|1 Briana Corley 4/30/2011 Jen Bray Composition two Overpopulation of Domesticated Animals According to Webster online overpopulation means,” the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash.” the word domesticated according to Webster means,” to adapt (an animal or plant) to life in intimate association with and to the advantage of humans”. Pet overpopulation occurs when there are more domestic cats and dogs than there are people who want them as pets. (Sexton Jenifer, Tom Warhol 1) The first organization helping the issue started in 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in New York City by Henry Bergh. Henry Bergh witnessed cruelty to the city's working horses and founded the ASPCA. The problems with canines and humans in urban areas became so problematic in the cities that a pound was established. So many stray dogs existed in New york that between July and August 1867, the dogcatchers of New York caught 5,825 dogs, which were then placed into crates and lowered into the East River to drown. The animal activist were, “Appalled at the harsh conditions and inhumane treatment at government-run animal facilities. They believed that private nonprofit organizations concerned for animal welfare could do a better job sheltering homeless animals” says points of view reference center. Local governments did not resist, and handed over the responsibility of sheltering homeless animals to growing numbers of private animal welfare societies. By 1876, there were twenty-seven humane societies across the United States; the ASPCA was placed in control of New York City's animal control responsibilities. By the early |2 Briana Corley 4/30/2011 Jen Bray Composition two Overpopulation of Domesticated Animals 1900s, at least thirty-six private, nonprofit animal well-being societies sheltered, fed and cared for stray dogs and cats.(Sexton Jenifer, Tom Warhol 1) Domesticated animals are over populating our communities because of irresponsible breeding and over commercialism of the animals; this problem can be solved if there were laws requiring the spraying and neutering of pets unless you obtain a breeding license. The law would count for those people who buy from pet stores or from other dealers. Animal shelters would be excluded because as an effort to lower the population of domesticated animals they already spray and neuter the animals before allowing them to be adopted. The law would encourage adopting rather than buying because the commercialism of pets kills the animals in the shelters. According to Peta , 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters—and half of them must be euthanized because there aren't enough homes for them. (Lance Bass Promotes Animal Adoption) Every dog or cat purchased from a pet store or breeder takes a home away from an adoptable animal that’s been waiting in a shelter. Many would defend the buying from pet stores saying that they want a pure breed. When many of the shelter animals are pure breed that were abandoned and these people don’t know that whenever you buy you support puppy mills that breed for profit not concern for animals.(Lance Bass Promotes Animal Adoption) Due to the problem of overpopulation of strays our communities are full of neglected, homeless, and non-sprayed or neutered animals. Non sprayed pets are big cause of the overpopulation of animals. The average female cat can produce two litters of six kittens per year, and a female dog can produce one litter of six or more puppies |3 Briana Corley 4/30/2011 Jen Bray Composition two Overpopulation of Domesticated Animals per year, making pet overpopulation a significant problem.(Sexton Jenifer, Tom Warhol 1) If the law requiring a breeding license existed than many of these unwanted animals wouldn’t exist. Due mainly to human negligence, millions of domestic animals are abandoned each year, resulting in homeless domestic animals which become a threat to wildlife and human health and safety. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to spray or neuter if they’re not prepared to take care of the new offspring. During the process of domestication, breeders choose animals with an increased ability for creating offspring. While many wild animal populations breed only during specific seasons or when environmental circumstances are suitable, domestic animals breed year-round and will procreate young regardless of the obtainability of resources. (Issitt Micah, David Morely3) Without the sense of a breeding time these animals will populate as often as they like if neglected and without proper care the number will climb higher than there are homes for them.(Companion animal overpopulation)The reason these homeless population of dogs and cats are able to grow quickly is because they can feed on waste food and find shelter in city and residential surroundings. The availability of food and shelter, combined with the lack of natural predators, frees homeless domestic animals to focus their time on breeding. (Issitt Micah, David Morely3) Which adds to the problem because these stray babies will grow up on the streets or end up in a local animal shelter where they have a high possibility of getting euthanasia because of lack of adopters. Euthanasia is the humane killing of an individual animal, usually through the administration of a lethal injection. (Sexton Jenifer, Tom Warhol1) |4 Briana Corley 4/30/2011 Jen Bray Composition two Overpopulation of Domesticated Animals Stray cats are a threat to wildlife. If there were less stray cats on the streets and in our communities than the native birds and other animals would have healthier populations. According to Peta the American Bird Conservancy guesstimates that,” free-roaming cats kill millions of birds and small mammals in the U.S. every year, including endangered species such as the least tern and the piping plover”. (Feral Cats)The American Bird Conservancy states that,” scientists estimate that every year in the United States alone, cats kill hundreds of millions of birds, and more than a billion small mammals, including rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks.”(Cats indoors) Stray animals affect our health domesticated animals are subtle to rabies, viruses, fleas, ticks and intestinal worms. (Issitt Micah, David Morely3)Rabies is deadly to humans, most people die from cardiac arrest or respiratory failure within a short period after onset of illness.( Questions and Answers about Rabies) Once a animal shows signs of rabies it should be euthanasia immediately. But with these animals being homeless they’re less likely to be caught in time before other animals or humans have caught it. If we let the population of domesticated animals get out of hand than handling a rabies outbreak would be almost impossible because we wouldn’t be able to catch all those infected in a timely manner. The best way to spread awareness is by doing an exposé showing the effects overpopulation has on our communities. The documentary should show many animals shelters and a couple of clips of some animals being given euthanasia. Then some footage of animals being bought from a pet store right next to the euthanasia clips. This documentary would make people think before the general public buy and at the end of the documentary I would have a generalization |5 Briana Corley 4/30/2011 Jen Bray Composition two Overpopulation of Domesticated Animals of the law proposed with an image of a puppy in the background along with some information of animal shelter and clinics giving the birth control operations for a discount or free. This would be the best way to introduce the idea of the law and explain its purpose. The video would also spread awareness of overpopulation of domesticated animals showing a direct way that the general public can help. Based upon my research I have concluded that the law proposed would help reduce overpopulation of domesticated animals by spreading awareness to issue. While at the same time forcing pet owners to be responsible for their own pets breeding, if more pet owners were responsible and informed about how their pets breeding affected the world around them than there would be less unwanted animals around helping our communities as well as the native diversity in our local ecosystems. |6 Briana Corley 4/30/2011 Jen Bray Composition two Overpopulation of Domesticated Animals Works Cited Faulkner, L. C. (1975). Contraceptive Technology in Controlling Reproduction in Pets. American Journal of Public Health, 65(1), 77-78. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Issitt, Micah, and David C. Morley. "Counterpoint: Domestic Animal Overpopulation Leads to Ecological Destruction." Points of View: Domestic Animal Overpopulation (2009): 3. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. Sexton, Jennifer, and Tom Warhol. "Domestic Animal Overpopulation: An Overview." Points of View: Domestic Animal Overpopulation (2009): 1. Points of View Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. Feral Cats | PETA.org." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): The Animal Rights Organization | PETA.org. Peta. Web. 01 May 2011. <http://www.peta.org/issues/Companion-Animals/Feral-Cats.aspx>. "Cats Indoors." American Bird Conservancy - Home. ABC. Web. 01 May 2011. <http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/index.html>. "Rabies Questions and Answers Page." North Dakota Department of Health. Web. 02 May 2011. <http://www.ndhealth.gov/disease/Rabies/QandA.htm>. "Lance Bass Promotes Animal Adoption | PETA.org." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): The Animal Rights Organization | PETA.org. Web. 02 May 2011. <http://www.peta.org/features/Lance-Bass-Promotes-Animal-Adoption.aspx>.