UT IF YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE MASSIVE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION CRISIS.
Millions of animals are taken in by shelters and unfortunately, millions are euthanized annually. From the little available statistics, which is likely an underestimation, 2800 healthy animals are euthanized (humanely killed) in SA DAILY! That is not on the shelters!
Although we believe that any shelter including, SPCAs should do everything they can to find a home for all the animals, the sad reality is that we have a massive overpopulation crisis, so what do you expect them to do with all those who don’t find a home? There are just not enough homes and we are not even talking about good homes; they are even less. Shelters do not have unlimited space and resources. I don’t know 70 people who want to adopt, do you?
There is also a misconception that only dogs and cats end up in shelters but there are many rescue organizations for birds, rabbits, and other animals who are neglected, abused, or discarded by people who have bought them. There is basically a breed-specific rescue for every breed and the “purebreds” in shelters have drastically increased in the last few years. Some stats say 1 in every 4 animals at shelters is “purebred”. Even if they are not, where do you think the cross that looks like a Jack Russell came from?
Many shelters are scared to share the statistics, but we think it is extremely necessary so that people can wake up and smell the blood on the public’s hands! By law, the SPCA cannot turn any animal away. Yes, they cannot say no. They cannot say “Sorry we are full”. They have to make a plan and take them in. Even if they could turn them away, they wouldn’t as we know where they will inevitably end up. If the SPCA or other shelters did not offer this service, who will? Where will all the animals go?
I am a pro-life advocate, but I also understand that it is inhumane to keep an animal in a kennel indefinitely. Sadly, some breeds like Jack Russell (a common breed in shelters) and others, can develop kennel stress when being in kennels for long. Even though there are strategies to help minimize this, it is no guarantee. Keeping these animals in the kennels after this happens is cruel. Shelters also don’t always have the resources to train an aggressive dog or to bottle feed newborn kittens. This is why we need to community to help!
Also read, What Rabbit Owners Should Know
SO, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE?
BREEDERS. I do not distinguish between breeders, puppy mills, backyard breeders or those who had accidental litters. They all create this problem and no breeding can be responsible when we have to kill thousands of healthy animals a day.
PET SHOPS/animal dealers/brokers also exploit animals for financial gain and fuel the crisis. The pet industry in South Africa is not regulated. Pet shops do not promote responsible pet ownership (sterilizations, home checks, etc.), but make their profits off impulse buying and treating animals as commodities. They promote the indiscriminate breeding of animals as these animals are not sterilized.
FREE TO “GOOD HOME” ADS. This is usually from those who didn’t care enough to sterilize their pets or who just give their pets away due to inconvenience. Darling, you have no clue what a good home looks like! You give this “life” to any Tom, Dick & Harry who can abuse, breed, use them in dog fights, or do whatever with them. There are animal dealers/brokers trained to fool you. Some can even have FB profiles that look like animal lovers. Trailers of puppies reaching borders are a reality. Read more on this here.
DUMPING OR ABANDONMENT (which is a crime by the way). There are those that give their unsterilized pets to their domestic worker or garden man or dump them in the streets and rural areas. These people are creating a problem in the rural settlements where people do not even have food for themselves or money to fence off their yards. Then you get those cruel people who move and leave the pets behind.
IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS. This includes those that do not sterilize their pets or let them roam the streets. Those that do not take proper care of their pets or those who hoard them. Those that get pets, but can’t afford them, so they end up at shelters anyway.
LOCAL BYLAWS. Municipal bylaws are not adequate and do not address sufficiently the overbreeding of animals – no legislation forces owners of pets to have them sterilized. (Apart from the City of Cape Town more recently)
Shelters are full to capacity and on a daily basis, many animals take their final walk to be humanely killed because:
- people do not sterilize their pets and they had a litter!
- people move and didn’t include their pets in the plans!
- people support free to good home ads!
- people support pet shops and animal dealers!
- people keep breeding and supporting breeders!
- you abandon them when the animal you bred with is of no use to you anymore!
- people chose a pet that didn’t suit their lifestyle!
- people abandoned pets!
- people are too lazy to seek behavioural experts or to stimulate/exercise their pets!
- “suddenly” someone in the home became allergic!
- you had a baby and want to get rid of your dogs because you are the only person in the world to have a baby and dogs at the same time!
- you got a brand-new puppy and your old dog that you’ve had for 16 years struggle to adjust, so you want to get rid of the old one !
- your little puppy has grown up and is no longer small and cute and you want to trade it in for a new model!
- your old dog has had years of being tugged at and jumped on by your children, and now the dog is sore and arthritic he has shown his teeth so you need rid of him right away instead of teaching your kids how to behave!
- your dog is sick and need a vet but you need the money for your holiday!
- your dog doesn’t like your new partner!
- you suddenly have no time for your dog!
- you don’t want the responsibility to euthanize your old or sick pet!
- you didn’t realize that having a pet takes some work!
- you are going on holiday, yes people do convenience euthanization!
- your pet keeps outsmarting you and getting out of your yard and you would rather get rid of them than spend money on securing your yard. The same goes for cats!
- your pet’s coat doesn’t match your new furniture!
BE ANGRY AT THESE PEOPLE!
Also read about, Cruelty, Breeding, Euthanasia (a shelter and vet perspective)
THE SOLUTION FOR THE CRISIS
- Large-scale and compulsory STERILIZATION campaigns.
- EDUCATION (yes even your share of this article)
- STRICTER LAWS and PROPER ENFORCEMENT.
- ADOPT DON’T SHOP MENTALITY.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Everyone has a way in which they can contribute to this fight:
- Volunteer/foster – spend time at a local animal shelter or organization so you have a better understanding of what is happening out there.
- Donate if you can and especially towards sterilization and education programs.
- Adopt if you are in a position to get a pet.
- Educate others and share posts.
- Advocate, take part in protests, and sign petitions.
- Sterilise your pets and keep them safe in your yard.
- Don’t support breeders, pet shops or any sale and free ads for animals.
So, there is a sad reality caused by a massive overpopulation crisis because of breeders, pet shops, irresponsible owners, and more. The shelters and their staff and volunteers are not to blame for this and they just cannot keep all the animals.
I do hope that in my lifetime I could live in a world where no healthy animal is euthanized due to lack of space, lack of homes, or lack of resources available. The burden of this crisis and war that we are fighting against overpopulation, is not to be carried on the shoulders of only a small group of people across the world, who are prepared to sacrifice so much because they are not ignorant of the reality of what is going on around them. It is something that everyone who has ever loved an animal has to accept as their fight too.
As the season changes, some allergies might rear its head. Next week we will look at some allergy tips and advice for your pets.
