Animal Rescue Groups nationwide do an excellent job in restoring pets in their care to optimal health with includes spay or neuter prior to their placement. Hundreds of Thousands of volunteers across the country volunteer for shelters, open their homes to foster pets, transport pets, groom pets, and those endless expensive trips to the veterinarians. Sadly, in most cases rescues are the last hope
for unwanted pets to be placed into a loving family. Despite those noble efforts, approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year and approximately 3 million cats and dogs are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year. WHAT IF we were able to prevent unplanned litters? WHAT IF spay and neuter services were readily available to those that do not want to breed but cannot afford the typical surgical fee? The cost of spaying or neutering one pet is much less than the cost of raising just 1 puppy or just 1 kitten for a year. Pet overpopulation is an emotional and financial challenge for all of us in the rescue world. We continue down the same path saving one life at a time and still each year, approximately 3 million animals are euthanized and the number continues to rise due to more unwanted and unplanned litters. So, WHAT IF we attack the root of the pet population problem and “SPAY it FORWARD”? Allow me to introduce you to “SPAY IT FORWARD.” The “SPAY IT FORWARD” movement is an outreach to those "almost " responsible pet owners who at least keep their pets current on vaccinations and preventatives yet their pets remain intact and capable of breeding at any time over and over. The “SPAY IT FORWARD” target would be a pet owner who has multiple intact pets at risk of breeding. If we “SPAY IT FORWARD” one female dog, we have stopped the potential of up to 507 unwanted lives in one lifetime. If we “SPAY IT FORWARD” one female cat, we have stopped the potential of up to 4947 unwanted lives. “SPAY IT FORWARD” over time will significantly reduce pet overpopulation in this nation. (A fertile dog can produce an average of two litters in one year. The average number of puppies in a canine litter is six to ten. Up to 508 puppies can be born from one intact female dog and her offspring in seven years. A fertile cat can produce an average of three litters in one year. The average number of kittens in a feline litter is four to six. Up to 4,948 kittens can be born from one intact female cat and her offspring in seven years.) How do multiple intact pets end up in the same household?
-My mother passed away and I took her dog.
-My cousin was deployed to serve our country.
-My brother was jailed and I took his cats.
-My neighbor was foreclosed on and the dogs had nowhere to go.
-My sister has a challenging pregnancy and I ended up with hers.
-The tenant left behind their animals.
-I found the dog wandering by my house.
-Unwanted and unplanned litters of course!
-Etc., Etc., Etc.,
In many cases, the pet owner was doing right by taking in another needy pet, but then…….BAM! A new litter appears that was not planned and is not wanted. And then we have unwanted litters having more unwanted litters – and it is an endless cycle. We need to BREAK that cycle and “SPAY IT FORWARD!” We can make a difference and we can have an impact on the overpopulation of pets. Let us all work together to reduce the pet overpopulation in this country. Will you please join me in “SPAY IT FORWARD?”
