How Bad Is Pet Overpopulation?

Approximately 6.3 million dogs and cats enter US animal shelters each year. Some of those animals are former pets who are dumped at shelters due to unforeseen circumstances (for example, moving away or lack of money). And some of those dogs and cats who enter the shelter system are feral. Far too many of America’s shelters are overcrowded, especially in southern states. Animal shelters are forced to house multiple pets in the same cage or turn homeless pets away. Many shelters must resort to euthanasia due to overcrowding.. This chronic pet-overpopulation problem is the cause of death for so many companion animals each year and is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

What is pet overpopulation and why is it a problem?

Pet overpopulation refers to the unfortunate truth that there are more pets, often dogs and cats, in need of homes than people willing to adopt them. Pet overpopulation is a problem, because approximately 920,000 animals lose their lives due to not having homes. Many of those animals are considered adoptable. Shelters are also put under tremendous strain trying to find space for these homeless animals, often resorting to moving them to other states where more shelter space is available. It is a crisis. 

What causes pet overpopulation?

The driving force of pet overpopulation is people and their common, yet harmful, practices, including:

Not spaying or neutering pets

Some pet parents cannot afford to neuter or spay their dogs and cats. And without a fenced enclosure, their pets may roam freely, too. According to the North Shore Animal League, just one unspayed female dog (and her litter) can produce up to 67,000 puppies in just six years. Because pets can produce an abundance of offspring so quickly, overpopulation can happen rapidly if not managed. By providing more affordable and localized spaying and neutering options, we can help combat pet overpopulation.

Lack of resources 

Certain communities may not know about, or have access to, shelter programs such as foster care, behavioral therapy, affordable spaying and neutering services, post-adoption training and help, trap-neuter-return, and the important roles of volunteers. By implementing the above solutions, shelters can increase adoption rates, reduce intake, and decrease euthanasia rates.

The rise of the puppy mill

The U.S. Department of Agriculture encouraged farmers devastated by the Great Depression to breed animals, including puppies, as a new cash crop for the growing pet-store market. That, combined with the view that animals are disposable, led to the overcrowding of shelters by 1970 — which in turn created devastating rates of pet overpopulation and euthanasia.

The good news is that overpopulation and euthanasia numbers have decreased significantly in recent years. While these numbers are still considerable, the shifting views of pets as being part of the family has resulted in some progress. This has also spurred spay-neuter efforts, increased the number of rescue and advocacy organizations, and increased legal action for animal cruelty.

What are the consequences of pet overpopulation?

The primary consequence of pet overpopulation is, of course, the poor quality of life and outcomes for the homeless pets themselves. That said, pet overpopulation also negatively affects humans and other animals in a few ways.

Costs

American taxpayers pay an estimated $2 billion annually for animal control, animal-shelter maintenance, and euthanasia/disposal. This large sum of money could be used elsewhere, such as for affordable spay and neuter procedures or behavioral services. 

Diseases

Stray pets are sometimes called “disease reservoirs” due to their likelihood of introducing diseases to surrounding wildlife. Rabies, toxoplasmosis, and canine distemper virus (CDV) are some of the most common transmittable diseases. This not only presents health hazards for native wildlife and surrounding animal populations, but also for humans. This is why it is important to provide pets with necessary vaccines and to regulate where they roam.

Threats to wildlife

We often forget that our furry best friends are not native to most environments. Dogs are skilled hunters, and even small packs have the potential to prey on large numbers of local wildlife. This was proven in New Zealand, where one dog killed approximately 55 percent of the kiwi population within a six-week period. Dogs and cats introduced to new environments may increase natural predation, which can be a threat to the species on which they prey. This can eliminate native populations and damage ecosystems if the problem is not addressed.

How to help control the pet population

The high occupancy of animal shelters points to a lack of awareness (or availability) of proper pet care, community services, and understanding of the impacts of overpopulation. Pet sterilization, public knowledge of pet overpopulation, and better education for pet parents are all needed to help solve this issue. So, what can we do to help to decrease pet overpopulation?

Donate 

Donating to organizations (such as local shelters and rescues, humane societies, and spay/neuter organizations) help them have more impact. These donations help take care of pets looking for pet parents, and they fund educational services to keep pets in their homes with pet-parent resources such as pre- and post-adoption training, foster programs, and behavioral therapy.

Adopt

Adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue is a great way to reduce the pet overpopulation problem in animal shelters. This results in more resources and space for other animals in need, which in turn helps prevent overpopulation and reduces the burden on shelters. Adoption also decreases demand for mass-breeding facilities, such as backyard breeders and puppy mills.

Plan ahead when you adopt

Pet parents should consider many factors before adopting a pet — from their lifestyle to their financial ability to their living situation. One of the first steps is to find a way to spay or neuter their pet. Pet parents also need to prepare themselves to commit to caring for a pet for their lifetime.

Pet overpopulation statistics

Despite the overwhelming numbers of pet overpopulation, there are some positive insights found in animal shelter statistics. These estimates are based on data from Shelter Animals Count for 2023, except where specified.

• Shelters around the United States euthanize an estimated 920,000 shelter animals each year.

• In 2023, around 6.5 million cats and dogs entered shelters, three percent lower than in 2019.

• Since January 2021, around 900,000 animals have been taken in and remained at shelters and rescues across the nation.

• 48 percent of animals taken in by shelters and rescues are strays.

Dog overpopulation statistics

• An estimated 3.1 million dogs enter the shelter system each year, according to ASPCA, and 390,000 of them are euthanized.

• 2.2 million dogs were adopted in 2023, while over 600 thousand were reunited with their pet parents.

• 46 percent of dogs taken in by shelters and rescues are strays, while 24 percent are relinquished.

Cat overpopulation statistics

• A reported 3.2 million cats enter the shelter system each year, of which 530,000 are euthanized.

• Cats are euthanized at a higher rate than dogs, because it is more difficult to identify whether or not they have a pet parent.

• 65 percent of cats taken in by shelters are adopted, while three percent are reunited with their pet parents.

Dog euthanasia rates by state

Nearly half of companion-animal euthanasia occurs in the following five states: Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana, according to Shelter Animals Count. 

References 

Dog Population & Dog Sheltering Trends in the United States of America

Overpopulation or Too Many Unwanted Pets? 

Pet Overpopulation

Pet Overpopulation: An Economic Analysis

Pet (Dog and Cat) Overpopulation in the United States