional
health problems associated with a limited gene pool in purebreds.
• Through natural selection, mixed breeding offers the “best” of all breeds
involved, and eliminates undesired recessive genes.
• “Designer dogs” such as puggles, labradoodles, and cockapoos are technically
mixed breed dogs.
9. Puppy/Kitten or Adult?
Young animals are adorable, but require extra diligence in terms of
housebreaking, training, and establishing dominance.
Most of the time, adults are already housebroken, no longer have
excess (potentially destructive) energy, and have established
personality traits. Most euthanized animals are adults.
10. Pet Stores and Breeders
• PET STORES:
- Often affiliated with puppy mills and irresponsible breeders
- More concerned with profit than healthy puppies and kittens
- Put puppies and kittens under considerable amounts of stress
• BREEDERS:
- No responsible breeder will ship 8-week-old puppies alone across
the country!
- Watch out for breeders who do not let potential buyers meet the
animal’s parents, cannot reproduce the parents’ genetic health
certifications, breed a female before she is two years old, or breed a
female at every heat cycle.
Of course, there are many responsible breeders.