Using statistical data to solve a real-life community problem It's Raining Cats & Dogs Using statistical data to solve a real-life community problem 9/22/2018

An overview of the problem of unwanted animals in our community Searching for answers, solutions and remedies to an American Tragedy 1 9/22/2018

Vocabulary Spay - A surgical procedure to remove a female animal’s ability to have babies. Neuter - A surgical procedure to remove a male animal’s ability to contribute to the creation of baby animals. Intact – An animal that has not been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation - Too many animals and not enough homes for them all. Euthanasia – The humane killing of unwanted animals. Humane Society – An organization to help stray, abandoned or unwanted animals. Heat - A period during a female cat’s or dog’s hormone cycle during which the animal can become pregnant. Sterilization - A word to describe both spaying and neutering. 9/22/2018

Intact – An animal that has not been spayed or neutered. 9/22/2018

Spay - A surgical procedure to remove a female animal’s ability to have babies. 9/22/2018

Neuter is Cuter! Neuter - A surgical procedure to remove a male animal’s ability to contribute to the creation of baby animals. 9/22/2018

Overpopulation - Too many animals and not enough homes for them all. 9/22/2018

2 National Statistics What are the national statistics? We don’t know. Why? 2 9/22/2018

15 million animals! That is: Some have put the number of euthanasias as high as 15 million animals! That is: 9/22/2018

But we don’t know for sure because shelters are reluctant to release that information. Why is that? 9/22/2018

even though they are not the cause of the problem, Because sometimes even though they are not the cause of the problem, shelters are seen as the B A D G U Y S because they are the ones performing the euthanasias. 9/22/2018

What is the perception of euthanasia as a means of controlling overpopulation? The community does not like to hear about it. The community is uncomfortable discussing the killing of healthy animals. The general public thinks it is the fault of the shelter workers. 9/22/2018

Always keep your animals inside or on a leash. What are some of the other remedies that can be used to control overpopulation? Always keep your animals inside or on a leash. Push researchers to come up with a non-surgical alternative to surgery, such as a pill or injection. Pass laws to prevent uncontrolled breeding. Levy fines on backyard breeders. 9/22/2018

3 Our Objective Find a way to reduce the number of euthanasias Find a way to reduce the number of unwanted animals Define unwanted animal-who is causing the problem 3 9/22/2018

Today’s Situation Currently, in Palm Beach County alone, we are euthanizing 500-600 animals per month, over 12,000 per year. Who is contributing to this situation? 4 9/22/2018

How Did We Get Here? Whose Fault is This? Are pet stores contributing to the problem? Backyard breeders? People who refuse to keep their animals indoors? Professional or “show” breeders? (Do they have a point when they say they are not contributing to the problem?) Are you? Is your cat or dog spayed or neutered? 5 9/22/2018

It used to be ……….. . . . a widespread belief that animals must have had at least one heat prior to sterilization. . . . animals could roam the neighborhoods because they enjoyed being free. . . . a woman who was expecting or had a baby was advised to “get rid of” her cat because of a perceived danger. . . . when we moved away, or even took a vacation, we simply got rid of the family pet. These are some of the ways we got here. 6 9/22/2018

But now we know better Cats are not a threat to pregnant women as long as precautions are taken, and cats don’t suffocate babies. Pet stores are the worst place to get a dog or cat. Shelters have so much more to offer. Twenty-five percent (25 %) of the animals in shelters are purebreds. Backyard breeders are contributing heavily to the problem of overpopulation. Show breeders are not adding to the overpopulation problem as long as they are responsible, and they are frequently the first to step in and aid with rescue. It is not necessary for animals to have “just one litter.” Studies show that there are not adverse effects to early sterilization. Dogs and cats are healthier and happier if living indoors with their families, and should never be left behind when a family moves away. 9/22/2018

What Early Spay/Neuter can do Early sterilization reduces the risk of pyometria-an infection in the uterus. >Early sterilization reduces your dog’s or cat’s urge to run away. >Early sterilization reduces your dog’s or cat’s urge to fight with neighborhood animals; they become less territorial. >The cost of having an animal that is spayed or neutered is less than the cost of an intact animal. Why? Rabies tag, vet care, puppy & kitten costs such as advertising & medicine, lost animals costs. 9/22/2018

7 More Recommendations Saving lives makes you feel so good! Communities spend more resources on educating the public about early spay/neuter. Commissioners spend more time on legislation to require animals that come from pet stores and shelters be sterilized prior to purchase/adoption. Local media donate time and effort to publishing the issue and encouraging early spay/neuter. Make it a social issue, “The right thing to do,” so that it becomes politically incorrect to have an animal that is intact and possibly contributing to the slaughter. Saving lives makes you feel so good! 7 9/22/2018

Animal Shelter Contact Information Animal Rescue League West Palm Beach, Florida Contact: Michelle Rivera Phone: 686-6119 e-mail: animals@bellsouth .net Animal Care and Control West Palm Beach, FL Contact: Karen Buchan Phone 233-1280 e-mail: pbcacc@co.palm-beach.fl.us Outside Palm Beach County: Call your local county animal control for contact information, or contact Laura Bevan, Southeast Regional Director of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) at 850-386-3435 or e-mail sero@hsus.org Sample Graph (survey results) 9/22/2018

Sample Survey Questions 1. How many intact animals did your shelter place in 1999? 2. How many sterilized animals did your shelter place in 1999? 3. How many animals did your shelter euthanize in 1999? 4. How many animals that were released intact came back for sterilization in 1999? 5. How many intact animals did your shelter place in 2000? 2. How many sterilized animals did your shelter place in 2000? 3. How many animals did your shelter euthanize in 2000? 4. How many animals that were released intact came back for sterilization in 2000? 9/22/2018

Pre- and post-test 9/22/2018 MC Vocabulary 1. Spay 6. Humane Society a. To wander aimlessly a. An organization to assist poor people b. To remove a tumor from an animal b. An organization to help animals c. To remove the sexual organs of a female animal c. A dog club for purebred dogs 2. Neuter 7. Heat a. To groom a male animal a. When a dog/cat perspires b. A dental procedure on a male animal b. When a female dog/cat gives birth c. A surgical procedure that removes the c. When a female dog/cat can become pregnant sexual organs of a male animal 3. Intact 8. No agency has ever been able to determine a. Able to produce puppies or kittens the annual number of animals killed nationally, b. A purebred dog or cat however, some agencies have put this number c. A non-purebred dog or cat as high as _______________________. 4. Overpopulation 9. The word we use to describe spaying or a. Too many homes and not enough animals neutering, regardless of the animal’s gender is b. Too many animals and not enough homes ______________________. c. Too many animals that are spayed and neutered 5. Euthanasia 10. Complete the following statement in 1-2 a. Young Chinese people paragraphs: Sterilization of dogs and cats b. The humane killing of surplus animals prior to leaving the shelters is important c. A surgery to remove a tumor because…... 9/22/2018

Test answers 9/22/2018 1. Spay 6. Humane Society c. To remove the sexual organs of a female animal b. An organization to help animals 2. Neuter 7. Heat c. A surgical procedure to remove the sexual organs c. When a female dog/cat can become pregnant of a male animal 3. Intact 8. No agency has ever been able to determine a. Able to produce puppies or kittens the annual number of animals killed nationally, however, some agencies have put this number as high as 15 million. 4. Overpopulation b. Too many animals and not enough homes 9. The word we use to describe spaying or neutering, regardless of the animal’s gender is sterilization. 5. Euthanasia b. The humane killing of surplus animals 10. Complete the following statement in 1-2 paragraphs: Sterilization of dogs and cats prior to leaving the shelters is important because it is still the best way to reduce the number of unwanted animals. Not everyone who adopts an animal from a shelter intact will bring the animal back to the shelter for sterilization. In our survey, we found that of the 100 animals that were adopted from the Animal Rescue League intact, only 30 came back for their sterilization appointment. Since there are not enough homes for all the animals that are born to intact animals, sterilization is the only way to insure that dogs and cats cannot have puppies or kittens who will be born to die. 9/22/2018