×

Be responsible pet owners

It’s a proven fact — spaying and neutering are effective, and humane, ways to save the lives of animals.

These procedures are one of many important responsibilities that come with owning a dog or cat.

So along with providing a safe, warm home, food and water and daily exercise, we ask that animal owners have their animals spayed or neutered to help stave off pet overpopulation problems.

This also is the plea of the Spay Day USA organization, which sets aside one day each year — it’s Tuesday — to remind pet owners of their obligations.

With the growing numbers in pet ownership — some 75 million dogs are owned in the United States, while almost 90 million cats belong to someone — thankfully, many veterinarians and volunteers throughout America know the importance of spaying and neutering.

Spay Day USA serves as an attempt to save the lives of homeless animals through the spaying or neutering of pets and feral cats.

Pet owners who neglect their dogs and cats by letting them run loose and refusing to have the animals spayed or neutered are a burden on their communities. Ultimately, area shelters become overrun with helpless, homeless animals.

Statistics show that two unaltered cats and all their descendents can theoretically number 420,000 in just seven years, while two unaltered dogs and all their descendents can theoretically number 67,000 in six years, according to information provided by the Humane Society of the United States.

Anyone visiting area dog pounds and animal shelters knows the many unwanted pets waiting to be adopted. Statistics have proven that most of these animals won’t go to a new home and will be put down, as an estimated 5 million cats and dogs are killed in shelters every year.

Unfortunately some pet owners are reluctant to spay or neuter their animals, but animals as young as 6 months old can safely undergo the procedures, according to veterinarians.

For pet owners who cannot afford to have their animals spayed or neutered, many shelters, including some in the Ohio Valley, will provide financial assistance for the surgery. Help is a phone call away, and please remember, it’s a pet owner’s responsibility to help reduce the number of homeless animals — period.

Keep in mind, too, that anyone pondering adopting a pet should think long and hard about properly caring for an animal. Bringing home a puppy or kitten and deciding a few months later that the responsibilities are just too great means another homeless animal will go to an already overcrowded shelter.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today