Euthanasia. This is a word that no loving and caring pet owner wants to hear but pet’s age faster than we do and some become terminally ill or have many health issues that the owner is not able to financially support. Some animals are euthanized because they have become overly aggressive and uncontrollable. And so we as loving owners must make this difficult choice to end their suffering. And so we take them to the vet and see them through until their last moments holding them in our arms crying for our own loss as well as theirs. As for the ones who have to be euthanized due to aggression, it is not the animals fault but the owners for mistreating or neglecting an animal to the point that it feels the need to attack before it can be hurt again. And to these owners I say you should be ashamed of yourselves. Animals are naturally kind and loving, we are the ones who teach them cruelty.
Statistics show that every year about 7.6 million animals go into shelters, out of which 51.3% are dogs and 48.7% are cats. Out of 100% of sheltered animals only 35% of dogs and 37% of cats are adopted out and 26% of dogs and only 5% of cats are returned to their owners, while the rest are euthanized.
Many shelters receive animals because the owners think the animal is too old or boring and these shallow humans want the latest and greatest coming out of breeders and puppy mills these days, fashion or glamour breeds. A sad truth but it happens nonetheless. It's a shame these animals are treated as disposable when they are more loving and caring than their human counterparts. These animals deserve loving and caring homes but this is not the case.
Shelters try to adopt out as many animals as they can but with overcrowding and growing financial responsibilities for caring for these animals becomes overwhelming, euthanasia is the only recourse they have so that they can continue to take in more and more animals.
Euthanasia is also a result of overbreeding. Many owners can't find home for every puppy or kitten born to them and so they get dropped off at the local shelter. If only the owner were responsible and had the parent animal spayed or neutered so many lives could be saved from euthanasia.
A more recent statistic of stray cats shows that 72% are euthanized, 23% are adopted out and 5% are returned to their owners. A grim statistic indeed.
Thankfully there are non-profit organizations that help shelters by taking on some of the animals in, thus decreasing the euthanasia percentage. And the best news is there are more of them opening every day! Hopefully and thankfully at this rate and by banning breeding without a license, euthanasia can be just an emergency procedure.
So if you’re looking for a companion animal, please have a heart and check out some local shelters and rescues, your four legged soulmate could be there waiting for you to rescue him or her. And be responsible, have them spayed or neutered. And remember adoption is always better than buying.
