| Can you imagine working at a Humane Society | | | | much room in any facility. With every nook and |
| where literally thousands of dogs and cats are | | | | cranny filled, the only option for those not |
| euthanized because of the volume of animals | | | | adopted is to be euthanized. |
| coming through the doors? | | | | So why is this happening? I wish I could say that |
| Statistically, a female cat can give birth to 20,000 | | | | all pet owners are responsible and have their pets |
| kittens in five years. The lions share of these are | | | | spayed or neutered. The real key in controlling the |
| brought into a Humane Society by the public, or | | | | number of unwanted animals is a proactive spay |
| picked up by Animal Control and then taken to a | | | | and neuter program. This solution is so much |
| Humane Society. The numbers for dogs aren't | | | | kinder than having defenseless animals euthanized. |
| quite as staggering but are still excessive. | | | | Some Humane Societies are hosting educational |
| One Humane Society in East Texas reports 9,003 | | | | programs to teach school children about |
| dogs and cats were brought to them in 2007. Of | | | | responsible pet ownership. Some are including a |
| those, 6,708 were euthanized and 2,904 were | | | | "lost and found" section on their websites to try |
| adopted. Since 1988 their records show a total of | | | | to reunite owners with lost pets. Others are |
| 193,363 animals have gone through their doors; | | | | supporting more stringent laws and penalties for |
| 145,000 were euthanized. | | | | owners who don't spay or neuter their pets. |
| Humane Societies have become a dumping ground | | | | Any effort to reduce the number of unwanted |
| for unwanted or stray animals instead of a rescue | | | | animals is worthwhile. Won't you do your part? |
| and adoption center. Unfortunately, there's only so | | | | |