1. By Winnie Lovell Winona.lovell@smail.astate.edu
Animal Adoption
By Winnie Lovell

2. Pet Ownership
About half of the households in America own a dog or a cat
Dogs
70-80 million owned
That’s 37%-47% of the households!
Cats
74-96 million owned
That’s 30%-37% of the households!

3. How do People Get pets? Answer: Breeders, Shelters, and the Street
28% of dogs come from breeders
What is a breeder?
35% of cats owned were once strays
Only 29% of cats AND dogs are adopted

4. Why Do People get rid of Their Pets?
Dogs
Cats
29% residence won’t allow
10% not enough time
10% behavior issues
21% residence won’t allow
11% allergies
3 in 10 people in the U.S. have a pet allergy
Cat allergies are twice as common

5. Shelters Annual Statistics Shelters in General
7.6 million companion animals enter
3.9 million are dogs
3.4 million are cats
2.7 million animals are euthanized
1.2 million are dogs
1.4 million are cats

6. Overpopulation
The streets are overpopulated, therefore so are the shelters
How did this become an issue?
No control of Reproduction
Releasing unwanted pets
7% - 20% of pets are given up or released after 6 months
How can you help?
Spay and Neuter
Adopt!
Consider all the responsibilities and consequences of pet ownership

7. 2.7 million shelter animals are adopted each year!
Adoption
2.7 million shelter animals are adopted each year!
Dogs
Cats
35% are adopted
31% are euthanized
What does euthanized mean?
26% are returned to their owners
37% are adopted
41% are euthanized
5% are returned to their owners

8. “I’ll just buy one from the Store”
Puppy mills
Most stores get their puppies from puppy mills
What is a puppy mill?
Profit is priority, not the well-being of the dogs
Females are bred constantly with little to no break in between
Unsanitary
Don’t believe the “papers” and “licenses”
Overcrowded without veterinary care, food, water, or shelter

9. Why Adopt? You will save a life You will get a great animal
Reasons why you should adopt a pet instead of buying one from a store or breeder
You will save a life
You will be a hero
It will open a space for another animal in need of a loving home
You will get a great animal
They aren’t bad animals, just animals that need some love
Most are there because of reasons other than misbehavior
Bragging rights
You will save money!

10. Cost difference Shelter Buying Average cost to adopt a dog = $100
Average cost to adopt a cat = $75
Spaying and neutering is included
Wellness exam included
Vaccinations are included
Disease testing and treatment included
Microchip included
ID tag and collar included
Cost to buy the pet = different amounts
Depends on if they are purebred and the breeder
Spaying or neutering = $150 - $300
Wellness exam = $50 - $100
Vaccinations = $55 - $85
Flea/Tick treatment = $50 - $200
Cost depends on the size of the animal
Deworming = $20 - $50
Microchip = $25 - $50
Collar and ID tag = $5 - $10

11. What can you Do? Educate Donate Adopt Advocate Yourself Your family
Your community
Donate
To your local shelter or humane society
To national advocates
Adopt
From local shelters and humane societies
DON’T BUY!
Advocate
For suffering animals
For loving animals
For animals in need

12. References
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