Tracy Perkins | 
12 2nd, 2008| 
That picture is of our darling girl, Kaylee. She is part chow, part golden retriever and 100% love. She is one of our furry children and she is a rescue. She didn’t have any back story at all, she is young and full of love and life yet she ended up at Rescue a Golden, AZ. Some folks don’t realize this happens. Fabulous dogs and cats for random crazy reasons end up at shelters, the shelters are over run (spay and neuter!) and so they don’t get much time to find a home before they have lost their lives. It is no fault of the shelter, it is a lack of funds, a lack of space, and just too many critters that necessitates this unfortunate strategy which leads to 4-5 million deaths of cats and dogs each year.
Here are some interesting numbers from the Humane Society:
| Statistics: |
(Estimates) |
| Each day about 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As compared to approximately 10,000 humans born each day, with birth rates this high, there will never be enough homes for these animals. |
70,000/day |
| The estimated number of feral (homeless/wild) cats in the United States: |
60 – 100 million |
| Theoretically, the number of cats that can be produced by a female cat and her offspring in 7 years time: |
420,000 in 7 yrs |
| Theoretically, the number of dogs that can be produced by a female dog and her offspring in 6 years time: |
67,000 in 6 yrs |
| Current number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: | 6-8 million HSUS estimate |
| Current number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: Despite these horrific numbers, there is hope. In 1973, approximately 13 million animals were euthanized by shelters, before the onset of public awareness and spay/neuter programs. | 4-5 million HSUS estimate |
| Percentage of all dogs entering shelters that are killed: | 61% |
| Percentage of all cats entering shelters that are killed: | 75% |
| Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred: | 25% HSUS estimate |
| The cost imposed on U.S. taxpayers each year to impound, shelter, euthanize, and dispose of homeless animals. | $2 billion USA Today estimate |
The problem is obvious, there are too many abandoned animals and not enough money to care for them. More funds are needed to support animal shelters which gets me to the point of this post. Most everyone is struggling financially right now. Abandonment rates are up as people surrender loved pets they cannot afford to care for any more. Shelters are feeling the sting of the recession, too, as people close their wallets to donations and charity. In comes a contest that will award much needed funds to deserving animal rescues based on your votes! Here is the information I recieved:
How the contest works:
Anyone can visit Care2.com/animalsheltercontest and select their favorite animal shelter or rescue group. Then, you can tell neighbors and friends to do the same! The shelter or rescue group with the most votes wins $10,000.
In addition to the grand prize:
- Second and third place winners will each receive $1,000. The groups that place 4th through 20th will each win $500.
- Every week, a randomly selected participating group (five or more votes that week) will win $500.
- The 20 contest participants who recruit the most friends to vote for their favorite shelter will receive a $50 gift certificate for pet products as special thank-you gifts.
Click here to find your favorite shelters in your state.
Click here for Arizona Animal Shelters.
This picture is of our kitty, Fia. We rescued her from the Arizona Animal Welfare League six years ago. She was a little scrawny stray. She was so brown and matted up they had to shave her so we thought she was a short hair. When we brought her home… *poof* her beautiful snow white mane and onyx black tail exploded into all its fluffy glory. She is the queen of the house, our very first critter and we adore her. Arizona Animal Welfare League will definitely get our vote as our other rescue (Rescue a Golden, AZ) is not listed.
Rescued animals come in all shapes and sizes with all different temperments. They are just like people, everyone has their own personality. It is ridiculous to me to think that someone would purchase an animal from a pet store (most of which support puppy mills) or from a breeder for hundreds or even thousands of dollars when so many wonderful dogs, cats, and other little critters need homes, too.
This is your chance to support a good shelter by casting your vote. Also, with the holiday season coming up consider donating to your favorite shelter in your loved one’s name rather than purchasing gifts. Those lonely dogs and cats need it more than your husband needs a new gadget or your wife needs that designer purse.
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