Pet Over Population

According to statistics provided by the Cornell University Department of Veterinary Science an estimated 12 million healthy cats and dogs and other small animals, including pet birds, are euthanized in shelters each year. Approximately 75% of all cats and kittens that are relinquished to shelters and over 56% of dogs and puppies entering shelters are killed. Your gift may end up as being one of these very sad statistics, a healthy, loving pet that was killed.

These horrendous statistics are the result of pet over population. Too many humans get their pets on a whim, receive them as gifts, or get them for their young children who are not responsible enough to care for a pet on their own.Others fail to have their pets spayed or neutered  and don't care or are unaware about pet over population. This is reprehensible because each one of these animals would have made a loving companion to a human. These  tragic deaths could have been prevented.

What does this have to do with you getting one little puppy, kitten, bird or other animal for somebody as a gift? Plenty. Do you want to add to this tragedy by giving an animal to a person who may not really want to make a commitment to a pet? Do you know if this person even wants to take on the responsibility or the mess associated with becoming a pet owner? Are they willing to housebreak and train a puppy or tame a bird? What about cleaning out a litter box and the odor if not changed regularly? Are they going to mind having animal fur on the furniture or bird seeds and feathers all over the floor? What about puppies and parrots chewing on furniture? They do you know. 

Is the recipient of this living, breathing animal willing to have the animal spayed/neutered? Are they willing to pay for immunizations or medical bills when the animal gets sick? Cats,dogs and medium to large sized birds have a very long lifespan. Puppies and kittens are adorable and cute, but they DO grow into full sized animals very quickly. Once the novelty of a new pet wears off it may suddenly become an inconvenience, resulting in animal neglect, abuse, abandonment, or the animal ultimately being euthanized. Do you want this on your conscience? After all, you are the one giving them this animal as a gift.

Gift Ideas

If you would really like to give somebody a pet as a gift, but now know that you could be making a big mistake, here are a few suggestions that can help decrease the pet over population epidemic. Make a donation to your local animal shelter in the gift recipient's name, which can be applied towards adopting a pet after they have had time to really think about the responsibility involved.Still not good enough? 

Along with the donation, purchase a stuffed animal, a beanie baby, a  glass or ceramic animal, a set of mugs with animal pictures on them, a chia pet, a book on pets, writing paper with pictures of animals, an animal keychain, a movie about pets such as 101 Dalmatians or The Incredible Journey. We're sure there is a whole world out there full of pet themed gifts to accompany your donation to the local shelter. There now, don't you feel better? You have plenty of ideas to give as a gift, you are helping out your local shelter, and you may have just saved the life of an animal.

Each year millions of unwanted pets are born and most are treated like disposable commodities One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years. Please spay or neuter your pets and help stop this vicious cycle of death.

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