Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) - Promoting the humane treatment of animals through legislation, education and advocacy

Companion Animal Overpopulation Crisis
Commercial breeding drives euthanasia numbers up

An estimated 700,000 dogs and cats are destroyed in animal control facilities throughout Texas each year. And thousands more are abandoned on city streets or dumped on highways, facing even more tragic deaths.

There are many good animal shelters in Texas who use every resource available to them to rehabilitate the animals they take in and adopt them out to responsible and caring people. But with the hundreds of thousands of animals entering shelters statewide every year, shelter operators have to face the difficult task every week of euthanizing animals because there are always more coming in than being adopted out.

The answer is obvious. We must take crucial steps to spay or neuter all companion animals and refuse to provide an economic incentive to those who breed dogs and cats for profit.

THLN urges everyone who cares about animals to:

• Spay or neuter your own companion animals.

• Adopt your companion animals from a local animal shelter or rescue group.  At least 25 percent of dogs entering shelters are full-bred dogs.

• Visit the home of a responsible breeder to ensure that the dog was bred in humane conditions and through responsible breeding practices.

• Never buy a puppy from a pet store, through a print advertisement or via the Internet. At least 90 percent of these animals come from puppy mills.

• Help initiate or support pet sterilization programs and strict requirements for breeder permits in your local community.

• Contribute financially to low-cost spay/neuter clinics and animal shelters in your area.

Remember, every animal who becomes a euthanasia statistic was an innocent creature who deserved a good home and long life just as much as our own companion animals do. It is up to all of us to take action through personal responsibility and social advocacy.

For further information, please visit:
www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/pet_overpopulation_and_ownership_statistics/