Animal Euthanasia: The Population Control Controversy

Can you recall the last time you have seen the lifeless body of an innocent dog or cat alongside of the road? Better yet, how many people can you think of, that go to a shelter to get a new pet, versus buying an animal from a breeder? My point is that there are many animals dying outside of shelters every day. However, because the adoption rates at shelters aren’t high enough to stop the overcrowding, pets undergo euthanasia. Versus the imminent probability of an animal dying an atrocious death in the wild, they are offered a peaceful and pain-free passing in shelters. The euthanasia of pets is needed in order to control animal population in both rural and urbanized areas, of both the feral and homeless animal densities. In addition to this, there is also reason to believe that increasing the animal euthanasia rate in overcrowded shelters may be beneficial to outside factors like the northern songbird populations and rising frequencies of stray dog attacks.

It is estimated by the American Humane Society that animal shelters in the United States care for “6-8 million animals,” and out of this number, “an estimated 3-4 million are euthanized” (Animal Shelter Euthanasia. 2008). To put this in perspective, that's roughly 10,000 animals being put down every day. There are simply not enough people willing to adopt these animals. Sick, injured, diseased, violent, and old suffering animals will be put down. And unfortunately perfectly able and healthy animals, with shiny healthy coats and no behavioral problems waiting for their adoption, will also be put down. This is because shelters are continuously running out of room. Keep in mind, though, that this is said in respect to the fact that these animals could instead be suffering a painf...

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