by Cynthia Taylor

Created on: March 09, 2009

All over the world, there is a huge problem that the many animal shelters and SPCA's have to face. Pet overpopulation, it astounds me how a so called civilized world can allow such untold suffering to man's best friend, or that beautiful cute kitty. Millions of animals are euthanized each day in the many shelters worldwide. The high cost not only in the untold misery these animal have to face, the financial implications are often not taken into account.

It costs shelters a lot of money to keep these institutions open. The costs in feed, vet bills, and supplies mount daily; most of them operate on donations and the generosity of the public. People, who work in these institutions, do so on a voluntary basis. Many of them spend their own personal money, to help keep the shelters running. The sad stories far outweigh the few happy endings.

How can this be prevented? Unfortunately people don't take responsibility for their animals, a good example is a kitten is given as a Christmas present, 6 month later she is pregnant, and the owners don't want the responsibility of a pregnant cat and the possibility of finding homes for 6 kittens. So they bundle up pregnant kitty, and dump her in a field or even on the highway and leave her to fend for herself. How convenient just dump your problems and responsibilities, someone else will deal with the problem. Very often this kitty lands up in a shelter, most of them are overcrowded with more than they can cope with, one more kitty with an expectation of 6 more kittens can just be too much.

Puppy mills are the scourge of society, sure these puppy mills make a bit of money for themselves, but at what cost to both animals and the many shelters where many of these animals end up. Yet there is no legislation to prevent this continuing. If any of them are fined, the paltry sums imposed are just a drop in the ocean to these unscrupulous people.

If everyone took responsibility, took their cats or dogs to the vet had them neutered or spayed, the animal overpopulation will be more than halved. I can hear a person saying "but I cannot afford a vet". Technically, if you cannot afford a vet then don't get an animal. However for those who genuinely care for their animals there are programs that will spay or neuter your animals at a greatly reduced rate. Many vets will be happy to work out a payment plan for you. So look around and find a program to suit your situation and your pocket

Then there is myth that it's not necessary to have your male

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