Are you a menace to the community and you don't even know it?
The answer might surprise you...
If you can answer yes to any one
of the following, then you are one cause why shelters are always so full of homeless animals... you might be a menace to your
community and to your very own pet!:
Have you ever waited too long to get
your pet spayed and she had an unwanted litter you had to find homes for?
**Dogs
and cats can become sexually mature and start reproducing at 5 months of age! Many people who take a 'free' puppy
or kitten from you throw them outside or abandon them at County shelters a week or two later when the novelty wears off and
the daily responsibilities of pet care become reality!
Have you ever waited too long
to get your pet spayed and she had an unwanted litter you had to find homes for MORE THAN ONCE?
Do you let your un-altered male cat leave the house?
**Most Leash Laws apply to
cats as well as dogs! Not only is your cat contributing to over-population, but many deadly contagious diseases are spread
through mating or fighting for a mate.
Has your un-altered male dog ever gotten out
of the yard?
**Male dogs can smell a female in heat within a 5-mile radius! They
often stray too far and cannot find their way home or they get injured on busy roads.
Have
you ever gone to a parking lot to give away a homeless litter?
**This is illegal
in many counties. Many of the 'giveaway' pets end up in a cage at a shelter within a week or two because the new
owners realized they took the pet home on impulse without consulting with other family members.
Do
you think it is okay to have your neighbors care for your outdoor cats and all their offspring?
**Many of your neighbors bring in pregnant cats, young momcats with litters, abandoned litters of puppies and kittens
and even many pets who are already spayed/neutered to the County Shelter because these pets have 'adopted' your neighbor
and taken up unwelcome residence with them.
Do you put a collar on your pet, but do not
put an ID tag on the collar or get your pet microchipped?
**Without a microchip or
ID tag, only 15% of lost dogs and 5% of lost cats are reunited with their owners. Millions of unidentified lost dogs and
cats lose their lives every year in shelters because they cannot tell people where they live. A microchip increases the odds
of being reunited with your pet to over 90%.
Are you unaware that, by letting your cat
out to breed, that he/she and their offspring can produce nearly 400 homeless cats in 3 years... and over 2,000 homeless cats
in just 4 years?!?
**Statistics are from SpayUSA which conservatively factors 2 litters
per year with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter!
Have you ever fallen in love with an
animal you saw on television or in the movies and rushed out to buy one or purchased a holiday pet such as a bunny and then
found that the pet was not a good match for your lifestyle?
**Backyard breeders, puppy mills and kitten mills churn out pet breeds
seen in popular movies and television shows, or sell holiday themed pets, because people have an impulse to go out and get
that breed without researching the temperament or proper care involved. Please remember that movies and television are only
fantasy and a pet is a commitment for life... pets require care and training!
Have you ever gotten a cute Pit Bull puppy and then found that your apartment
management does not allow Pit Bulls? Did you find that your Pit Bull became too strong for you to handle once they became
an adult?
**Pit
Bulls can be wonderful family dogs. Sadly, the average lifespan of a Pit Bull is only 18 months because so many are
abandoned at shelters and euthanized once they turn into adults. It can be difficult to rent a home or apartment which
will allow Pit Bulls. Please do not consider getting a Pit Bull puppy until you own your own home and are familiar with
the breed as an adult.
Have you neglected to make plans for your pet's care in your Will or Living Will in the event that you can
no longer care for them?
**Too often, family members abandon pets at County shelters
because they cannot or will not take care of a pet owned by a deceased or incapacitated relative.
Has your pet ever gotten lost and you did not immediately go to the County Shelter to look for him/her and go
back every three days to recheck?
**Most County Shelters hold a stray pet for 3 days
and then put them up for adoption. It is not unusual for a pet to only get 7 days at a County Shelter before they are scheduled
for euthanasia. Also, by not claiming your lost pet right away, you are taking up valuable cage space and causing the euthanasia
of another pet who has to 'make room' for the next homeless pet!
Did you have
a pet who had some behavior issues and you abandoned your pet without first seeking professional training or advice?
Have you ever moved to a new house or apartment and decided to leave your pet behind because you didn't take the time
to make arrangements to bring your pet with you?
**It can take 2-3 months to find
a suitable new owner for your pet. Many pet owners wait until the last week before they move to find a new home for their
pet and then abandon them at the County shelter when they run out of time.
Have you ever
left a litter on someone's doorstep or in a business parking lot for someone else to take care of?
**Leaving your young pets to fend for themselves is very dangerous and they can starve, dehydrate or become injured.
Most local Ordinances require that businesses call Animal Control to pick up abandoned pets left on their property. Abandoning
your puppies or kittens does not relieve you of the responsibility... it still means that you are the one who caused their
death or injury because you are the one who left them there.
Have you ever left a litter
on someone's doorstep or in the parking lot for someone else to take care of... and STILL did not get
your pet spayed?
Well, how did you do? If you answered yes to any of
the questions, then the answer to the question - Why Are There So Many Homeless Pets? - is YOU and many other people like
you who did not realize the problems they were causing for their pets and their communities. But there's still hope for
you... while you may be a menace, that doesn't mean that you can't take control of your pets starting today. There
is still time to make you and your pets stellar citizens. Please call, e-mail or visit if you want us to help you figure
out solutions for you and your pets.
