Shelters: Overpopulation “5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats)” “Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered, while 78 percent of pet dogs and 88 percent of pet cats are spayed or neutered”

1. ““Four million catsFour million cats
and dogs—aboutand dogs—about
one every eightone every eight
seconds—are putseconds—are put
down in U.S.down in U.S.
shelters eachshelters each
year.”year.”

2. Living on the StreetsLiving on the Streets
There areThere are
up to 70up to 70
millionmillion
stray catsstray cats
in thein the
UnitedUnited
StatesStates
The populationThe population
of cats isof cats is
bigger than thebigger than the
population ofpopulation of
people inpeople in
California andCalifornia and

3. Shelters:Shelters:
OverpopulationOverpopulation
• ““5 million to 7 million5 million to 7 million
companion animals entercompanion animals enter
animal shelters nationwideanimal shelters nationwide
every year, andevery year, and
approximately 3 million toapproximately 3 million to
4 million are euthanized4 million are euthanized
(60 percent of dogs and 70(60 percent of dogs and 70
percent of cats)”percent of cats)”
““Only 10 percent of theOnly 10 percent of the
animals received by sheltersanimals received by shelters
have been spayed orhave been spayed or
neutered, while 78 percent ofneutered, while 78 percent of
pet dogs and 88 percent ofpet dogs and 88 percent of
pet cats are spayed orpet cats are spayed or
neutered”neutered”

4. Adoption IssuesAdoption Issues
• Too old :Too old : Everyone wants puppies and kittensEveryone wants puppies and kittens
• Behavior :Behavior : Animals are labeled “unadoptable”Animals are labeled “unadoptable”
because of their behaviorbecause of their behavior
• Overpopulation:Overpopulation:

5. What can youWhat can you
do to help?do to help?
• VolunteerVolunteer
• Help your communityHelp your community
• Take care of your animalsTake care of your animals
• Spread the wordSpread the word

6. 1.1. Find a Humane SocietyFind a Humane Society
near younear you
2.2. Apply to volunteerApply to volunteer
3.3. Volunteer!Volunteer!
• ““Animal Companion volunteersAnimal Companion volunteers
increase our animals' chancesincrease our animals' chances
for adoption by providing neededfor adoption by providing needed
support and companionshipsupport and companionship
through socializing, training andthrough socializing, training and
grooming the animals (dogs,grooming the animals (dogs,
cats, and rabbits). Volunteerscats, and rabbits). Volunteers
also help the staff maintain aalso help the staff maintain a
clean environment for ourclean environment for our
animals.”animals.”

7. Take Care of Your AnimalsTake Care of Your Animals
• Walk your dogsWalk your dogs
• PlayPlay
• LoveLove
• Lead by exampleLead by example

8. Educate: Spread the WordEducate: Spread the Word
• EducateEducate
Others:Others:
1.1. OverpopulationOverpopulation
2.2. Adoption/FosterAdoption/Foster
3.3. Options we have to helpOptions we have to help
- VolunteerVolunteer
- DonateDonate
- Spread the Word:Spread the Word:
Adopt to save a lifeAdopt to save a life

9. Don’t BuyDon’t Buy
• Instead of payingInstead of paying
hundreds of dollars to buyhundreds of dollars to buy
a puppy, save a life anda puppy, save a life and
adopt at a shelter.adopt at a shelter.

10. What I’m doingWhat I’m doing
to helpto help
1.1. Build :Build : 5 cat structures5 cat structures
2.2. Volunteer :Volunteer : reach out to myreach out to my
communitycommunity
3.3. Educate :Educate : about theabout the
importance of animal shelters,importance of animal shelters,
adoption, and animal behavioradoption, and animal behavior
4.4. Spread the word :Spread the word : create ancreate an
informational brochure withinformational brochure with
instructions on how to build catinstructions on how to build cat
structures and the importancestructures and the importance
an animal’s environment has onan animal’s environment has on
their behaviortheir behavior

12. Questions
1. About how many cats and dogs are abandoned each
year?
2. About how many animals are reported being not
treated right by their owners each year?
3. Out of every 10 dogs born, how many do you think will
find a home?
4. What is a “Puppy Mill”?

13. Thank you for listening!