August 2016

                                              It’s Always Been About the Pets

I recently read an article from Petbusiness.com December 2015 regarding three pet industry predictions of 2016. When I came to the 3^rd prediction “the supply of pets will continue to be a concern”, I was miffed. Yes, I realize this article is about the business side of the pet industry, but if pet owners and the pet industry choose to ignore pet overpopulation over profit nothing will change. And there will continue to be millions of unwanted companion pets. Why does a dog need to be a purebred? Or why can’t a breeder request of their clients that they think about adopting a shelter companion for their purebred? Why do we expect pet stores to supply companion animals? I’m glad that some pet stores stopped selling dogs. I wish they would stop selling animals altogether and only hold adoption days like many do now. A pet store should be a place we can seek advice and the place to purchase pet supplies. Not pets.

The article explains that young people of today will want to purchase their pets but with new laws like mandatory spraying or neutering of pets in some states or cities and the banning of puppy sales in pet stores, it will “make it harder for consumers to become pet owners… Take dogs as an example, a seemingly inexhaustible supply chain that could slow to a trickle if current trends continue… exacerbating the situation long term.” Seriously!?

To put overpopulation into perspective, I live on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. According to Suburbanstats.org, the population of Maui County in 2016 which also includes the rural islands of Moloka’i, Lāna’i and the unpopulated Kaho’olawe is roughly 154,834. In Maui Mayor’s FY 2015 budget, it states under the heading Animal Management Program that over 30,000 people receive some sort of direct services from the Maui Humane Society (MHS). According to the MHS 2013-2014 Annual Report, they received a total of 8,637 animals and of that 2,308 were dogs or puppies. That’s an intake of about 23 animals daily. Also, the Humane Enforcement officers responded to over 9,000 animal related calls during this fiscal period. For such a small population this is a HUGE problem. So tell me how could any companion animal population “slow to a trickle”. Without a lot of these humanitarian laws the U.S. would be overrun by unwanted, stray, and abused animals. I don’t doubt some places are.

Maui definitely has dedicated, hard-working shelter and rescue employees and volunteers, unwanted companion pets saving grace. Without a concentrated effort from all animal advocates to work together to quell the overpopulation of domesticated pets through continued education, new laws and stiffer penalties this problem continues. Animal rescues, shelters, volunteers, employees, advocates, and rescuers will continue to be taxed with an overabundance of pets. These same people and organizations will continue to fight for the voiceless. But are WE really listening?

According to aspca.org, in the United States there are roughly 13,600 community animal shelters. 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters each year nationwide. There are 3.9 million dogs that enter shelters each year. Of that 1.2 million “healthy dogs” are euthanized and 1.4 million are adopted. Until we force change at the onset of animal adoption/ownership, until humane care is the standard and neglect and abuse are treated and prosecuted as criminal acts, I do not believe we need worry about any companion animal population slowing to a trickle.

I am a doggie mom as you may know if you’ve read my other blogs. I have 3 fur babies that I share my life with, but I wish I could do more for those animals that do not live with me. I have a friend that has become a foster mom to senior or injured dogs from MHS. She is also a pet sitter. She has spent her life in the company of family pets. She gives a loving home to animals most people would not bat an eye at. Kindness is a basic right all creatures deserve and the less they can do for themselves the more kindness should be given. Before taking on the responsibility of a companion pet no matter how big or small, be sure you it’s for life. A pet is not a yard ornament, as with any member of your family spend time with them, teach them. Or do the right thing, find a no kill shelter and surrender the unfortunate creature, they deserve better.

My pack and I are not ready to be a foster family. Neither are the humans I live with, but if the chance presented itself, I’ll take it. I want to someday volunteer at a shelter or rescue and help by fostering pets. I will need to build up my courage to become a volunteer at a shelter. I have yet to be able to separate myself from the emotional aspect of being haunted by the many faces of unwanted animals. The money I can donate to my favorite rescues is pittance compared to what they need to operate but operate they do. The problem is HUGE and the solutions seem within reach but as of yet unattainable. I certainly don’t have the answers. But many innovative ideas that were born in recent years, have some aspect of animal advocacy involved. More is needed. For now, I do my part. Hope that my part will grow and wait until it really is all about the pets.