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TOPIC:
the 'Overpopulation' issue
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Overpopulation Issue
Index
Is there really an
overpopulation crisis?
The real truth about animal
abandonment is that it has dramatically decreased since 1973 and
only a small portion of the total owned animal population are
abandoned and/or euthanized.
(Please make sure to read to the bottom of this web page before
deciding upon your opinion on this issue! P&R)
|
Year |
Total Pet Population |
# Euthanized in Shelters*** |
% of the pet population |
|
1973* |
65 million |
13.5 million |
21% |
|
1982* |
92 million |
8-10 million |
9%-11% |
|
1992* |
110 million |
5-6 million |
5% |
|
2000* |
120 million |
4-6 million |
3%-5% |
|
2001** |
141 million |
4.4 million |
3.26% |
|
2003**** |
4.2 million |
*From HSUS State of the
Animals 2001
**American Pet Products
Manufacturers Assoc. National Pet Owners Survey & Animal People
Shelter Survey
***Shelters include owner
requested euthanasia in their statistics, which is not a part of
abandoned animals euthanized. Studies have found 16%-24% of
reported euthanasia is owner requested. 5
****Animal People magazine 2003
Source:
www.cfasouthern.org/cfa/Breeder%20Licensing%20-%20Opposition.pdf
Let's look at this data
with an objective view:
- The HSUS 'State of the
Animals 2003' lists 68.9 million dogs and 61.6 million cats in
2001 = 130.5 million total. The American Pet Products
Manufacturers Association lists 141 million for the same year
- you decide which figure has more validity for yourself.
Source:
HSUS 'State of the Animals 2003'
- Using the lower number (to
be more than fair) and reducing it even by 25% (greater than
quoted for owner requested euthanasia), this still leaves
3,300,000 unwanted pets put down in 2001 - or
9,066 per day
- or 1
pet for every 9 US citizens.
Is there really an
overpopulation crisis with if every day 9,066 pets are
euthanized?
You decide...........
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