Eliminating pet euthanasia and unwanted animals – No kill shelters and other solutions

June 27, 12:19 AMPet Health ExaminerLorie Huston

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Euthanizing healthy animals is a difficult and emotionally draining task.

Euthanasia of unwanted pets and other animals remains a fact of life. Every year, countless animals are euthanized in pounds and shelters around the country for numerous reasons.

Euthanasia of unwanted pets and other animals

Recently, Megan Drake, the Philadelphia Dog Advocate Examiner, published The truth about euthanasia. Her post is extremely touching and very accurately depicts the process and the emotion involved with performing euthanasia on the unfortunate animals which are unable to be placed in a home. As she correctly points out, the people who perform this unpleasant task are not cold-hearted monsters but caring, concerned people.

It is unfortunate that these workers need to euthanize the numbers of unwanted animals that they do. The fact is that there are many things which can and should be done in all communities to help decrease and eventually eliminate the need for this type of euthanasia.

No kill shelters help reduce unwanted animals, pet euthanasia

While the idea of no-kill shelters is admirable and certainly worth pursuing, the simple fact of the matter is that, at the current time, there are simply more unwanted pets than these facilities are able to place. In addition, many no-kill facilities evaluate the animals they choose to help very carefully. Animals who are ill, particularly with critical and long-term illnesses which may be expensive to treat, are often denied, as are animals with behavioral problems, such as aggression, which make them dangerous for family members of foster homes or forever homes. Being able to make these evaluations and deny responsibility for these animals separates some of these no kill shelters from other publicly funded municipal shelters which must accept all homeless and unwanted animals.

These facts do not mean that no-kill facilities have no place in reducing the numbers of unwanted pets which need to be euthanized. To the contrary, most animal shelters and pounds would like nothing more than to be able to avoid putting healthy animals to sleep. No-kill shelters can play a large part in reducing the numbers of animals euthanized but it is unlikely that these no-kill facilities will be able to fill the need to care for all unwanted animals any time in the near future, at least not without additional interventions to help reduce the numbers of unwanted animals.

Additional solutions to reduce unwanted animals, numbers of pet euthanasias

There are a number of things which communities and pet owners can do to help reduce the numbers of unwanted pets and other animals which need to be euthanized. Public education should be the cornerstone of any program aimed at reducing the pet overpopulation problem. Educational programs can and should begin with children in local schools and extend into the community, with representatives armed with written materials present at pet walks, pet shows, and other venues.

Spaying and neutering pets should be encouraged for all pet owners. Communities should provide options for low-cost or even no-cost spays and neuters for lower income pet owners. The greater the numbers of spayed and neutered pets, the fewer unwanted litters of puppies and kittens that will be born. Spay/neuter programs are a critical part of any attempt to reduce numbers of unwanted animals and spaying and neutering benefits should be part of the public education program in any community.

Pet owners should be encouraged to be responsible pet owners. Public education can help make potential pet owners understand the obligations incurred with adopting or purchasing a pet. Too many pet owners believe that pet care requires nothing more than providing food, water and shelter. Education programs should stress that pet owners have an obligation to provide adequate medical care for their pet, even in the event of an unexpected illness. Potential pet owners should also realize that pets need attention, regular exercise, regular grooming and a host of other requirements. People considering pet ownership or adoption should also realize that pets are not disposable commodities which can be discarded when the new owner becomes tired of or frustrated with the pet. Pet ownership brings with it an obligation to care for the pet for years to come.

Pet owners should not be encouraged to breed their pets simply because they have an intact male and female dog or cat. Breeding of animals should be undertaken by serious and responsible breeders with a legitimate interest and ability to enhance their chosen breed. Pet owners considering breeding their pets need to be educated about the risks involved with the breeding and birthing process, especially for the female animal. For instance, before breeding their dog or cat, pet owners should make certain that they have the financial ability to cover the costs of medical treatment in the event of complications during the pregnancy. Pet owners contemplating breeding pets should also be prepared to provide care for newborn puppies or kittens in the event that the mother dog or cat is unable to care for them and this may mean being available to hand-nurse puppies or kittens every 2-3 hours throughout the day and night. Those breeding pets should also realize that every puppy or kitten produced by their breeding program means one other dog or cat which will be euthanized because a home cannot be located for that animal.

Education about basic methods of obedience training should be part of a public education program as well. Behavioral problems are one of the most common reasons pets are abandoned or turned over to dog pounds and animal shelters. Many of the behavioral issues encountered could be avoided by implementing positive, reward-based training methods early in the life of the dog or cat.

Along similar lines, pet owners should be aware of and willing to tolerate normal pet behaviors. Kittens and puppies are curious and active. Cats instinctively sharpen their claws and often make no distinction between scratching posts and furniture. Cats and dogs sometimes vomit on carpeting. Potential pet owners unwilling or unable to accept these things and/or work to change them should reconsider adopting or purchasing a dog or cat.

Proactively eliminating the need for euthanasia of unwanted animals

Vilifying dog pounds and animal shelters which need to euthanize unwanted animals is not the answer to solving the problem. In the current circumstances, a quick and painless death benefits these unfortunate animals more than does slowly starving, dying of exposure to the elements or worse while living homeless. Only when we can reduce the pet population to numbers which can be placed in responsible homes will the need for pet euthanasia in pounds and shelters be eliminated.

While we have a long way to go before we reach those goals, we can all play a part in accomplishing the elimination of euthanasia in pounds and shelters by promoting public education, encouraging responsible pet owners and breeders, and encouraging the spaying and neutering of all pets.