““Four million cats Four million cats and dogs—about and dogs—about one every eight one every eight seconds—are put seconds—are put down in U.S. down in U.S. shelters each shelters each year.”year.”

Living on the Living on the StreetsStreets

There are There are up to 70 up to 70 million million stray cats stray cats in the in the United United StatesStates

The The population of population of cats is bigger cats is bigger than the than the population of population of people in people in California and California and Texas Texas combined.combined.

Shelters: Shelters: OverpopulatioOverpopulatio

nn• ““5 million to 7 million 5 million to 7 million

companion animals enter companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide animal shelters nationwide every year, and every year, and approximately 3 million to approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats)” percent of cats)”

“ “Only 10 percent of the Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters animals received by shelters have been spayed or have been spayed or neutered, while 78 percent of neutered, while 78 percent of pet dogs and 88 percent of pet dogs and 88 percent of pet cats are spayed or pet cats are spayed or neutered” neutered”

Adoption IssuesAdoption Issues

• Too old : Too old : Everyone wants puppies and Everyone wants puppies and kittenskittens

• Behavior : Behavior : Animals are labeled Animals are labeled “unadoptable” because of their behavior“unadoptable” because of their behavior

• Overpopulation:Overpopulation:

What can you What can you do to help?do to help?

• VolunteerVolunteer• Help your communityHelp your community• Take care of your animalsTake care of your animals• Spread the wordSpread the word

1.1. Find a Humane Society Find a Humane Society near younear you

2.2. Apply to volunteerApply to volunteer

3.3. Volunteer!Volunteer!

• ““Animal Companion volunteers Animal Companion volunteers increase our animals' chances increase our animals' chances for adoption by providing for adoption by providing needed support and needed support and companionship through companionship through socializing, training and socializing, training and grooming the animals (dogs, grooming the animals (dogs, cats, and rabbits). Volunteers cats, and rabbits). Volunteers also help the staff maintain a also help the staff maintain a clean environment for our clean environment for our animals.” animals.”

Take Care of Your Take Care of Your AnimalsAnimals

• Walk your dogsWalk your dogs• PlayPlay• LoveLove

• Lead by exampleLead by example

Educate: Spread the Educate: Spread the WordWord

• Educate Educate Others:Others:

1.1. OverpopulationOverpopulation

2.2. Adoption/FosterAdoption/Foster

3.3. Options we have to Options we have to helphelp

- VolunteerVolunteer- DonateDonate- Spread the Word: Spread the Word:

Adopt to save a lifeAdopt to save a life

Don’t BuyDon’t Buy• Instead of paying Instead of paying

hundreds of dollars to hundreds of dollars to buy a puppy, save a life buy a puppy, save a life and adopt at a shelter.and adopt at a shelter.

What I’m doing What I’m doing to helpto help

1.1. Build : Build : 5 cat structures5 cat structures2.2. Volunteer : Volunteer : reach out to reach out to

my community my community 3.3. Educate : Educate : about the about the

importance of animal importance of animal shelters, adoption, and shelters, adoption, and animal behavioranimal behavior

4.4. Spread the word : Spread the word : create create an informational brochure an informational brochure with instructions on how to with instructions on how to build cat structures and the build cat structures and the importance an animal’s importance an animal’s environment has on their environment has on their behaviorbehavior

Questions

1. About how many cats and dogs are abandoned each year?

2. About how many animals are reported being not treated right by their owners each year?

3. Out of every 10 dogs born, how many do you think will find a home?

4. What is a “Puppy Mill”?

Thank you for listening!