CC_Minutes_2007_0917 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~nc~ ~~ ~d o ~-r- ~'le~lo7 ~iffQrertia! Lscenssr';~ Animal Overpopulation Pet overpopulation has for decades been the most serious challenge faced by local animal sheltering and control operations. In virtually every community in the United States, the number of homeless animals far exceeds the numbers of homes available to them. As a result, an estimated eight to ten million homeless animals enter animal shelters across the United States each year. About half are euthanized. Why does this problem exist? Historically, the root cause has been pet owners failing to take responsibility for their animals. Animal care and control programs expend most of their resources on the problems that result when irresponsible pet owners don=t have their pets spayed or neutered, allow their pets to roam, or do not properly care for their animals. Even planned breeding by so-called "backyard breeders" -those who are not professional breeders but decide to breed their own pets -contributes mightily to the overpopulation of purebred and mixed-breed pets. In the 1970s, when pet overpopulation reached its peak with more than 20 million animals entering shelters each year, many cities and counties launched programs that integrated three basic components: legislation, education, and sterilization (LES). Among the common elements employed by these jurisdictions: an ordinance that includes differential animal licei sing (charging a higher registration fee for unsterilized animals); a subsidized spay/neuter clinic or program that involves local veterinarians; mandatory sterilization of all animals adopted from sheltering facilities; and a public education program.. This LES formula resulted in significant decreases in the numbers of animals, particularly dogs, entering shelters in communities that launched such programs.' Today, thanks in large part to the success of LES and widespread spay/neuter campaigns, the demographics of the problem have shifted in many communities. In these communities, the vast majority of animals showing up in shelters are not litters of puppies and kittens; instead, they are animals who are six months to two years old, animals who once had a home but were given up. In response to these changing demographics; increasing numbers of animal care and control agencies are building new programs upon the LES foundation. These programs are being designed in response to a slew of research explaining why people give up their pets.