Prevention not Destruction - Make Spay and Neuter Affordable and Accessible in the United States with Federal Funding
According to the Humane Society of the United States, about 70 million stray animals live in the U.S. Of this 70 million, only about six to eight million cats and dogs enter the nation’s 3,500 shelters every year. That evens out to about five homeless animals for every homeless person in the U.S, reports DoSomething.org.
According to the ASPCA, one of the fundamental barriers to spaying and neutering pets is the accessibility of services, which is not addressed simply by making spaying and neutering mandatory. Cost is one of the primary barriers to spay/neuter surgery in many communities. Low household income and poverty are statistically associated with having a sexually intact cat (Patronek et al., 1997; Chu et al., 2009), with the relinquishment of pets to shelters (Patronek et al., 1996), and with shelter intake (Frank, 2003). Recent research indicates that intake into shelters is most significant in areas where human poverty levels are high (Miller et al., 2014; Patronek, 2010). As a result, a higher proportion of pets from impoverished communities are entering shelters, and data suggests that these pets may be at a significantly higher risk for euthanasia (Patronek, 2010).
What the United States could do is give pet owners incentives to register their pets. Providing a vaccinated, spay/neuter micro-chipping program pro bono (even free collars and dog tags for every pet registered) for seniors and those who are economically disenfranchised (e.g., those on public assistance -SNAP, Medicaid) would decrease pet overpopulation. Mobile Veterinarian Clinics could resolve the issue of accessibility by providing low-cost services. Every animal not impounded by Animal Control would result in significant savings to each state. A reduction of 2,000 animals per county annually would pay for a Movile Veterinarian Clinic (Spay USA, 2017).
In some European countries, you will find no strays. It is forbidden to abandon or mistreat an animal. In Germany, abandoning your pet is a misdemeanor, according to sec. 18 para. 1 no. 4 in connection with sec. 3 para. 1 no. 3 Animal Protection Act. A fine can be up to 25,000 € pursuant to sec. 18 para. 4 Animal Protection Act. Perhaps the United States could implement similar guidelines making America a heaven for animal lovers too. People on public assistance receive a monthly allowance is to help pay the costs of food, grooming, and health care for the dogs.
The Netherlands achieved eradicating their stray dog problem through the CNVR program (Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return), which is a nationwide, government-funded sterilization program. The World Animal Protection Agency believes it’s the most effective way to combat a stray dog population. Many municipalities spike taxes for store-bought dogs to incentivize people to adopt homeless dogs from shelters instead.
The Netherlands set up an animal police force to monitor crimes against animals, including rescue animals in trouble. Marianne Thieme, the leader of the Party for the Animals, thinks there is a correlation between how society treats their animals with how they treat their civilians. She says, “there is a direct link between violence against animals and violence against humans.”
Suppose an animal has no owner and cannot be adopted at the end of a cat or dog’s life. In that case, the peace of a quiet room, the soft embrace of someone who cares, and a gentle, painless sleep induced by a trained technician is one of the kindest gifts we can offer a stray or suffering animal. When an animal is injected with proper euthanasia drugs, they lose consciousness in as little as three to five seconds. Four states still use gas to kill animals contributing to horrific death. A quiet death in a shelter using proper euthanasia drugs is better than an agonizing death on the streets.
Implementing sustainable spay and neuter programs is one of the critical elements in addressing canine and feline populations that have exceeded the capacity of the local community to care for them adequately. Spay/neuter benefits animals and the communities in which they live. Many states are failing miserably at eradicating the homeless pet population. We cannot allow European countries to outshine America. As elected representatives of the people, we implore you to take this matter under advisement so America can be genuinely perceived as a humanitarian country regarding both her people and pets.
References
ASPCA. (2021). Position statement on mandatory spay-neuter laws. Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/position-statement-mandatory-spayneuter-laws
Chu, K., Anderson, W.M., Reiser, M.Y. 2009. “Population characteristics and neuter status of cats living in households in the U.S.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 234, 1023-1030.
Handbook Germany. (2020). Pets: What regulations apply to pets and their owners. Retrieved from https://handbookgermany.de/en/live/pets.html
Miller, G., Slater, M., Weiss, E.. Effects of a geographically targeted intervention and creative outreach to reduce shelter intake in Portland, Oregon. Animal Sciences (2014) .
Patronek, G. J., Lawrence, T. G., Glickman, T., Beck, A. M., McCabe, G. P., Ecker, C., 1996. “Risk factors for relinquishment of cats to an animal shelter.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209, 582-588.
Patronek, G. J., Lawrence, T. G., Glickman, T., Beck, A. M., McCabe, G. P., Ecker, C., 1996. “Risk factors for relinquishment of dogs to an animal shelter.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209, 572-581.
Patronek, G. J., Beck, A. M., Glickman, T., 1997. “Dynamics of dog and cat populations in a community.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 210, 637-642.
Sawbridge, F. (18 August 2020). How did the Netherlands manage to become the first country to have no stray dogs. https://dutchreview.com/culture/society/how-did-the-netherlands-manage-to-become-the-first-country-to-have-no-stray-dogs/
Spay/USA. (2017). Guidebook to spay/neuter clinics. Retrieved from https://www.animalleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/guidebook-mobile-spay-neuter-clinics.pdf
Sternheim, I. (2012). How holland became free of stray dogs. https://www.straydogscampaign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DR_Dutch-Straydogs.pdf
According to the ASPCA, one of the fundamental barriers to spaying and neutering pets is the accessibility of services, which is not addressed simply by making spaying and neutering mandatory. Cost is one of the primary barriers to spay/neuter surgery in many communities. Low household income and poverty are statistically associated with having a sexually intact cat (Patronek et al., 1997; Chu et al., 2009), with the relinquishment of pets to shelters (Patronek et al., 1996), and with shelter intake (Frank, 2003). Recent research indicates that intake into shelters is most significant in areas where human poverty levels are high (Miller et al., 2014; Patronek, 2010). As a result, a higher proportion of pets from impoverished communities are entering shelters, and data suggests that these pets may be at a significantly higher risk for euthanasia (Patronek, 2010).
What the United States could do is give pet owners incentives to register their pets. Providing a vaccinated, spay/neuter micro-chipping program pro bono (even free collars and dog tags for every pet registered) for seniors and those who are economically disenfranchised (e.g., those on public assistance -SNAP, Medicaid) would decrease pet overpopulation. Mobile Veterinarian Clinics could resolve the issue of accessibility by providing low-cost services. Every animal not impounded by Animal Control would result in significant savings to each state. A reduction of 2,000 animals per county annually would pay for a Movile Veterinarian Clinic (Spay USA, 2017).
In some European countries, you will find no strays. It is forbidden to abandon or mistreat an animal. In Germany, abandoning your pet is a misdemeanor, according to sec. 18 para. 1 no. 4 in connection with sec. 3 para. 1 no. 3 Animal Protection Act. A fine can be up to 25,000 € pursuant to sec. 18 para. 4 Animal Protection Act. Perhaps the United States could implement similar guidelines making America a heaven for animal lovers too. People on public assistance receive a monthly allowance is to help pay the costs of food, grooming, and health care for the dogs.
The Netherlands achieved eradicating their stray dog problem through the CNVR program (Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return), which is a nationwide, government-funded sterilization program. The World Animal Protection Agency believes it’s the most effective way to combat a stray dog population. Many municipalities spike taxes for store-bought dogs to incentivize people to adopt homeless dogs from shelters instead.
The Netherlands set up an animal police force to monitor crimes against animals, including rescue animals in trouble. Marianne Thieme, the leader of the Party for the Animals, thinks there is a correlation between how society treats their animals with how they treat their civilians. She says, “there is a direct link between violence against animals and violence against humans.”
Suppose an animal has no owner and cannot be adopted at the end of a cat or dog’s life. In that case, the peace of a quiet room, the soft embrace of someone who cares, and a gentle, painless sleep induced by a trained technician is one of the kindest gifts we can offer a stray or suffering animal. When an animal is injected with proper euthanasia drugs, they lose consciousness in as little as three to five seconds. Four states still use gas to kill animals contributing to horrific death. A quiet death in a shelter using proper euthanasia drugs is better than an agonizing death on the streets.
Implementing sustainable spay and neuter programs is one of the critical elements in addressing canine and feline populations that have exceeded the capacity of the local community to care for them adequately. Spay/neuter benefits animals and the communities in which they live. Many states are failing miserably at eradicating the homeless pet population. We cannot allow European countries to outshine America. As elected representatives of the people, we implore you to take this matter under advisement so America can be genuinely perceived as a humanitarian country regarding both her people and pets.
References
ASPCA. (2021). Position statement on mandatory spay-neuter laws. Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/position-statement-mandatory-spayneuter-laws
Chu, K., Anderson, W.M., Reiser, M.Y. 2009. “Population characteristics and neuter status of cats living in households in the U.S.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 234, 1023-1030.
Handbook Germany. (2020). Pets: What regulations apply to pets and their owners. Retrieved from https://handbookgermany.de/en/live/pets.html
Miller, G., Slater, M., Weiss, E.. Effects of a geographically targeted intervention and creative outreach to reduce shelter intake in Portland, Oregon. Animal Sciences (2014) .
Patronek, G. J., Lawrence, T. G., Glickman, T., Beck, A. M., McCabe, G. P., Ecker, C., 1996. “Risk factors for relinquishment of cats to an animal shelter.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209, 582-588.
Patronek, G. J., Lawrence, T. G., Glickman, T., Beck, A. M., McCabe, G. P., Ecker, C., 1996. “Risk factors for relinquishment of dogs to an animal shelter.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209, 572-581.
Patronek, G. J., Beck, A. M., Glickman, T., 1997. “Dynamics of dog and cat populations in a community.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 210, 637-642.
Sawbridge, F. (18 August 2020). How did the Netherlands manage to become the first country to have no stray dogs. https://dutchreview.com/culture/society/how-did-the-netherlands-manage-to-become-the-first-country-to-have-no-stray-dogs/
Spay/USA. (2017). Guidebook to spay/neuter clinics. Retrieved from https://www.animalleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/guidebook-mobile-spay-neuter-clinics.pdf
Sternheim, I. (2012). How holland became free of stray dogs. https://www.straydogscampaign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DR_Dutch-Straydogs.pdf
View Comments