Pet overpopulation in the United States is a real thing. All around the US there are approximately 13,000 independent community animal shelters. These independently run shelters have no national organization to monitor them, and will tell you they are a “humane society” or the “PSCA”. None of them are affiliated with the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States in any way.

Each year, approximately 7.6 companions are euthanized nationwide. 3.9 million of these animals are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Of these 7.6 companions, 2.7 million animals are adopted and unfortunately 2.7 million are euthanized, simply because there are too many pets that come into the shelter with few people willing to adopt them. 

Last week, I volunteered at the Austin Animal Center. My duties included walking dogs and providing human interaction. I was instantly overwhelmed by the numerous rows of dogs in cages. For a moment I felt like I was walking down an aisle at a grocery store and instantly snapped back into reality from the sounds of barking dogs; all jockeying for my attention. You could see the desolate expressions on their faces from being abandoned and thrown into a cage seemingly forgotten about. After walking the dogs, each one would ‘put on their brakes’ in front of their cage as I opened it to put the dog back, they wouldn’t move. It was as if they were paralyzed. This broke my heart. To see these dogs feel broken and unwanted tore me to pieces. Pet overpopulation is a real problem and I wish more pet owners would spay or neuter their animals.

These kindhearted animals only want a home and to be cared for by a family. Dogs have a lifespan of 10-13 years during which the primary goal is pleasing their human pack. Domestic dogs have been living with humans for over 12,000 years and evolved into the sweet, kind, loving companions we know today. Their willingness to please and love us even has proven health benefits to people. We owe it to man’s best friend to make their lives safe.

Buying a pet from a fancy breeder can easily cost between $500-1000 or even more whereas adoptions will run you $50-200. These expenses go towards covering the costs of supporting the shelter to continue the cycle of taking in homeless dogs.  When you chose to adopt versus buying a pet, you are inevitably saving a life and changing the welfare of these unfortunate animals.

I understand puppies are cute and buying a pedigree or ‘fashionable’ dog may seem like a great idea but some breeders, or large corporations like pet stores, use puppy mills. Puppy mills are facilities that care more about profit than the welfare of dogs. Puppy mills house dogs in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions without proper care or socialization with the outside world. In a puppy mill, dogs are kept in cages so small the animal can only turn around. These cages are made of wire that injure the dog’s paws and legs. In order for these mills maximize profit, female dogs are bred at every opportunity possible and most times with little-to-no recovery in between litters. When female dogs are no longer able to bring money to the company they are killed. These mills are still in business due to unsuspecting customers who still look for buying the most gorgeous purebred instead of the lovable mix which could be adopting at a local shelter. The ASPCA encourages everyone to consider adoption as a first option.