Animal Shelter Overcrowding

ANIMAL SHELTERS OVERCROWDING

$1.25

Monday, February 17, 2014

Vol XCIII, No. 311

Problem: Overcrowded Shelters

About 2.7 Million Animals are Euthanized Due to Overcrowded Shelters.

The Many Effects of Overcrowding

• About 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters every year.
• Also as of August 12, 2016, 39 dogs and puppies were rescued in Arkansas
• Caitlin Rearden reports that a shelter in Van Buren is closing down
• Overcrowding causes shelters to euthanize some of its animals

Prevent Overcrowding in Shelters.

Alternatives:

• Shelters are too full
• It causes negative effects to not only animals, but to humans too
• More shelters need to be created to help manage overcrowding.

Neutering and Spaying Animals,

Adoption, and Expansion

Expansion

Adoption

Spay/Neuter

• Some people suggest that expansion is expensive as well
• The cost of expansion would be high
• Expansion would relieve already existing spaces.

• Some people suggest that it is expensive to spay and neuter animals
• neutering and spaying animals can prevent unwanted litters
• It cost less to neuter/spay an animal than to take care of a litter.

• Some people also suggest that animals are expensive to adopt
• The cost of petcare are included in the adoption price
• It would be better to pay for the upfront cost than to go back and pay for vaccines and chipping later

Conclusion:

The Solution:

Works Cited

Creating more shelters could prevent overcrowding.

The Creation of More Animal Shelters

• If no new shelters are created, animals will continue to crowd already existing shelters
• This is the best solution because it will relieve other overcrowded shelters.
• Some may suggest that it would be too costly in creating shelters.
• But the benefits outweigh the cost: Proper animal care, no strays wandering, no property damage, no euthanizing.
• If not all of this would cost more.

• The creation of more animal shelters will relieve those that are already existing
• Animals will be properly taken care of and would not have to be euthanized as often
• This could bring attract more people from different parts of the state to adopt.
• Neutering and spaying could also prevent overcrowded shelters
• Expanding already existing shelters could relieve crowding as well.

“39 Dogs and Puppies Rescued from Overcrowded Shelters in Arkansas.” North Shore Animal League America, North Shore Animal League America/Convio, 12 Aug. 2016, www.animalleague.org/rescue/pet-rescue-programs/nationwide-rescue/arkansas-rescue-081216.html?referrer=https%3a%2f%2fwww.google.com%2f.

“Pet Statistics.” ASPCA, Subaru/ ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, 2016, www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics.

“Overcrowding May Force Euthanization in NLR Animal Shelter.” ARKANSASMATTERS, Nex Broadcasting, Inc, 3 June 2016, www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/overcrowding-may-force-euthanization-in-nlr-animal-shelter

Rearden, Caitlin. "Van Buren County Animal Shelter in Jeopardy of Closing." ARKANSASMATTERS. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc, 16 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016, http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/van-buren-county-animal-shelter-in-jeopardy-of-closing

Works Cited

Sissom, Tom. “Benton County Planners Review Rogers Animal Shelter Expansion.” NewsLibrary.com - News Archive, Clipping Service - Newspapers and More, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Web Edition Articles (Little Rock, AR), 6 Oct. 2016, nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=15FD9434EE7C5078&p_docnum=1&s_accountid=AC0116112118012631506&s_orderid=NB0116112117582812773&s_dlid=DL0116112118013331520&s_ecproduct=DOC&s_ecprodtype=NORENEW&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_username=jmoran1&s_upgradeable=no.

Region 8 Newsdesk. “Humane Society Takes in More Dogs after Officer's Death.” KAIT-TV Region 8 News Weather Sports for NE AR and SE MO - KAIT Jonesboro, AR - Region 8 News, Weather, Sports, Frankley, 9 Nov. 2016, www.kait8.com/story/33673904/humane-society-takes-in-more-dogs-after-officers-death.

“SpayUSA.org.” SpayUSA.org, North Shore Animal League America, www.spayusa.org/.

“Top Reasons to Adopt a Pet.” The Human Society of the United States, Give.org, 2016, www.humanesociety.org/issues/adopt/tips/top_reasons_adopt.html?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F#cost.

“Shelter Under Construction Copy.” Ark Animal Centre, Wordpress, 6 Feb. 2013, arkanimalcentre.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/the-ark-animal-centre-puppy-shelter-is-moving/shelter-under-construction-copy/.