AAS is asked all the time, What else can the SPCA do but take all surrendered pets? - people will dump them at the side of the road or kill them in terrible ways if the SPCA changed its policy of unlimited surrender.

This is how the pet abandonment industry has so successfully protected its business for so long - by the incomprehension and illogic that this question reveals.

First: roadside pet abandonment is illegal and already exists, and when it increased as it undoubtedly would at first, the SPCA must send a message that it will not be tolerated, by charging more people who do this. A lot of this is easily proved - the pet is left behind.

Second: killing in terrible ways is illegal and the SPCA should step up its investigations of this to send a clear message that it will be punished. But we don't think that the average pet dumper has the stomach to kill their own pet. We believe that most people will be forced to take their unwanted pet to a vet to be killed, having to pay for it with their own money, not with the money given to the SPCA by animal lovers.

One thing that is not in question is this: that the culture of pet abandonment will not end as long as there are disposers encouraging it, enabling it - and especially - making money at it.