The debate over euthanasia as a solution to our pet overpopulation problem is long overdue. More specifically, an awareness of the scope of this problem has been missing from our collective public consciousness for far too long.
The numbers are staggering. For every person born in the United States each day, seven dogs or cats will also be born. A dog or cat is euthanized every 3.5 seconds nationally, the same amount of time it took you to read this sentence.
We have to face the fact that North Carolina is amongst the leaders in its contribution to this problem. Our animal control units euthanized just over 400,000 dogs and cats in the last reportable year (2004). That equates to an average of 15 animals euthanized in each county every single day.
Unfortunately, solutions to this catastrophe have fractionated people who otherwise agree that it must be stopped. A recent article in The News and Observer of Raleigh highlighted one of these solutions by quoting directors of private nonprofit shelters who have adopted a no-kill policy.
The essence of the article was that new regulations which were enacted by our legislature in 2005 have made it difficult for some existing shelters to continue in their present state of operations. Specifically, the director of the largest private nonprofit shelter was quoted as saying that she would need $500,000 for renovations required to house the 1,000 animals sheltered on her premises.
Another director was quoted as saying that he had recently spent $150,000 to build a shelter for cats that still did not meet the minimum requirements.
As a veterinarian who has been involved in the pet overpopulation issue for many years, I have engaged as many people as possible in discussions about their perspective on this problem. It is frustrating that the emotions which erupt in these conversations frequently obscure the simple reality.
The state has the right and the obligation to enforce minimum standards of care that ensure the health and well-being of the animals under its supervision. From the numbers quoted in the article, this equates to a $500,000-plus facility with a 1,000-animal capacity.
Since we euthanized 400,000 animals in our state in one year, it is not difficult to realize the magnitude of the situation. Although they play an extremely important role in our current approach to managing this problem, this is not an effective long term method to prevent the immeasurable suffering of the animals involved.
As is usually the case, prevention of a problem is a better solution than the treatment of its symptoms. Existing models have proven that low-cost spay/neuter programs incorporated into an overall strategy that targets problem animal populations has significantly affected euthanasia rates.
When you consider the cumulative costs of N.C. animal-control facilities ($20,800,000 in the 62 counties that reported) and the spiraling costs of housing the fortunate few, it makes sense to focus on the source of the problem.
Targeted spay/neuter programs are a key component to conquering this overwhelming problem. There are efforts being made in our state by both private nonprofits and our College of Veterinary Medicine to accelerate the growth of these programs, but we have an immense amount of ground to cover. I implore you to become involved at your local level and help stop the slaughter.
An example of this type of local effort is Humane Alliance of Asheville, a private, nonprofit, low-cost spay/neuter clinic established in 1994. The alliance's efforts have resulted in a 65 percent reduction in the number of animals processed through Buncombe County's animal-control facility.
A study being conducted on a spay/neuter facility that opened 14 months ago in Transylvania County shows a 30 percent decrease of intakes in that county's animal-control facility. Imagine enough low-cost spay/neuter clinics throughout our state to affect all of the counties.
For each 1 percent reduction of intake numbers, we would be alleviating the suffering and preventing the euthanasia of 4,000 animals. According to the article referenced above, this 1 percent reduction would also save $2 million in facility and operating costs to shelter these same animals.
The Web site for Humane Alliance has information about establishing spay/neuter clinics (go to National Spay Neuter Response Team), and I would encourage interested citizens to visit the alliance's Web site, www.humanealliance.org.
Locally, our College of Veterinary Medicine has established a Campus Community Outreach program that reflects this forward thinking by assuring the proper training and education of future veterinarians in this specific area. This program allowed the students to gain experience by performing 1,600 spay/neuter procedures last year and educates them in the field of shelter medicine.
A group has begun the process of establishing a clinic in the Sandhills region of North Carol-ina (www.companionanimalclin ic.org), which should be operational by the end of this year and will serve a nine-county area. These efforts will help, but much more needs to be done.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated," said Mahatma Gandhi.
Our callous disregard for the effects of our inactions has brought us to this point.
Let us hope and pray that we will no longer turn a blind eye to the immeasurable suffering we have allowed to exist -- and that we take responsibility for that which we have created.
Veterinarian Tom Daniel practices in Southern Pines.
