Attitudes on Pet Homelessness Are Shifting U.S. Shelter Pet Report

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1 Attitudes on Pet Homelessness Are Shifting 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

2 Humane Solutions Gain Ground Adoption, Spay/Neuter Gain Acceptance Adoption Is the Best Option for Families and for Shelter Pets With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness What s Next and How You Can Help Pets, Families and Shelters Win with Open Adoptions Early-Age Spay/Neuter Saves Lives Why Trap- Neuter- Return (TNR)? PAGE 3 PAGE 6 PAGE 8 PAGE 14 PAGE 21 PAGE 29 PAGE 30 PAGE 34 PAGE 37

3 Humane Solutions Gain Ground by Jan Wilkins, Executive Director PetSmart Charities Pet homelessness is an issue close to many of our hearts and homes. Most of us first learn about the problem through adopting a pet, one who changes our lives forever. I always had adopted pets growing up, but it wasn t until much later that Chloe made me realize I had to do more to solve the problem. My husband and I adopted Chloe, a golden retriever, from a PetSmart Charities Adoption Center in California. Chloe was the youngest of 15 puppies rescued from a backyard breeder. She became a beloved member of our family, like so many pet adopters, and we did our best to make up for the treatment she received before we adopted her. My work today in animal welfare is a tribute to Chloe. Ending pet homelessness in a generation More than ever, I know that we can achieve a future in which every pet has a lifelong, loving home, so that no pet needs to endure what Chloe did. With your help, we can do it within a generation. Unlike other causes, we are not hampered by a lack of a cure or technology. Because our issue resides close to home rather than halfway around the world, people can see the impact they have when they adopt and spay/neuter their pets, or support local animal welfare groups by volunteering or donating. But not enough people are getting the message that pet homelessness is a solvable problem. By publishing Page 3 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

4 Humane Solutions Gain Ground the third PetSmart Charities U.S. Shelter Pet Report, we hope to shed new light on the public s shifting attitudes toward pet adoption and spay/neuter and encourage people to continue moving in the right direction. More education is needed PetSmart Charities new research suggests that interest in the wellbeing of pets is on the rise. Changing demographics certainly play a role in this 2010 census data revealed that more U.S. households have dogs than children. Social media also has given people new tools with which to find adoptable pets and support our cause, both at the local and national levels. It is encouraging to see that pet adoption is gaining ground, with huge jumps for both cats and dogs in our study. To see this positive trend continue and dissuade people from turning to breeders, we re committed to continuing our work in PetSmart Charities Adoption Centers, collaborating with agencies to give adopters the best possible experience every time. However, pet homelessness is too large a problem to solve by adoption alone. The public continues to vastly underestimate the number of pets who are euthanized annually in the United States. An estimated 8 million pets enter U.S. shelters every year and only 4 million ever find homes. Cats, kittens, Chihuahuas and bully breeds are particularly at risk for euthanasia. Page 4 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

5 Humane Solutions Gain Ground Our findings suggest that we have more work to do to educate people on the link between pet overpopulation and spay/neuter and where they can go to fix their pets safely and affordably. People are also confused as how young their pets can be fixed, with many waiting too long to get the procedure done. Together we can reach our common goal The PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report will enable us to make wise decisions as the largest funder of animal welfare in North America. But because we re dedicated to ending pet homelessness, we know we have to think bigger than ourselves and reach people who care about our cause. We are sharing the report publicly to help inspire creative pet lovers like you to become more involved in saving pets lives in your communities. Sincerely, Jan Wilkins Executive Director There is no time to waste. Millions of pets like Chloe need our help today. Page 5 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

6 Adoption, Spay/Neuter Gain Acceptance Pet ownership appears to be on the rise, when compared with even a few years ago. That is one of the findings from the new PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report. The report found that 81% of households have a pet, compared to 63% in % 63% 81% U.S. Dog/Cat Ownership 57% 49% 44% 35% 33% 47% Dog and/or Cat Dog Cat Page 6 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

7 If all the pet lovers in the United States demanded an end to pet homelessness and took action in their communities, our grandchildren would not have to live in a world where healthy pets are euthanized daily. Jan Wilkins PetSmart Charities executive director We studied the opinions of thousands of adults from around the country and learned that the fight against pet homelessness is gaining strength. Awareness of the overpopulation problem continues to increase, with 46% saying it s an issue that is very important to them. And unlike other causes, pet homelessness has seen an 11% uptick in the number of people who donate their time or money, too (40%). Level of Importance of Pet Homelessness Issue It is extremely/very important to me 37% 41% 46% Provided Support for Pet Homelessness Issue % 62% 55% However, to make a difference and save pets lives, we need the rest of the population to get involved. More than half of Americans surveyed many of them pet owners still don t provide any support for the issue. 30% 21% 21% 7% 8% 10% I have donated my time I have donated money/goods 14% 14% 14% I have provided other support I have not provided support for this issue Page 7 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

8 Adoption Is the Best Option for Families and for Shelter Pets The report showed that adoption is the most popular way to get a pet. Two-thirds of people considering a pet said they would adopt instead of acquiring their cat or dog from another source. That s a big improvement over our 2011 findings, when just 58% of those people wanted to adopt % 58% How Many People Would Consider Pet Adoption? Page 8 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

9 Adoption Is the Best Option for Families and for Shelter Pets Other top adoption findings: Purchasing pets is still common. People think highly of shelters and rescue groups. 25% of respondents would look to non-adoption sources, such as breeders or other places that sell pets, instead of adopting. Dog owners were even more likely to have purchased a pup 28% said they bought their most recent dog. Many families don t prepare for their new pets. Getting a pre-altered pet is a key reason for adopting. Cats don t stand a chance with some adopters. Page 9 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

10 Adoption Is the Best Option for Families and for Shelter Pets Other top adoption findings: Purchasing pets is still common. More than half the people who visited shelters and rescue groups gave them high marks for cleanliness, reasonable fees and healthy, happy pets. People think highly of shelters and rescue groups. Many families don t prepare for their new pets. Getting a pre-altered pet is a key reason for adopting. Cats don t stand a chance with some adopters. Page 10 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

11 Adoption Is the Best Option for Families and for Shelter Pets Other top adoption findings: Purchasing pets is still common. People think highly of shelters and rescue groups. Many families don t prepare for their new pets. Getting a pre-altered pet is a key reason for adopting. What do people do before adopting a pet? A quarter of people said they researched online or visited a shelter. 40% said they didn t do anything to prepare for a new pet. Among cat parents, the number of people who did nothing was even higher (48%). Cats don t stand a chance with some adopters. Page 11 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

12 Adoption Is the Best Option for Families and for Shelter Pets Other top adoption findings: Purchasing pets is still common. People think highly of shelters and rescue groups. Many families don t prepare for their new pets. Getting a pre-altered pet is a key reason for adopting. 19% of participants said that having their new friend already spayed or neutered was one of the reasons they chose to adopt. When you adopt from a shelter, chances are that your pet will be fixed saving you the trouble of scheduling the procedure or even thinking about unplanned litters. Cats don t stand a chance with some adopters. Page 12 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

13 Adoption Is the Best Option for Families and for Shelter Pets Other top adoption findings: 27% said that when considering a new pet, they would not choose a cat. Purchasing pets is still common. People think highly of shelters and rescue groups. Many families don t prepare for their new pets. Getting a pre-altered pet is a key reason for adopting. Cats don t stand a chance with some adopters. Interestingly, people who intend to adopt a dog may find that their lifestyles are better suited to a low-maintenance yet lovable cat. With more homeless cats than dogs, our feline friends need all the open-minded help they can get. Page 13 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

14 With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Reasons for Not Adopting Most Recent Pet Over Past 12 Months 36% 34% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% We asked people who had added pets to their families in the last 12 months why they chose not to adopt. As in our previous report, misperceptions about shelter pets prevent some people from adopting. People chose not to adopt because they said they wanted a purebred pet (36%) or shelters didn t have the type of pet they wanted (34%). Page 14 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report My local pet organization/ shelter did not have the type of dog/cat I was looking for. I wanted a purebred dog/cat. I feel that pets from pet organization/shelters have behavioral problems. I do not know very much about pet adoption. The adoption process is too difficult. I feel that pets from pet organization/ shelters have health problems. You never know what you are going to get with a shelter animal.

15 With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Reasons for Not Adopting Most Recent Pet Over Past 12 Months This finding indicates that people are not aware of: breed-specific rescue groups that operate across the country online adoption resources that enable filtering by breed or type. Page 15 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report Myth Myth 36% 34% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% My local pet organization/ shelter did not have the type of dog/cat I was looking for. I wanted a purebred dog/cat. I feel that pets from pet organization/shelters have behavioral problems. I do not know very much about pet adoption. The adoption process is too difficult. I feel that pets from pet organization/ shelters have health problems. You never know what you are going to get with a shelter animal.

16 With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Reasons for Not Adopting Most Recent Pet Over Past 12 Months 36% 34% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% Some people who had gotten pets in the last year but chose not to adopt thought that shelter pets were damaged in some way. Behavior (13%) and health (11%) problems were popular concerns, as was you never know what you re going to get with a shelter pet (10%). Page 16 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report My local pet organization/ shelter did not have the type of dog/cat I was looking for. I wanted a purebred dog/cat. I feel that pets from pet organization/shelters have behavioral problems. I do not know very much about pet adoption. The adoption process is too difficult. I feel that pets from pet organization/ shelters have health problems. You never know what you are going to get with a shelter animal.

17 With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Reasons for Not Adopting Most Recent Pet Over Past 12 Months However, adoption is one of the safest ways to acquire a pet. Medical and behavioral experts examine and treat cats and dogs before they are made available for adoption. A pet from a shelter has met staff and volunteers who can share their knowledge about the pet s personality and perhaps even a bit of the pet s history. Page 17 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report Myth Myth Myth 36% 34% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% My local pet organization/ shelter did not have the type of dog/cat I was looking for. I wanted a purebred dog/cat. I feel that pets from pet organization/shelters have behavioral problems. I do not know very much about pet adoption. The adoption process is too difficult. I feel that pets from pet organization/ shelters have health problems. You never know what you are going to get with a shelter animal.

18 With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Reasons for Not Adopting Most Recent Pet Over Past 12 Months 36% 34% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% Still others said they didn t adopt because they had trouble doing so. Strict requirements at some shelters ruled out potential adopters, leaving their chosen pets to find different homes. Despite the efforts of many shelters to make it easy for families to add a pet, 12% of people who adopted a pet recently said that the process is too difficult. Page 18 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report My local pet organization/ shelter did not have the type of dog/cat I was looking for. I wanted a purebred dog/cat. I feel that pets from pet organization/shelters have behavioral problems. I do not know very much about pet adoption. The adoption process is too difficult. I feel that pets from pet organization/ shelters have health problems. You never know what you are going to get with a shelter animal.

19 With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Reasons for Not Adopting Most Recent Pet Over Past 12 Months However, with more shelters implementing open adoptions policies, adopting a pet is easier than ever. For more information, see page 30: Pets, Families and Shelters Win with Open Adoptions. Page 19 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report Myth 36% 34% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% My local pet organization/ shelter did not have the type of dog/cat I was looking for. I wanted a purebred dog/cat. I feel that pets from pet organization/shelters have behavioral problems. I do not know very much about pet adoption. The adoption process is too difficult. I feel that pets from pet organization/ shelters have health problems. You never know what you are going to get with a shelter animal.

20 With So Many Pets in Shelters, Why Would People Choose Not to Adopt a Pet? Reasons for Not Adopting Most Recent Pet Over Past 12 Months 36% 34% 13% 12% 12% 11% 10% Finally, 12% of respondents who chose not to adopt said they just don t know very much about pet adoption. But, that answer isn t good enough for the 4 million pets who are euthanized in shelters every year because they don t find homes. Pet lovers are all obligated to do a better job educating people about how saving a pet s life can enrich your own. Page 20 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report My local pet organization/ shelter did not have the type of dog/cat I was looking for. I wanted a purebred dog/cat. I feel that pets from pet organization/shelters have behavioral problems. I do not know very much about pet adoption. The adoption process is too difficult. I feel that pets from pet organization/ shelters have health problems. You never know what you are going to get with a shelter animal.

21 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness Survey responses suggest that 86% of pets are spayed or neutered. That s an impressive finding, especially considering that 46% of those pets were fixed after their families got them. However, about half of the families with unaltered pets said they were not considering having their pet spayed or neutered. Those unaltered pets could be responsible for tens of thousands of offspring many of whom could end up euthanized in shelters. YES Is Your Cat or Dog Spayed or Neutered? NO 86% 80% 79% Already spayed or neutered when acquired 28% 29% 40% 20% 21% 57% 53% 53% 14% Spayed or neutered after acquired 52% 50% 46% Page 21 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report Planning to spay or neuter

22 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness At the same time, people continue to greatly underestimate how many pets don t find homes. Only 15% thought it was 4 million or more. In fact, of the 8 million pets who enter U.S. shelters every year, about 4 million are euthanized. 85% of people underestimate the number of pets euthanized annually. Page 22 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

23 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness Other top spay/neuter findings: People had common reasons for spaying or neutering their pets. Access to safe and affordable spay/ neuter services can be improved. Reasons for not spaying or neutering varied. The majority of people said they had their pet fixed because: it was the right thing to do (61%) they wanted to prevent unwanted pets (53%) they wanted to help reduce overpopulation (50%) Confusion still exists about the safe age to do the surgery. Many people did not know about free-roaming cats or how to help them. Page 23 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

24 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness Other top spay/neuter findings: People had common reasons for spaying or neutering their pets. Access to safe and affordable spay/ neuter services can be improved. 46% knew that low-cost spay/neuter options were available. Reasons for not spaying or neutering varied. Confusion still exists about the safe age to do the surgery. Many people did not know about free-roaming cats or how to help them. That s especially disturbing because 30% of the people whose pets were unaltered said that they chose not to spay or neuter because it was too expensive. Page 24 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

25 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness Other top spay/neuter findings: People had common reasons for spaying or neutering their pets. Access to safe and affordable spay/ neuter services can be improved. Reasons for not spaying or neutering varied. Aside from those who chose not to spay or neuter because it was too expensive, 21% didn t do it because their pet was confined to their home. 15% just hadn t gotten around to it. Only 13% thought their pet was too young. However, pets can have accidental litters at just a few months of age, even when they re kept close to home. 30% 21% 15% 13% Confusion still exists about the safe age to do the surgery. Many people did not know about free-roaming cats or how to help them. Page 25 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report Reasons Mentioned for Not Spaying or Neutering It is too expensive I did not feel it was necessary since my pet is confined to my home Haven t got around to it yet/haven t had time to do it My pet is too young for this operation

26 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness Other top spay/neuter findings: People had common reasons for spaying or neutering their pets. Access to safe and affordable spay/ neuter services can be improved. Reasons for not spaying or neutering varied. Confusion still exists about the safe age to do the surgery. Many people did not know about free-roaming cats or how to help them. Just 26% thought that pets could be spayed or neutered at 4 months of age or younger. Half said 6 months or older; another 23% just didn t know. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, kittens and puppies can be spayed or neutered safely at 2 months or 2 pounds in weight. People who aren t sure about the safety of early-age spay/neuter surgery may be choosing not to fix their pets risking unwanted litters and adding to the overpopulation problem. Kittens and puppies can be spayed or neutered safely at 2 months or 2 pounds in weight. Page 26 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

27 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness Other top spay/neuter findings: People had common reasons for spaying or neutering their pets. Access to safe and affordable spay/ neuter services can be improved. Reasons for not spaying or neutering varied. Confusion still exists about the safe age to do the surgery. 54% of respondents were aware of free-roaming cats in their areas. That s a good start. However, only 35% of those people knew about low-cost spay/neuter services that help control the community cat population. We need them to spread the word, because more people need to know how to help. Many people did not know about free-roaming cats or how to help them. Page 27 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

28 Spay/Neuter Efforts Are Paramount in the Fight Against Pet Homelessness Only about half of Americans (48%) understood the link between pet homelessness and spay/neuter. With an estimated 11,000 pets being euthanized every day because there aren t enough homes for all of them, we have to help people connect these two ideas. Spay/neuter efforts target overpopulation at the source of the problem, by preventing unplanned litters. Spay/neuter is the way to reduce pet homelessness from the start. Coupled with adoption, we can move closer to ending pet homelessness. We can t be satisfied until every pet is spayed or neutered the lives of homeless pets are at stake. Page 28 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

29 What s Next and How You Can Help As the largest funder of animal welfare in North America, we are always looking for ways to improve. We will use this study s findings to refine our adoption program in PetSmart stores and make the best decisions about how we use our donor dollars. Each American can help save pets lives. The PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report shows that even people who are aware of the overpopulation problem don t always lend their support to the cause. You can change that by getting involved today. Here s how you can help: Adopt your next pet. Search for a pet online or find an adoption event. Get your pet spayed or neutered. Find an affordable clinic near you. Donate to PetSmart Charities to help save pets lives. We fund thousands of local animal welfare groups that offer adoption and spay/ neuter programs in communities throughout North America. Page 29 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report The PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report is based on research conducted among nearly 2,800 Americans age 18 or older. A nationally representative sample of responses from people with and without pets was collected in July The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

30 Pets, Families and Shelters Win with Open Adoptions By Todd Cramer Senior Manager, Adoptions PetSmart Charities The PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report found that adoption is the most popular way for Americans to add a pet to their families. It also suggests that plenty of people would like to adopt, but run into unclear or inconsistent rules and roadblocks in the process that prevent a happy ending. Twelve percent of people who didn t adopt said the reason was because the adoption process was too difficult. Ultimately, a pet who could have gone to a loving home ended up staying in the shelter instead. That s frustrating, especially because we lose about 4 million of those pets every year due to euthanasia. Making the proper pet connection is vital Plus, my own experience taught me that it can be worth taking a chance on a potential adopter who doesn t fit all the criteria for the perfect pet owner. Four years ago, I fell for a 2-year-old border collie mix in a local shelter. I was a single guy who had no experience with the breed, no fenced yard, and my job kept me traveling. Some shelters would have sent me home without the dog. The Animal Protective Foundation (APF) in Scotia, New York, gave me and my dog a chance. Lulu and I are together today because APF followed what we now call an open adoptions process. We had a friendly conversation about how I lived, how I would care for Lulu and what support I might need. APF was proactive and open throughout the process. And together, we saved a life. Page 30 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

31 Pets, Families and Shelters Win with Open Adoptions Even the best intentions have consequences But I ve been on both sides of this story. When I managed an animal welfare group, my staff and I invested a lot of emotion, time and money in preparing pets for their forever homes. Throughout my career I ve spoken with many groups that feel obligated to find the perfect home for the pets in their care. They think that lengthy applications, mandatory home visits and rigid requirements will make that ideal family appear. On the other hand, no potential adopter is perfect. Some people, like me, don t have a fenced-in yard, a flexible work schedule or an impressive list of references who can speak to their pet-raising abilities. I ve spent the last 12 years working in animal welfare organizations, and I m still not the perfect pet parent. The bottom line: For each day shelter staff spend searching for perfect pet parents, we lose about 11,000 adoptable pets to euthanasia. So how can we save lives while delivering the best experience for adopters, animal welfare groups and the pets about whom we all care so much? For each day shelter staff spend searching for perfect pet parents, we lose about 11,000 adoptable pets to euthanasia. Page 31 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

32 Pets, Families and Shelters Win with Open Adoptions Adjusting our approach can help everyone PetSmart Charities research suggests that animal welfare groups create these restrictive processes because they care so deeply about securing a happy future for the pets in their care. But rigid adoption requirements and tight controls don t guarantee a perfect home or a better life. Many times, they can cause more harm than good increasing the time pets spend in shelters and leaving less space for other pets in need. Adoption agencies with strict requirements practice closed adoptions. Agencies with conversation-based adoption requirements employ a newer model: open adoptions. Following an open adoptions philosophy means replacing rigid, strict adoption criteria with an easier, more patron-friendly process. PetSmart Charities supports open adoptions because it can help save more lives while reducing people s anxiety about tough application processes. I speak at events around the country about the value of practicing open adoptions I ve seen firsthand how it can improve the lives of pets, families, shelter staff and volunteers. PetSmart Charities supports open adoptions because it can help save more lives. Page 32 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

33 Pets, Families and Shelters Win with Open Adoptions Here s how the adoption process might differ in closed and open adoptions systems: The conversation. In an open adoptions process, the representative will examine how each potential pet parent is adoption worthy, rather than how they aren t. This evaluation can be more intensive and interview-like in a closed adoptions process. The paperwork. For groups that use an open adoptions process, the goal of this paperwork is to help the agency better understand your lifestyle and which type of pet best suits your family. In a closed adoptions process, the agency uses the paperwork to help eliminate the pets who don t suit your family. Taking your pet home soon. Agencies that practice open adoptions will allow you to take your pet home the same day. Those that follow a closed adoptions process may require a background check and/or home visit to ensure the pet s long-term safety and needs will be satisfied. If you re adopting a pet, ask plenty of questions about the agency s adoption process. That way, you can make sure your expectations are aligned with their philosophy, and you re prepared for the process. If they re not the right fit for you, search for another group in your area. Want to know more about open adoptions? Read the PetSmart Charities Report on Adoption Forum II. Page 33 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

34 Early-Age Spay/Neuter Saves Lives Shelter Vets Help Reduce Euthanasia By Kelly Harrison, DVM Veterinary Program Manager PetSmart Charities The PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report found that 23% of Americans don t know at what age it is safe to have their pet spayed or neutered. I wasn t surprised to see that number, considering I ve met veterinarians as well as pet parents who have different ideas about the optimal time to perform the surgery. Another 13% didn t spay or neuter their pet because they thought their pet was too young. A pet can become pregnant before 6 months of age. It can happen as soon as the first heat cycle when some pet parents still think of their pet as a kitten or a puppy. In the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians says that spay/neuter surgery is safe for pets as young as 8 to 10 weeks old. A pet does not have to reach sexual maturity before being fixed. Scientific literature shows that the development of young pets is largely complete by the time of an earlyage spay/neuter surgery, so it s safe for them to undergo anesthesia. The practice also is endorsed by leading veterinary colleges and animal welfare organizations. Shelter vets ensure pet health and safety Altered pets live longer, healthier lives. They are calmer and less likely to wander or mark. Neutering your male pet will reduce aggression and make him less likely to get into Page 34 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

35 Early-Age Spay/Neuter Saves Lives fights. The surgery can decrease or eliminate the risk of certain cancers for both male and female pets. Anytime a kitten or puppy has spay/neuter surgery whether it s in a shelter or you take your pet to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic a qualified, licensed veterinarian performs the procedure. The pet receives a complete medical exam and pain medication, and is monitored continually in case adjustments are needed. Spay/neuter surgery is a routine procedure, but like any surgery, veterinarians prepare for it thoroughly. Early-age spay/ neuter patients are very young, so veterinarians put safeguards in place to prevent complications. They can mitigate risks before, during and after surgery through effective training and careful planning, just as they would if they were operating on an adult pet or one with a known medical condition. Performing spay/neuter surgery on a kitten or a puppy is much faster than on an adult pet patient, which means shorter anesthesia time and a faster recovery for the patient. I often see young pets playing and eating just a few hours after surgery, when adult pets take a bit longer. Overall, the procedure is easier on the patient, and complication rates are generally lower with younger pets. Shorter surgeries can enable veterinarians to perform more procedures on more pets in the same amount of time, without sacrificing patient care. In fact, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics make an even greater impact on the pet overpopulation issue. They perform highly efficient spay/neuter surgeries on pets, like kittens and puppies, who are at risk of producing unwanted or unintentional litters. Page 35 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

36 Early-Age Spay/Neuter Saves Lives Sharing the responsibility for reducing euthanasia Shelter staff, especially veterinarians, are in a unique and influential position to advocate for young pets. Reputable studies have taught us that if kittens and puppies are not spayed or neutered before they are adopted, they have less of a chance of receiving the surgery after they leave the shelter. Those unaltered adopted pets can go on to produce unplanned litters of pets, who are often returned to the shelter and become at risk of euthanasia. The goal is to end this cycle. Many adopters want kittens and puppies. We have a responsibility to ensure that these pets are spayed or neutered before leaving our care. By doing so, we ensure those pets never create new litters at risk of euthanasia. The surgery is in the best interest of the pet medically, but it also prevents the flow of pets back into the shelter. We can break the cycle of euthanasia. Early-age spay/ neuter is the most effective way to reduce the number of homeless pets. Page 36 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

37 Why Trap-Neuter- Return (TNR)? Spaying and Neutering More Cats Prevents Overpopulation By Bryan Kortis Program Manager PetSmart Charities Did you know free-roaming cats are responsible for the majority of kittens produced in the U.S.? Our PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Report showed that nearly half (46%) of Americans aren t even aware of free-roaming cats in their communities. Unfortunately, many of the kittens from these litters eventually end up in shelters, where they re at high risk for euthanasia. In fact, an estimated 11,000 cats and dogs every day, or about 4 million each year, are euthanized. Spaying and neutering more cats stops these litters from happening. How to control free-roaming cats However, free-roaming cats pose a particular problem. These are community cats, often without identified owners to bring them in for spay/neuter surgeries. That s where Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) can make a real difference. It s the only proven method to humanely and effectively control the free-roaming cat population, and it often directly reduces a community s euthanasia rate by lowering the number of births and reducing intake into already-crowded shelters. Page 37 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report

38 Why Trap-NeuterReturn (TNR)? Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the most humane, effective approach to reducing the community cat population. Community cats are TRAPPED humanely. Cats are brought to a SPAY/NEUTER facility for surgery and vaccinations. After recovery, community cats are RETURNED to where they were trapped. THE BENEFIT: Fewer, but healthier and happier cats in Albuquerque. The Trap-Neuter-Return process: Ear tipping is the universal sign of a fixed community cat. It s done humanely during surgery, and ensures the cat is not trapped for TNR again. Set up humane Perform Return the traps to capture spay/neuter cats to their free-roaming cats surgery on original in a targeted area the cats territory Page 38 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report At the end of the TNR process, a free-roaming cat (whether feral, stray or owned) has been spayed or neutered, and received a rabies vaccination and an eartip during surgery as an identifier. Whenever resources allow, friendly cats and easily socialized kittens are kept for adoption.

39 Why Trap-Neuter- Return (TNR)? The local benefits of TNR Since TNR cats are not reproducing when they re returned to their outdoor homes, their numbers start to naturally decline. TNR is a nonlethal method for free-roaming cat management one that most community members prefer over euthanasia. The cost of TNR can be much less for a government agency than the cost of trapping and removing free-roaming cats. This is because trapping and removing cats may require a significant amount of an animal control officer s time, plus a Page 39 PetSmart Charities 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report mandatory holding period for the cat in the shelter followed by the euthanasia procedure and disposal of the body. So TNR, especially when nonprofits and citizens bear most of its costs, can save taxpayer dollars. As the community embraces TNR and cat intake into local shelters declines, more cost savings are realized in this way. Animal control and public health officials will also be less burdened. TNR helps to reduce or resolve many common complaints about the cats, such as yowling, fighting and spraying easing the staff s cat-related workload. In addition, TNR cats tend to protect their food source when they have only enough to feed themselves, discouraging new cats from moving into the territory. Cats can still serve the community by providing natural rodent control, which is beneficial in both urban and rural environments. Plus, communities where rabies is endemic among local wildlife are safer with a managed group of vaccinated, non-reproducing cats. TNR works, and can make a real difference in your community. 1 References Chu, K. & Anderson, W. M., U.S. public opinion on humane treatment of stray cats, Law & Policy Brief. Bethesda, MD: Alley Cat Allies, September Kortis, B., Community TNR: Tactics and Tools. PetSmart Charities, Levy, J., Humane strategies for controlling feral cat populations, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Assn., Vol. 225, No. 9.

40 PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. Acknowledgments: Laura Ingalls, Heather Vana, Jennifer Greenwood, Chellie Buzzeo and Gwenn Wells contributed to the preparation of this report. Ipsos MarketQuest conducted the survey. Saving Pets Lives Together North 27th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona, PETS Learn more at petsmartcharities.org PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet. PetSmart Charities is a registered trademark of PetSmart, Inc.