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Quick
Facts
•
Cats and dogs can get pregnant as early as 4 months old
• 30% of households own a
cat or dog
• Average number of kittens
in a litter: 4-6
• Average number of puppies
in a litter: 6-10
• Cats & dogs can have
a litter 3-4 times a year |
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The
Don't Litter Campaign
The
Don't Litter campaign is the Angel's Wish effort to
encourage spaying/neutering through education about pet overpopulation.
Too
Many Animals, Not Enough Homes
The
overpopulation of animals is an issue each of us must face daily.
Every day 10,000 humans are born and 70,000 cats and dogs are
born. Each day approximately 22,000 cats and dogs are euthanized.
To end the homelessness of cats and dogs, each man, woman, and
child would need to adopt 7 animals each. That would mean a
family of 4 would have 28 animals!!
Many
people think they'll find good homes for all the puppies and
kittens
For
every cat or dog born, 31 are euthanized. The number humanely
destroyed does not include those who are shot, run over, killed
by another animal, used for dog fighting bait, sold to research,
abused and tortured to death by humans, or starved to death.
Not every animal will find a good home, even if those in one
litter did! Every home you find for a kitten or puppy is one
less home for homeless pets in our community.
People
want their children to experience the miracle of birth
Birth
usually occurs at night and in seclusion. The real miracle of
life is preventing the birth of some pets so the lives of others
can be saved. Foster a pregnant animal. Fostering offers a great
opportunity to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
Spay
and Neuter Your Pet! |
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Benefits
Here
are just a few benefits of spaying and neutering
•
Increase
the opportunity for a healthier pet by reducing or eliminating
the risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer,
prostate disease, and testicular cancer
• Reduce the number of unwanted
cats and dogs
• Increase the desire for
the pet to stay at home and not roam
• Reduce aggressive and territorial
behavior
• Increase your bonding time
by eliminating the mating behavior – crying and howling
incessantly, spraying, attempting to run out the door |
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Economics
of Overpopulation
Most
of us believe pet overpopulation is only a problem for those
who work with rescue organizations or humane societies. This
is simply not true.
Use
of Tax Dollars
Your
tax dollars are used to capture and house stray cats & dogs,
to file reports of bite cases, to investigate neglect and cruelty
cases, and to euthanize the surplus. These are costly services.
Traffic
Accidents
Strays
cost us in traffic accidents, the cost of scraping their bodies
off the highways and roadways of our cities, the physical harm
of bites and diseases that are spread, and livestock losses
from packs of feral dogs.
Other
Expenditures
Other
expenditures that are made and not included in the amounts shown
previously include the following.
• State prosecution of abuse,
neglect, and cruelty cases
• State and county costs
to incarcerate the offender
• State and county costs
to rehabilitate the offender
• To support the family should
the offender be the main breadwinner.
The
overpopulation is in everyone's backyard and in everyone's pocketbook.
It's a problem that needs a community solution. |
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Ways
You Can Help
There
are many ways to help control the pet population
• Spay or neuter your pet
• Adopt a rescue animal
• Foster cats and dogs
• Donate money
• Sponsor a spay or neuter
of a rescue animal
• Encourage others to spay
and neuter |
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Fostering:
Be Part of the Solution
Fostering:
What is it?
Fostering
is taking a needy cat, kitten, dog or puppy temporarily into
your home. You would ensure they had the care and love until
they were placed in a permanent home.
By taking in the animals that need your help rather than allowing
your own to have a litter or two, you become part of the solution
to the pet overpopulation problem.
Foster
families are needed
Angel's
Wish regularly needs help with cats and dogs of all ages and
needs. Some animals may be those whose owners are moving away
or whose owners have died. Kittens and puppies from an unspayed
mama need a secure, clean, and loving place to stay until they're
old enough to be adopted. We also have strays that need our
help.
An
opportunity for everyone
Fostering
is an opportunity for everyone to "do the right" thing
for the homeless animals. It's a good way to learn about animal
care and to teach youngsters about compassion and responsibility.
Young students have found fostering a great way to earn community
service credits toward their education. Find out more
about fostering here. |
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Additional
Information
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Note:
Downloads may require Adobe
Reader or Microsoft
Word
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