New Yorkers for Companion Animals
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What are the main reasons companion cats and dogs die in New York City?
1: Failure of animal caregivers to spay and neuter their pets.
2: "Moving" to apartments or homes that supposedly do not allow animals.
3: Failure to have provisions for pets in times of emergency, illness or death of caregiver.
4: "Allergies."
5: "Having a baby."
Each day, almost 200 companion cats and dogs arrive at our city pounds (The CACC), most of them brought in and surrendered by their caregivers. The sad fact is that most of the animals die there. They die, not because they are "old, sick or vicious," but primarily for the reasons cited above. Too many animals coming in. Not enough people to adopt them. Simple fact of life: Too many animals and not enough caring people to adopt or temporarily foster adds up to the deaths of over 40,000 cats and dogs a year in New York City (About 125 a day.) Most of these animals are reasonably young, friendly, healthy and adoptable pets.
While other progressive cities such as San Francisco, Seattle and Las Vegas have made great strides in bringing down their euthanasia numbers, New York City has not. In fact, our animal destruction stats have risen in the most recent years. This is something of which all sensitive New Yorkers should be deeply ashamed. We are one of the greatest and most progressive cities in the world. But, not when it comes to caring about what happens to our orphaned, abandoned and homeless companion pets.
Due to the fact that the primary reasons pets die in New York are cited in the opening of this communication, we would like to address each of the reasons individually as well as the ethical and humane solutions to these problems.
#1 Failure of Caregivers to Spay/Neuter Their Pets: For more than 40 years, humane organizations have been urging people to neuter their pets. Neutering prevents animals from overpopulating, a situation which tragically leads to killing millions of healthy and friendly cats and dogs every year in shelters across the country. Neutering also protects companion animals against certain types of cancers and infections of the reproductive organs. But, there is another extremely important (but rarely spoken of) reason to neuter one's cat or dog:
If for any reason that cat or dog has to be given up for adoption, the neutered animal is far more likely to be successfully placed than one who is not. No-kill shelters and rescue groups more readily accept the neutered pet being given up from a home, than an intact animal for whom little is known or who has been the victim of obvious social and veterinary neglect. Failure to neuter is a clear sign of owner neglect. Even in shelters which euthanize, the neutered pet is far more likely to be passed and shown for adoption as this saves the shelter the expense of having to do what should have been done by the caregiver: Neuter the pets. Those animals arriving at pounds and animal control shelters in an intact state (unneutered) are thus far more likely to be euthanized as it is cheaper and quicker to destroy them then spend limited monies and resources to neuter them.
This is especially true in New York City since the passage last year of a law requiring all NYC shelters to neuter animals before allowing them to go out for adoption. Since the budget of our city animal shelters has been severely slashed since 9-11, unneutered pets coming into them are virtually doomed. At no time is it more important for pet owners to neuter their pets than now! It is your pets "get out of jail free" card that if for any reason s/he has to go to a shelter, s/he is more likely to leave alive.
#2 Moving to No-Pet Apartments and Houses: Aside from owner failure to neuter pets, by far the biggest reason animals die in shelters (and sometimes streets) is failure of caregivers to take pets with them when they "move." Acquiring a pet is a commitment and responsibility. However, too many people seem to buy, accept or adopt pets with little thought to the future. Acquiring a cat or dog should not be something one does "while on vacation," "in between girlfriends/boyfriends/jobs" or while living in what is obviously a transient situation such as college or a several-roommate situation. One needs to think not only about today when acquiring a pet, but also tomorrow. Are you planning moves or job changes? Are you in a transient situation likely to change in the next 5 years? If so, them perhaps fostering a pet is a better option than taking on the 15-year commitment that adoptions require.
Sometimes moves are not planned but rather occur through sudden circumstances, such as breakup of a relationship or loss of job or housing. In such cases, it is vitally important for pet caregivers to give priority to their animals when considering new places to live. It is sadly true that many housing situations do not allow pets. However, it is ALSO true that many do. It may take one longer to find suitable housing that allows pets. One might have to pay a little more or sacrifice a little in terms of neighborhood or housing "perks." But, if the alternative is one's animal dying in a pound than it seems clear that life must be prioritized over material perks. Again, acquiring a pet is a responsibility. Please do not take in a pet with the idea that when you move there will readily be a friend, neighbor, coworker, relative or shelter that will eagerly be waiting for your abandoned pet. Such is wishful thinking, not reality.
#3 Failure To Have Provisions for Pets in Times of Illness, Emergency or Death of Pet Owner: One of the lessons the tragedy of 9-11 should have taught us is how important it is to have plans in place for our pets in cases of unanticipated emergency or crisis. Such plan (who to call in event you are not able to care for your animal) should be prominently displayed somewhere in your home (such as a note on a refrigerator door or on top of your address book). Even if you already have provisions for your pets in a will, bear in mind wills are not read for months following a death. In the meantime landlords or other officials need to know what to do with your pet should you not be there to care for the animal. In most cases, where there is nothing indicated for the animal left alone in an empty apartment or house, the animal is sent to the pound or worse, abandoned to streets (the latter especially true for cats).
#4 Allergies: These days there are many options for people who suffer allergies to their pets, one of the top five reasons animals are given up to shelters and pounds. However, sadly many pet owners opt for the "easiest" solution which is "getting rid of" their pet. The easiest solution unfortunately, is the one which will most often result in the death of that animal. There are many other viable options which can allow the caregiver to keep his/her pet, while at the same time not have to suffer the miseries of allergies. There are medications and there are shots for those who suffer severe allergy problems. However, in many cases, symptoms can be greatly alleviated without medications. Getting rid of carpeting and rugs (materials which have a tendency to harbor dander, dust mites and other allergens) makes a huge difference for many people. Purchasing an air cleaner with a HEPA filter helps many others. Cutting back on dairy products produces relief for thousands of people. And finally, rubbing the cat (or dog) with distilled water or a product such as "Allerpet" helps many others. In some cases, time itself is a healer for many people as their bodies eventually become acclimated to the keeping of pets. In any event, except in very extreme and severe cases of human illness, it is no longer acceptable to abandon one's pet due to solvable allergy problems.
#5 "Having a Baby." Perhaps the most illogical reason of all for giving up one's cat or dog is "having a baby." There is much scientific evidence to indicate that those babies who grow up with animals in the home are:
1-- Healthier, with fewer allergy and other medical problems. Those babies growing up with pets in the home generally have stronger immune systems.
2-- More socially outgoing as they grow up. They have an easier time making friends and doing well in school.
3-- Smarter. Children who have grown up with pets tend to get better grades in school.
Over the years, there has been some concern with regard to pregnant women handing cat litter boxes. However, what should be a slight awareness, has blown into a type of paranoia based on little reality. The truth is a woman has a far better chance of getting "Toxoplosmosis" from handling or eating contaminated meat which has not been properly cooked than from her cat's litter box. In order for an unborn baby to get Toxo via a cat, the cat would have to be an outdoor animal who eats prey and has thus been exposed to the bacteria and carry it in his/her blood. The human caregiver then would have to allow cat feces to sit in a box for days before cleaning and handle feces with bare hands. This scenario is extremely far-fetched as it is hard to imagine that anyone would handle days old cat feces with bare hands! The paranoia surrounding cats and babies is just that and little more. Sadly, it has simply been used as a convenient excuse for some people to "get rid of" the "surrogate baby" when they have a real one.
Following the tragic events of 9-11, there is hardly a day which goes by when we are not told by our Mayor and other City Officials of the need to slash the city budget. New York City is currently suffering a $5 billion dollar budget deficit and that money has to be made up. The very LAST priority to city officials and other politicians is animal welfare. Our city shelters are the first to suffer budget cuts and such cuts will be among the deepest. There are no picket lines in front of Gracie Mansion demanding shelter funding or even temporary suspension of the Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law which currently applies to all city pounds and is resulting in greater numbers of animals killed.
Therefore, it is up to ALL of us who care about animals and keep them in our homes to TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY for their ultimate welfare and safety. Now, as no other time in recent history is this more important. It is not the Government's responsibility. It is not the responsibility of animal rescue, shelter and welfare organizations (whose primary responsibilities are to aid or control strays, as well as other issues of animal welfare) to take on the commitment to our animals that we as their guardians should have had.
License, vet, tag and neuter your animals. Keep pets safely inside homes, rather than tied to a dog house or allowed to free-roam outside. Make provisions for any times of emergency. And learn the humane and ethical solutions to problems which can arise, such as training difficulties, allergies or moving. If every pet guardian were to take these simple responsibilities seriously we could lower the killing numbers in our animal shelters to near zero without having to spend a dime of tax dollars. There is no greater time than the present to start. Indeed, these special times of tragedy and sacrifice demand it.