Questions about Spay/Neuter.

How serious is the problem?
We estimate one unwanted dog or cat for every 30 persons. Based on a population of 1.8 million about 60,000 animals a year are unwanted. At the cost of $50 to house an animal. This translates to $3 million dollars per year.

What is the answer?
Spay and neuter of adopted pound and shelter animals. States adoping spay neuter of pound and shelter animals say that within 10 years, the population drops by 50%. Kanawha County noted a decrease of nearly 50% after requiring spay/neuter.

What about some strays who are purebred who end up at shelters? Does this include them too?
Statistics show only 3 or 4 purebreds a year in individual shelters. Breeding animals do not and should not come from pounds or shelters.

Would adoptions decrease?
Maybe, maybe not. Let's weigh the options. Is it better to kill a dog or cat at the pound or to kill its unwanted offspring year after year? In one case, an unspayed female lab mix resulted in 60 puppies being brought to a pound, where over 30 were killed. Isn't killing 1 animal is more economically sound and humane than killing 30 or more?

Who pays for the spay/neuter?
The person adopting the dog or cat. This places responsibility for reducing pet overpopulation on the pet owner, and removes responsibility from the taxpayer. If people lack the financial resources to spay/neuter a pet, one must wonder if they have the funds to adequately care for that pet over the years.