Nothing is cuter than a puppy or kitten, right? Wrong. That baby animal represents just one more pet which will not find a home and eventually have to be destroyed. The US, like many other countries, suffers from an overpopulation of companion pets.

We as pet owners need to get over our desire to see our favorite dog have cute little puppies. Those prolific little balls of fuzz become unwanted animals, a huge concern.

The Trouble with Strays

There are literally millions of stray cats and dogs roaming the United States. More than likely that animal was once someone’s pet. So many unwanted pets result when people buy or adopt an animal without first considering the responsibility. Perhaps they no longer wish to spend money on pet food, or simply drop off their loyal friend in the woods when they realize how much it costs to board an animal for a week of summer vacation.

Stray animals are a nuisance; soiling neighborhoods, frightening people, and even causing car accidents. Strays can spread disease to other animals, injure humans, and harm or kill other pets and livestock.

The solution to the stray problem does not lie with the killing of unwanted animals. Many local governments report spending over $2 billion annually on sheltering and destroying 8-10 million unwanted animals. Those are your tax dollars going to clean up someone else’s lack of good judgment and responsibility in breeding a cat or dog.

What is the solution? Municipally run, low-cost clinics for the spaying and neutering of animals. Many cities already have these in place.

According to an Animal Population Control Study in Minnesota, for every dollar spent on city-run spay/neuter clinics, taxpayers could save $18.72 each in future animal control costs. Wouldn’t you rather pay $1 instead of $20?