Pet Overpopulation
The Issue
Pet overpopulation remains a serious issue in some BC communities -- more so with cats than dogs. The large numbers of dogs and cats that entered shelters in the 1970's were surplus animals. There were too many animals and not enough homes. Over the past three decades aggressive spay/neuter campaigns have dramatically reduced these numbers. Now most animals - dogs in particular - that enter shelters are "unwanted" animals - animals whose guardians have been unable to take care of them or animals that have behaviour problems. Finding appropriate homes for these animals is much more challenging. Often these animals end up back in shelters after short stays within new homes. There remains in many areas of BC, however, a "surplus" of cats and dogs -- particularly in rural areas. There are also people who breed dogs and cats and make them available to the public. The two biggest problems we face are that pets are easily discarded, resulting in stray dogs and cats, and that litters are produced by free-roaming, unowned feral cat colonies.
While spay/neuter programs are important, they alone are not the answer. The BC SPCA could spay/neuter 100% of the animals and still be faced with euthanizing unwanted dogs and cats. There are other factors to consider in reducing the number of animals who end up in shelters. Studies have found that companion animals end up in shelters for the following reasons:
• behaviour problems
• limited access to pet friendly housing
• unrealistic expectations about time and cost of pet keeping
• animals obtained free of charge
• strenuous relationship with pet
In asking for public feedback, the BC SPCA asked for input on whether the BC SPCA should be legally required to spay/neuter animals before adoption, whether it should advocate for mandatory spay/neuter by-laws, and how best to monitor breeders. The BC SPCA also asked for feedback on how it could raise awareness for the need to spay/neuter companion animals and how it could best deal with unwanted animals at its shelters that have behaviour problems.
Public Feedback
The majority of submissions that address pet overpopulation call on the BC SPCA to spay/neuter all shelter animals prior to adoption. In fact, many people cannot understand why this is not standard practice now. It is important to note that there is no guarantee that spay/neuter certificates supplied by the BC SPCA to new animal guardians are actually used; recent statistics show that approximately 25% of certificates are not used. Many submissions call for the expansion of subsidized spay/neuter programs for people with low incomes and First Nations peoples.
There is broad support for mandatory spay/neuter legislation. In the Lower Mainland seven municipalities have spay/neuter by-laws. However, it is noted that these by-laws are not being enforced actively.
For the most part, there is little support for the breeding of dogs and cats except by reputable purebred breeders. Some submissions call for the BC SPCA to advocate against the sale of animals in pet stores as many come from indiscriminate breeders. It is suggested that kittens and puppies sold through pet stores should be spayed and neutered prior to sale and adoption.
A number of submissions recommend the licensing of registered purebred breeders who would pay a substantial fee for a license to breed. Only licensed breeders would be allowed to breed and keep unaltered animals. Submissions recommend such breeders be regularly inspected by the BC SPCA for the condition of premises, number of animals they breed (high numbers may be cause for neglect or abuse), and for the quality of screening used with potential adopters. A BC SPCA seal of approval might be developed to identify reputable breeders.
A large number of submissions address the issue of puppy mills, and the need to advocate for tougher legislation that would allow the BC SPCA to seize the animals, heavily penalize the breeders and shut them down. Some accuse the BC SPCA of doing nothing to stop the practice of backyard breeding. It is alleged that many puppies from unscrupulous breeders eventually end up in shelters continuing the cycle of unwanted animals.
Although education is treated separately within this report, suggestions relating to spay/neuter include educating the public through advertising - both soft and hard. Many support education being part of the school curriculum starting at a very early age, with a focus on basic animal care, the importance of spaying/neutering and the responsibility associated with pet ownership.
In terms of unwanted animals at BC SPCA shelters who may have behavioural problems, the public would like to see every effort made to rehabilitate, re-socialize and re-home these animals. Animal assessment programs and volunteer driven fostering programs are recommended to address this issue.
A separate community dialogue was held in August 2001 on pet overpopulation. Several cat rescue groups were represented. It was noted that all of these groups work with local veterinarians in their communities to provided free or low-cost spay/neuters. While the BC SPCA has two clinics, it is understood that it would be challenging to spay/neuter all BC SPCA shelter animals prior to adoption. In this regard, it was suggested that the BC SPCA should seek stronger partnerships with municipalities and veterinarians in an effort to reduce pet overpopulation by increasing the number of community-based spay/neuter programs in British Columbia.
Recommendations
The independent panel recommends that the BC SPCA should take a more proactive role in reducing the number of surplus and unwanted animals. We believe that the BC SPCA could reduce pet overpopulation by implementing a number of key strategies, including the development of new and stronger spay/neuter programs, improved adoption and follow-up programs, fostering programs, advocacy initiatives, education and public awareness campaigns and community partnerships.
We recommend that shelter animals be professionally assessed to determine their temperament and needs. Also, more pre-screening of guardians by qualified adoption counselors (staff and/or volunteers) is recommended to appropriately match the needs of the pet with the guardian, and to ensure the guardian is willing to take on the responsibility of pet ownership. In short, taking the time needed to find the right home for each shelter animal.
As stated, spay/neuter programs alone are not the answer to reducing pet overpopulation. Therefore our recommendations include approaches that focus on both reducing the birth rate and on increasing adoptions at BC SPCA shelters. Some of the recommendations that relate to increasing adoptions have also been noted earlier under Animal Shelters.
Our specific recommendations call for the BC SPCA to:
Reduce birth rate
Urgent
• Lead by example and spay and neuter all shelter animals prior to adoption.
• Establish a cooperative, non-competitive relationship with the veterinary community in all regions of BC with an eye to expanding community-based spay neuter programs.
• Mount major educational and public awareness campaigns to encourage pet guardians to sterilize their pets; work with municipalities and the veterinary community to deliver responsible pet guardian information.
Long-term
• Expand spay/neuter assistance for low-income people
• Advocate for mandatory spay/neuter by-laws to demonstrate that it is socially unacceptable to have unsterilized pets.
• Organize a deliberative dialogue with the Canadian Kennel Club and dog fancier groups and develop an approach to identify and address the problem of indiscriminate breeders.
Increase adoptions-pet retention
Urgent
• Develop cooperative relationships with other animal rescue/welfare groups such as special breed rescue and feral cat rescue in an effort to rehabilitate, and re-home animals.
Short-term
• Implement behaviour assessment, adoption counseling, and adoption follow-up programs, as detailed under the recommendations for animal shelters.
• Establish fostering programs at all BC SPCA shelters, as detailed under recommendations for animal shelters.
Ongoing
Expand satellite adoption centres (Petcetera and Pet Squad) to include more locations and other partners.