Be a Lifesaver: Adopt an Animal

By Heather Moore

If you’ve been thinking about adding an animal to your family—and you have enough time and money to care for a dog or cat— please adopt one (or two) from a local animal shelter or a reputable breed rescue group.

About 99 percent of pet stores in America obtain dogs from puppy mills, according to "The Oprah Winfrey Show." The dogs are confined to small crates or wire cages; they're deprived of exercise, adequate food and water, veterinary care and attention. Many are emaciated and sickly with crusty, oozing eyes, ear infections, swollen teats, gangrenous skin and/or abscessed feet. Many have pneumonia, kennel cough, mange, ringworm and other diseases. Some spin maniacally in their cages, cower in fear or slump in severe depression. Female dogs are typically bred every time they go into heat and killed when they can no longer produce puppies.

Pedigree animals are also susceptible to medical problems that arise from inbreeding—many purebred dogs are prone to hip dysplasia, heart defects, respiratory problems, epilepsy, eye and ear infections, back pain, and other ailments.

People who breed animals for profit—or individuals who let their dogs or cats breed—are contributing to the dog and cat overpopulation crisis. Between six and eight million dogs and cats enter animal shelters across the United States each year. Of these, approximately three or four million are euthanized. Most are young, healthy, and friendly. Many—about 25 percent of dogs who enter shelters—are purebred.

If you’re ready to make a lifetime commitment to a dog or a cat, visit your local shelter or contact a reputable breed rescue group, and make sure to have your animals spayed or neutered. A fertile dog can produce two litters in one year; each containing six to 10 puppies. In six years, a female dog and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs. A fertile cat can produce three litters in one year. Each litter can consist of four to six kittens. In just seven years, it is possible for one female cat and her offspring to produce 420,000 cats.

By having animals sterilized, you can help prevent animal overpopulation—and combat certain health and behavioral problems in cats and dogs. Spaying reduces the stress and discomfort females endure during heat periods, eliminates the risk of uterine cancer, and greatly reduces the chance of mammary cancer. Neutering makes males much less likely to roam or fight, and helps prevent testicular cancer.

SPAY-USA has a national hotline, 1-800-248-7729, listing numerous veterinary clinics and humane societies that spay and neuter animals at discounted rates. For more details, visit www.HelpingAnimals.com

Heather Moore lives in Norfolk, Va. with her rescued dog Carly.