To the Editor:
It is evident that the influx of cats and dogs in shelters is a problem.
With so many animals and not enough families to adopt them, a solution needs to be implemented to decrease the population being brought in.
Some of these animals are strays; families who can no longer take care of them are dumping others into the shelter. I have been researching this topic for over a month now, at George Mason University for my English class, and here are some of the reasons I think this problem is occurring.
Many of the animals are strays, which means that there are mostly stray unsterilized animals having many unwanted litters. Thinking of how many of these stray animals can be saved by sterilization amazes me. Just think about if one cat or dog was to have a litter of five kittens or puppies, who in turn had five kittens or puppies, who also had five kittens or puppies. The numbers can go on and on. If there were less strays or at least, spayed and neutered strays, animal control would not be bringing in so many.
The other half of this problem is through the responsibility of pet owners. Many pet owners these days look at pets as disposable objects that they can return to the shelter as they please. Many companion pets end up here because owners cannot or will not properly take care of them. In this respect, I appreciate shelters that are able to care for animals when others cannot. However, owners should know their responsibility as a pet owner before adopting their pets. If they were informed, as they were adopting the animal, about how to take care of the pet and the responsibility it would require, fewer animals will be returned to shelters.
I think there are small effective ways that can be implemented to decrease the amount of over-populated pets in our area. Firstly, encouraging spaying and neutering. By doing this, you are already putting away the risk of unwanted animals, which ultimately end up in shelters. Some families, in the area, may not be able to afford the procedure, which is understandable. So to fix this small sub-problem, vets can maybe give reduced prices for surgeries to families who adopt from shelters. The other solution would be to spay and neuter pets before they are adopted. This would, also, increase the chances of people adopting from shelters.
Another small change would be to make owners go through a briefing of sorts about the responsibilities of a pet owner. If owners were informed about what kind of responsibility and attention they will be needing to put towards their newly adopted pet, more owners might think twice if this is the right choice for them. They can also be informed about the type of animal and how that animal will behave. Some owners may have a certain type of breed that they have in mind. However, their wants for breed may not always be compatible with the characteristics they are looking for in a pet. This will ultimately lead to them giving the pet back to the shelter. By informing and educating potential owners, we may see a decrease in the amount of pets being brought back to the shelters.
I know this summer local shelters struggled with handling the influx of animals. My only hope is that something can be done to give these pets a loving home and to prevent a further increase in unwanted pets.
Jessica Honig
Fairfax