PET (DOG AND CAT) OVERPOPULATION IN THE UNITED-STATES

Over half of all United States (US) households own a dog or cat. The v eterinary profession can now provide health care for dogs and cats of affluent or devoted owners that rivals the health care offered many hu man patients. Unfortunately, as many pets receive medical and surgical care that becomes increasingly sophisticated, other pets in the US re ceive no veterinary care at all. Additionally, millions of pets are hu manely killed in US animal shelters because owners are not committed t o the continual responsibilities of pet care. Although the total dog a nd cat population is unknown in the US, as is the total number of pets killed, estimates suggest that between one-tenth and one-quarter of t he entire US pet population is destroyed annually because of a surplus dog and cat problem. Pet overpopulation is attributable to relinquish ment and abandonment, as well as to birth rates; thus, veterinarians m ust strive to reduce pet overpopulation by not only curbing reproducti on, but also by decreasing the major cause of pet death in the US (i.e . humane killing). Thus, the veterinary profession must take a promine nt role in the campaign to prevent the deaths of healthy animals for w hom homes cannot be found, just as it has done to prevent the deaths o f sick animals that do have homes.