More facts - about abandonment of pets

Ranger Rick, May, 1996

TOO MUCH TROUBLE? Every year, people in the United States abandon millions of cats and dogs. Why? They may find that a pet needs more care than they expected. Or they may decide to go on vacation and don't want to take a pet along. Maybe they bought a pet while on vacation and don't want to take it home.

TOUGH LUCK. Most abandoned pets aren't as lucky as Kitty. Many starve to death. Others get sick and die. Lots get killed on highways. And many get picked up as strays and end up being "put to sleep."

TROUBLE FOR WILDLIFE. Some abandoned dogs and cats do learn to kill wild animals to survive. That's good for them but bad for wildlife. More trouble comes from pets that are allowed to run loose--like some of the dogs in this story. Each year, dogs and cats on the loose kill millions of songbirds and other small animals.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

--Get a pet only if you know you'll be able to take care of it for many years.

--Never let a pet run loose.

--If someone you know is having trouble keeping a pet, ask him or her to call a local animal shelter. The shelter may have tips on what can be done to help.

--Get a vet to neuter your pet so it can't have more babies. And ask your friends and neighbors to do the same with their pets. There are already plenty of dogs and cats around that need good care.