"The Creation of a National Crisis"
Paw Works Veterinary Hospital was established in March 2021 with one clear mission to provide quality care at affordable pricing for all our community pets. Through low cost initiatives that focus on spay and neuter, common procedures such as dentals and providing affordable pricing for diagnostics and medications, PWVH is addressing pet overpopulation and owner abandonment at its core.
The Creation of a National Crisis
Animal overpopulation is a BIG problem. How big? Every 13 seconds, a healthy, adoptable dog or cat is euthanized in a U.S. shelter, according to the Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org).
Pet overpopulation has severe social, ethical and financial implications and is particularly tragic because it is preventable.
In total, over 1 million pets are put down in shelters every year, and about 80 percent of them are healthy and could have been adopted into new homes, according to the Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org).
There clearly are not enough homes for the number of cats and dogs born each year, and too many of them will die in shelters. About 7.6 million unwanted pets enter U.S. animal shelters every year, and—roughly 31 percent of dogs and 41 percent of cats will be euthanized, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca.org).
It’s an Ethical Issue
Cats and dogs are our pets, yet frequently they are treated as disposable commodities. They are dependent on us for survival, and we have a responsibility for their welfare, yet millions of them suffer due to irresponsible pet ownership.
All too often, family pets are surrendered because they are ill or old, or no longer suit the needs of their owners, or because caring for them has become inconvenient or expensive. According to the Humane Society of the United States, “moving” and “landlord issues” are among the top reasons why pet owners give up their dogs and cats.
Unrealistic expectations and poor understanding of normal pet behavior, training and socialization also contribute to the high number of owner surrenders. Better education about the responsibility of pet ownership and access to affordable care is imperative.
It’s a Health Issue
Simply put, sterilized pets are healthier pets. Neutering male cats and dogs eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the incidence of prostate cancer. In females, spaying can reduce or eliminate the chance of ovarian, uterine and mammary cancer, as well as life-threatening uterine infections. Fixing your pet can decrease howling, spraying, mounting, fighting, biting, aggressive behavior and the urge to roam. Statistically, pets who are spayed or neutered live longer than those who are not. The needless euthanization of healthy, adoptable pets is a true tragedy, and spaying or neutering should be standard practice for pet owners. These are more than just surgeries, they are solutions to a bigger problem.
It’s a Financial Issue – We ALL Pay for Pet Overpopulation
Crowded animal shelters not only add to the suffering of innocent animals, they present a heavy economic burden to taxpayers. Sources estimate that between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats enter the shelter system every year, and according to USA Today, “it costs U.S. taxpayers approximately $2 billion each year to round up, house, kill and dispose of homeless animals.”
And these costs continue to rise.
Estimated costs to operate Ventura County Animal Services in 2020-2021 are $9.6M, up $900,000 from the previous year.(https://www.ventura.org/auditor-controllers-office/adopted-budget-fy-2020-2021/).
Los Angeles County Animal Services is budgeted $32.4M in 2020-2021, up nearly $10 million from previous year.
Aside from the national and local economic burden of overpopulation, the personal expense for a pet owner over the pet’s lifetime can be reduced if a pet is spayed or neutered, and the cost of a pregnant female and her litter can be much higher than the cost of spaying her.
How You Can Help
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Spay and Neuter Your Pets
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Book An Appointment for Your Pet Today
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Spread the Word About Our Low Cost Initiatives
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Sponsor Our Efforts