Why Are There so Many Cats & Dogs?

Even though the number of cats and dogs euthanized in the United States has gradually fallen since 2011, almost a million cats and dogs are still killed in U.S. shelters every year. [ASPCA. org] Mostly they are euthanized because shelters are full to capacity.

Why does this happen?

Dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters because people have too many animals; they are moving and can’t take their pets; the pet caretaker dies; or the pet caretakers can’t afford to take care of them. Then there are strays and lost pets that fill the shelters and rescue organizations. Adult cats and dogs, kittens and puppies are often dumped on back roads in our countryside, leaving them to starve or get run over by a motor vehicle.

I’m Emily, a friendly, female dog– part-pitbull. I live in a cramped, cement cell at the local shelter. I think I’ve been here for two years. No one has come to take me out of here and I’m losing hope that I will ever live outside these bars. When I was small, before life on the streets, I lived with people in a house. The people were not unkind but they were busy, leaving the house in the morning and coming home tired at night. Mostly they ignored me. One day while they were out, I dug under the fence and escaped. I returned hungry after a few weeks, but when the people realized I was pregnant, they threw me out of the house and said, “Don’t come back.”

The first key to stopping overpopulation of pets is to have females spayed or males neutered as early as three months old. There are good reasons for this. The female won’t go into heat or get mastitis. The male may stop roaming or fighting.

For those caretakers who need financial assistance to get their pets altered, there are many resource organizations that can help you do that at a low cost.

The second key is to outlaw puppy mills where females are kept in small cages and bred over and over. This amounts to animal abuse. Many states have already outlawed these mills.

Why Are There So Many Cats & Dogs? by Haven Animal Rescue of Texas

The third key to stopping overpopulation of dogs and cats is to support your local animal rescue organization. Become an adopter, a foster parent, or volunteer at a rescue facility or shelter. Haven Animal Rescue of Texas (H.A.R.T.) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, located in Burleson County, survives on donations and adoption fees. They save lives–picking up stray cats and dogs in Burleson County. These animals receive medical care, vaccinations, and are altered before adoption takes place. You can visit their Facebook page for the latest information on adoptable dogs and cats: (Facebook.com/HavenAnimalRescueofTexas)

I’m Fatty–a tabby-colored cat with soft fur and light, brown eyes. I live in a shelter in a large room with many other cats. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. My momma was here with me before she disappeared. I had brothers and sisters, too. I keep to myself and avoid those humans who come in here. I only tolerate their holding and petting me because they feed us. I’m what you call a feral cat. Soon they will neuter me and put me back in the wild.

Feral cats are another overpopulation problem. They usually live in the wild in colonies or groups. Female cats come into heat several times per year so it’s crucial to trap them as early as possible. The females’ heat cycles can begin as early as four or five months. First, schedule a spay or neuter appointment with Aggieland Humane Society for $5. There are special traps you can borrow from Haven Animal Rescue of Texas. Feral cats must be released back into their cat communities after sterilization. This program is called Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), a proven and effective strategy for limiting the feral cat population.

Responsible pet owners who spay or neuter their pets early, keep up-to-date on vaccinations, and provide adequate shelter and food, are a big part of the solution to overpopulation.

No matter what side of the AISLE you’re on, THIS is FUNNY and VERY telling! It just all depends on how you look at some things...

Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher in southern California, was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that Congressman Harry Reid’s great-great uncle, Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.

The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory:

On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: ‘Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.’

So Judy recently e-mailed Retired Congressman Harry Reid for information about their great-great uncle.

Believe it or not, Harry Reid’s staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:

“Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.”

NOW THAT’s how it’s done, Folks!

That’s real POLITICAL SPIN

I get most of my exercIse these days from shakIng my head in dIsbelIef.