Samantha Rivera

10/31/13 Pet Overpopulation Analysis Every 11 seconds, a dog or cat is euthanized in the United States.

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The Problem Every year, there are 6-8 million dogs and cats entering animal shelters. Hardly even half of these animals are adopted, leaving the rest to be euthanized. This means that every 11 seconds, one cat or dog is being euthanized (Humane Society of the United States). The main reason for the overpopulation of pets, namely dogs and cats, is due to the lack of pets being spayed or neutered. There are too many homeless pets and not enough homes willing to adopt them. While this is a global issue, my scope will be narrowed to the greater Orlando area, specifically Orange County. Most people recognize the need for spaying and neutering their pets, but many cannot afford the procedure or find the time. By giving people the opportunity to make the conscious decision to spay or neuter their dogs and cats, pet overpopulation can begin to decrease, even if only ever so slightly. The Causes The most predominant cause of pet overpopulation is the lack of cats and dogs being spayed or neutered. Public awareness has increased over the past 40 years, but 35% of all pet owners choose not to have the procedure performed (Pet Overpopulation). While there are some ignorant of the issue, many actively make the decision to allow their pets to breed, either because they believe they can profit, mistakenly consider the experience as fun, or simply think about it. This directly leads to irresponsible breeding. My cat wont accidentally get pregnant, a pet owner might rationalize. The fact of the matter is there is no such thing as accidental breeding. At only 8 weeks of age, well before sexual maturity, cats and dogs are able to be safely spayed or neutered (Pet Overpopulation). A conscious choice by the pet owner must be made to aid in decreasing pet overpopulation. If no such

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decision is made, once in heat a pet will find a way to breed, whether this means clawing through screens or climbing up a 6 foot fence to find a mate. Every pet that is spayed or neutered helps the cause. Annually, there are 17 million pets joining families. The question remains, why are there still 3.7 pets in the shelters still being euthanized each year? The answer is that most people buy pets from pet stores or breeders (Humane Society of the United States). Only about 20% adopt their new addition to the family (Pet Overpopulation). The puppies bought from the pet stores come from puppy mills, which are torturous living conditions. The dogs are cramped in tiny, filthy cages, live in their own feces, and have little to no exercise or socialization. Females are bred over and over until their bodies give out, in which case they are killed. All these deaths are preventable. While responsible breeders exist, most are irresponsible, only in it for profit, with little regard for the health of the pets or the overpopulation issue at hand. By choosing to adopt rather than to buy, a pet parent is choosing to save a life and help out the unwanted pets in the shelters by paying the adoption fee. It is unwise to assume that the seemingly endless flow of kittens and puppies in animal shelters only comes from new litters. In reality, the majority is strays and owner-relinquished adult pets. Sadly, pets are seen as disposable. Before committing to a pet, one must consider every factor, including cost, space, time, and allergies. What could happen, such as potential behavioral problems, relocating, or having a baby, should also be examined. There are consequences to pet ownership that many dont realize at the time of adoption. It is a lifetime commitment that is, the lifetime of the dog or cat. Those Affected

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The lack of spaying or neutering affects, first and foremost, pet parents. Whether you own Molly, the beagle, or Pepper, the tabby cat, you do not want to come home one day to find a litter of puppies or kittens in your bed. Just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce an incredible 370,000 kittens (PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Once Molly or Pepper reproduce, you as a pet parent are now responsible for the well-being of the newborns. However, due to economic, space, and time constraints, you are unable to take care of the offspring. The vet bills are too high; your house is too small. After weighing the pros and cons of the situation, you decide to take the litter of puppies or kittens to the local animal shelter. Every year, 6-8 million pets enter animal shelters. With only 3,500 animal shelters in the U.S., it is needless to say that space is limited (Humane Society of the United States). The shelters are overpopulated, money is tight, and resources run thin. There is simply not enough room for these dogs and cats, who would have otherwise made loyal companions. Shelters not only have to pay for the pets upkeep while alive, but considering 3.7 million of them are euthanized annually, they also have to pay for the cost of drugs and disposal as part of the process. The lack of funding and space present a problem, but it is the lack of spaying and neutering to be blamed. Aside from the numerous pets living in the confined cages of the shelters, there are millions of community, or feral, cats that affect wildlife. Feral cats decimate bird populations and threaten public health (Mott). Hundreds of cats dwell per square mile, which is more than nature can support. Constantly killing small animals for the thrill of the hunt and food, these small critters are constantly at risk. These feral cats also have the ability to infect house pets with disease, impregnate the pet cats, or seriously injure them. These wild animals could also attack humans, a potentially fatal encounter should one have rabies. Property owners must be concerned too, seeing as how excrement can end up on

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porches and their gardens certainly will be dug up. Cats and dogs, feral or not, also have the tendency to run out into the middle of the road, either being hit by a car or leading to a swerving car which can result in an accident. The pets, both cats and dogs alike, are perhaps the most affected. Their lives, no matter how short, could be filled with love and care from a family or spent within the cramped cages of a shelter. Molly and Pepper are the ones bearing the offspring, are at risk of disease from other animals, are viciously attacked by strays, and could easily be hit by a car and die. They put all their trust into you, the pet parent. While to you Molly may just be a part of your life, to her youre her whole world. Past Campaigns Few major campaigns have been launched. Billboards and television commercials were

broadcast in Louisiana and Mississippi, informing local audiences about why they should spay and neuter, but were unable to reach a nationwide audience. However, several minor campaigns and promotions have been launched across the United States. Pets looking for foster homes and forever homes are transported to Petsmarts all around America for monthly adoption promotions. Through use of rhetorical velocity via social media, foster care programs and rescue partnerships have expanded. Orange County in Orlando, FL has seen local shelters have up to a 9.7% increase in the number of adoptions within a year (West Orlando News Online). In Fort Myers, FL, trap-neuter return programs are being tested out on feral cats. After being spayed or neutered, the strays are released back on the streets. By doing this, fewer cats would be

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reproducing, but the results are not immediate. To see an impact would take a few years. The argument is that euthanizing animals does not get rid of the problem, so you have to instead tackle the issue head on. Controversy surrounds the trap-neuter, but one thing is agreed upon: the solution to animal overpopulation relies on the pet owners. If everyone properly took care of their pets and only bred animals they intended to breed, we could easily have the excess pet population under control in 10 to 20 years, because thats one generation for dogs and cats (Williams). Rhetorical Approaches When it comes to animals, it is safe to assume there will be a pathos overload. Just think how many people change the channel when In the Arms of an Angel comes on TV and Sarah McLachlan informs you how you can help save the poor, miserable pets. Right now, theres an animal who needs you. The emotions, or peripheral route of persuasion, are pulling on your heart strings. By calling the pets by name, the audience is able to connect easily with the message, investing themselves in the story of Shadow, the Labrador. Those commercials combine pathos with logos, seeing as how they include statistics of how many animals are abused and neglected. A fear appeal is also used: donate to the SPCA foundation or else all these cute, cuddly animals will die. To get the message across, rhetorical velocity combined with kairos is essential. Todays society is obsessed with social media. Knowing whos who and whats what right now in 140 characters or less is all that matters. However, the timing must be right. Otherwise, how are you going to get the majority to care about animals when people need help? If a campaign were to launch to bring awareness to the issue, assuming opportune timing, it could be possible to hashtag our way to decreasing pet overpopulation. Whether this is to let people know about inexpensive, monthly clinics allowing a pet parent to spay or neuter his dog or cat or simply to let people know of the problem, rhetorical velocity through use of social networking is the most efficient means of communicating the message.

Samantha Rivera

10/31/13 Citations

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Mott, Maryann. "U.S. Faces Growing Feral Cat Problem." National Geographic News. 07 September 2004: n. page. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/ 09/0907_040907_feralcats.html>. "Orange County Pet Overpopulation Problem Persists." West Orlando News Online. 20 06 2013: n. page. Web. 31 Oct. 2013. <http://westorlandonews.com/2013/06/20/orange-county-petoverpopulation-problem-persists/>. "Pet Overpopulation." American Humane Association: the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals. American Humane Association. Web. 17 Oct 2013. <http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care/issues-information/petoverpopulation.html>. "Spay and Neuter." PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. n.d. n. page. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://www.peta.org/issues/Companion-Animals/spay-neuter.aspx> "Why You Should Spay/Neuter Your Pet." Humane Society of the United States. 10 05 2013: n. page. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.<http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation /facts/why_spay_neuter.html>. Williams, Evan. "Florida Weekly Takes on: The Animal Overpopulation: High euthanasia rates show a

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persistent problem."Fort Myers Florida Weekly. 08 12 2010: n. page. Web. 31 Oct. 2013. <http://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/news/2010-1208/Top_News/FLORIDA_WEEKLY___TAKES_ON____THE__ANIMAL_OVERPOPUL.html>