Administering euthanasia refers to the process of "putting to sleep" an animal or pet. At the current time, it is the most humane method of death for an animal who does not have a home. Every year in the United States alone, an estimated 9.6 million domesticated pets are put to sleep because they do not have a home.
This number is increasing every year as the incidence of finding stray animals or people dropping off their unwanted pets continues to grow as well. While there are no-kill animal shelters that will continue to take in pets or put a hold as to how many more can come in until there is room, the majority of shelters across the U.S. are kill shelters. These animals shelters can only hold so many animals before they have to make room for more. While policies vary with every shelter, each facility can hold animals anywhere from a few days to a few weeks or up to a few months before they either euthanize them or find another home for them.
To decrease the amount of animals that are forced to die, people need to start taking responsibility for their pets. There are many ways that a pet owner or a potential pet owner can be responsible with not only their pets but other pets that they come across. The choices they make for their own pets and how they make future decisions on any upcoming pet choices can have a significantly huge impact on the amount of animals that don't have a home and are killed every year.
Rather than purchasing a dog or cat from a pet store or a private breeder, adopt from your local shelter instead, the same shelter that will most likely eventually kill the animal because they can no longer house him. You are helping out that shelter by taking one less animal out of their hands so they can take another unwanted or stray animal in. There is also the issue concerning private breeders and puppy mills. Rather than support a business that preys on the superficial buying nature of people, that support is given to shelters that are actually trying to make a change.
Any animals that you bring into your home need to be neutered or spayed. While you may entertain the idea of allowing your two dogs or two cats to mate and produce a litter, you may adopt a litter of abandoned kittens or puppies at the local shelter instead. If your cat is allowed outdoors, having him "fixed" will prevent him from impregnating other felines. Even if your pet is kept strictly indoors, there is always the chance he could escape.
If every pet lover restricted breeding in their home to a bare minimum, neutered and spayed their pets, and/or adopted at a shelter, the amount of animals that will be killed will be greatly reduced.
Orignal From: Taking Responsibility For Companion Animals
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