Jenna Mays jenna.mays@smail.astate.edu Adopt, Don’t Shop Jenna Mays jenna.mays@smail.astate.edu

Pet Ownership Dogs Cats 70-80 million owned 74-96 million owned 36.5% of households own dogs That’s 43,346,000 households in the United States 74-96 million owned 30.4% of households own cats That’s 36,117,000 households in the United States

How Do People Get Animals? Breeders, Shelters, Strays What is a breeder? A person who breeds dogs to make new dogs. 25% of dogs come from breeders 35% of dogs get adopted from shelters 37% of cats get adopted from shelters

Why People Get Rid of Animals Can’t afford them Landlord does not allow pets Severe allergies Animal’s behavioral problems Does not want them anymore

Shelters 7.6 million companion animals enter shelters each year 3.9 million are dogs 3.4 million are cats 649,000 animals who enter shelters return to their original owners 542,000 are dogs Only 100,000 are cats

Importance of Adopting You’ll save a life Each year, 2.7 million animals are euthanized in the United States. Fight against puppy mills If you buy an animal from a store, you are more than likely getting it from a puppy mill. Puppy mills profit off of the welfare of dogs. Make your life and that animal’s life so much better!

Importance of Adopting continued You’ll get a great animal Shelter pets are always so happy when they are placed in a loving home It’ll cost you less Spay/Neuter, Vaccinations, and sometimes Microchipping is included in Adoption fee! Adoption will help more than one animal You are making room for other animals to get adopted, adoption fee goes towards helping the shelters take care of those animals

What it Cost to Adopt and Buy an Animal Shelters Buying Average cost to adopt a dog: $100-$200 Average cost to adopt a cat: $50-$100 Included in Adoption Fee Physical Exam Spay/Neuter Flea/Tick & Heartworm Treatment ID Tag Microchipping Spay/Neuter: $50-$175 Wellness Exam: $30-$65 Vaccinations: $25-$85 Bloodwork & Fecal Test: $40-$125 Flea, Tick & Heartworm: $140-$240 Microchip: $25-$50

Too Many Animals without a Home Overpopulated Each year, more than 6 million dogs and cats are lost, abandoned, or unwanted. 2 to 3 million dogs and cats have to be euthanized each year because of overpopulation Why is this a big problem? Unwanted pets Responsibility gets too much for owners Pure laziness

What Can You Do To Help Spay/Neuter your animals Get animals vaccinated Get an animal from legitimate shelter or non-profit organization Free up a space in the shelter for another animal to get a chance at a forever home

Where to Adopt a Pet in Jonesboro, AR Northeast Arkansas Humane Society http://neahs.org/ Jonesboro Animal Control http://www.jonesboro.org/132/Animal-Control

References https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Statistics/Pages/Market-research- statistics-US-pet-ownership.aspx http://prime.peta.org/2010/01/why-people-abandon-animals http://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and- surrender/pet-statistics https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/adoption/adoption-fees http://neahs.org/