The Ultimate Companion Animal Scandal: Pet Overpopulation

Updated: Nov 15, 2019

Each year, nearly three million cats and dogs are put to death due to pet overpopulation. Millions more are imprisoned in city pounds, awaiting an uncertain fate. As a veterinary epidemiologist from the University of California, Davis put it, “of all the issues affecting the welfare of companion animals in the United States, there can be none larger in scope, greater in magnitude, longer in duration, or more worthy of disgrace than that of pet overpopulation.” Shockingly, the major cause of death in cats is not disease or injury, but euthanasia due to the overabundance of unwanted pets. For every puppy and kitten created by a breeder, there is an animal in a shelter who will lose its chance at getting adopted and will ultimately be killed. The reality is that although the people who breed cats and dogs make a profit at the great expense of animals, it is only perpetuated by consumer demand for the supply.

In the United States, almost 80 million households are homes for pets, and it is obvious that cute puppies and kittens are widely beloved companions. Yet there remain millions of rejected whiskered faces behind shelter bars or roaming city streets, awaiting an untimely death. Despite good intentions, some people are often wary of acquiring their new furry friend from a rescue. They worry that pets with a mysterious background could have health or behavior issues, and some people prefer pedigrees that are harder to find in a shelter. Some purebred animals may have a more predictable temperament, but like people, no two pets are alike, and selecting for preferred traits, such as specific behaviors or physical characteristics, is not guaranteed and can put the animal at serious health risks. There are more than 1,600 records of inherited diseases in dogs, and pedigree cats also have a whole host of medical issues. Shelter pets come with health evaluations, vaccines, and sterilization, and can cost thousands less than purchasing from a breeder. If you insist on adding a purebred pet to your family, check a rescue before buying from a breeder because a quarter of pedigree animals will inevitably wind up in the shelter.

In addition to not purchasing pets from breeders, it is also recommended to not breed your own pet. Spaying and neutering not only drastically reduces overpopulation, but it prevents a variety of diseases in dogs and cats and can help protect your pet. Spaying females eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer, and greatly reduces the incidence of mammary cancer. Neutering males eliminates testicular cancer and reduces the possibility of prostatic diseases. Neutered pets are also less likely to roam and fight, decreasing the risk of being hit by a car or wounded by another animal.

If the innocent death of our cuddly companions does not tug at your heart strings, there are other reasons to be concerned about pet overpopulation. US taxpayers spend almost two billion dollars each year impounding, sheltering, euthanizing, and disposing of unwanted cats and dogs. Feral cats also threaten ecosystems and decrease biodiversity as they compete with native predators and endanger birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Stray pets also harm public health by spreading fatal diseases, such as rabies, to other animals and people, and interfere with traffic causing automobile accidents.

Companion animals have a closer relationship with us than any other species, and the primary purpose of producing cats and dogs is to play the part of our friend and family member, but ironically, they are treated as a disposable commodity instead of a lifelong commitment. Although spaying, neutering, and adoption are effective tools in reducing the homeless pet population, it does not reach the root of the problem. Humans have clearly forgotten how to be humane. We must learn to respect and value these living creatures, capable of feeling the pain, fear, and grief we subject them to and offering us an unyielding loyalty and unconditional love that they deserve in return.