The problem of unwanted pets in America

¶ … unwanted pets and possible solutions. There is one references used.

When someone mentions pets, you think of cute puppies with wet noses and fluffy little kittens playing with balls of yarn. You don't think of the number animals roaming the streets, searching for their next meal or animals turned into humane societies when their owners tire of them. However, this is a growing problem in the United States and one that needs to be addressed.

Of the 27 million cats and dogs that are born each year, between 10 and 12 million will be put to sleep. It's not because they're unhealthy or have bad habits, it's mainly because homes can't be found for them due to overpopulation. It's shocking to think that around one million animals will be killed this month alone (http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/unwanted/unwanted.html).

Causes

There are several causes for the numbers of unwanted pets. There are irresponsible owners who let their pets roam unsupervised throughout the neighborhood, giving the animal a chance to mate. Then there are the professional breeders who will sometimes "inbreed" the animals, leading to future health problems.

The breeders will sometimes find they can't sell all of their litter and end up putting the animals in shelters. The puppy mill is another source of unwanted pets. The animals are thought only as products and most times are treated horribly. It's not uncommon for these animals to become unhealthy due to the conditions they are subjected to and from the stress of being shipped all over the country.

Finally, there are the pets that are given to children at Christmas.

The children and parents soon tire of the responsibility and another animal is sent to the local shelter.

Conclusion

The number of unwanted pets is growing every year. However, this trend doesn't need to continue. It's up to us to eliminate this problem by being responsible pet owners.

We need to keep our pets in a fenced yard or on a leash when walking, and make sure they are spayed or neutered.

These are small, but important steps in stopping the needless deaths of millions of pets.