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Overpopulation
Animal protection advocates call attention to the pet overpopulation "crisis" in the United States. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the country and many more are confined to cages in shelters. This crisis is created by nonneutered animals (spayed/castrated) reproducing and people intentionally breeding animals. A particularly problematic combination of economic hardship combined with a love of animals contributes to this problem in parts of the rural United States. In an average year,
a fertile cat can produce three litters of kittens, with up to 4 to 6 kittens in each litter. Based on these numbers, one female cat and her offspring could produce up to 420,000 cats over a seven year period if not spayed or castrated. There are also major overpopulation problems with other pet species, such as birds and rabbits. Local humane societies, SPCAs, and other animal protection organizations urge people to neuter their pets and to adopt animals from animal shelters instead of purchasing them from breeders or pet stores.
Pet Adoption
Pet adoption usually refers to the process of taking guardianship of and responsibility for a pet that a
previous owner has abandoned or otherwise abdicated responsibility for. Common sources are:
Animal shelters, in the case of dogs also known as dog pounds
Rescue groups
Pets out of captivity without identification, and which remain unclaimed by any owner
Advertisements placed by individuals who are trying to find a new home for their pet
Pets that have been abused or neglected and have been confiscated from the offending owner
A fast growing source is online pet adoption through not-for-profit websites such as petfinder.com Public
service sites such as these have searchable databases of pets, maintained by thousands of animals shelters,
and are searchable by the public.
Dogs adopted from shelters are often referred to as shelter dogs or pound puppies; dogs adopted from are
often called rescue dogs (not to be confused with search and rescue dogs). Shelters have put together
informational websites to help the public choose the right dog for their family.
Pets are taken to animal shelters for many reasons:
Death: Owner dies and no one in the family wants to (or can) keep the pet.
Changed circumstances: Financial or living arrangements change drastically and people feel that they can
no longer provide an appropriate home for the pet. This might also include someone having to move to a new
living situation where pets are not allowed.
Second thoughts: A pet was purchased after the spur of the moment decision or as a gift (frequently for Christmas). Some time afterward, owners discover that caring for the pet is much more work than expected,
or requires more space or exercise than they are prepared to give.
Lost pet: Pet leaves home or cannot find its way back, and the owner does not succeed in finding it.
Health: Severe health problems make it impossible to have a dog in the house or impossible for the
owner to care for the dog.
Practice babies: Shelters use this term for animals that have been adopted by couples, and who are then abandoned when the couple splits up, or when a real baby comes along and they no longer have the time or inclination to care for their pet.
Moving across borders: People leave the country; quarantine laws in some countries can be traumatic to
pets and owners, so to avoid the stress, the pet is surrendered to an animal shelter.
Allergies: Many owners claim to have developed allergies to their pets, or that their children have
developed allergies to their pets.
(source: wikipedia.org)
To search for your next pet, please click on the links below.
Petfinder Featured Pet
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Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals that need homes. It is also a directory of over 10,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Organizations maintain their own home pages and available pet database. Petfinder Mission About Petfinder Petfinder is made up of animal-care professionals and regular people volunteering for their local animal welfare organizations all working together to maintain active and accurate homeless pet lists. Most animal welfare volunteers have "real jobs" by day. The success and the magnitude of this project is largely due to their tireless efforts to make a difference. If you would like to help, let us know! You can find us at http://www.petfinder.com/. Email: pets@petfinder.com. Petfinder is updated DAILY. |
Dog Adoption & Cat Adoption!
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Use our free search tool to find a dog or cat near you today! You can
search by breed, size, color, and even age so you will be able to find the cat or dog that is perfect for you
and your needs. Search for your new best friend today, with our search.
Find a Shelter or Rescue Group
PETS 911 believes that if you consolidate all the adoption, lost and found, veterinarian/emergency clinic, fostering, volunteer, shelter/clinic, and health and training information out there and give the public a single and easy place to find this information; education will substantially increase and euthanasia will decrease. That is our mission.
Search Pets911 for your next pet
Pets with Disabilities - Rescue
Search for your next pet at local shelters and rescue groups by U.S. state
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