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DEATH WATCH
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DEATH WATCH - 6/30/2009 9:26:57 AM
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Death watch
Hundreds of local animals die when owners don't spay, neuter
By Cody Wix,
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Local animal shelters are being forced to euthanize between 500 and 600 cats and dogs a month primarily bec****e of an increase in the animal population that****es with the warm weather of summer.
The summer months are known as "cat season" at local shelters bec****e the number of cats****ing in to the shelters can reach 30 to 50 a day, according to Todd Nix, director of the Lauderdale County Animal shelter.
"This is primarily a Southeastern****blem bec****e of one reason - the warm weather," Nix said. "The weather brings about heat cycles in cats and dogs, which brings about more breeding. From April to October cats are breeding consistently one litter after another."
Cats breed exponentially. One female cat has three litters a year. In each litter at least three females are born, and within six months of being born those females go into their first heat, which is the term given to the cycle when animals mate. Cats can also breed while still nursing a litter.
"Two cats unsupervised are responsible for a****ximately 5,000 offspring in five years," said Tommy Morson, director of the Colbert County Animal Shelter.
Public animal shelters are required to take in every animal that****es through its doors. This practice, along with the increase in the summer animal population, results in animal shelters operating at full capacity.
Frank Ranaudo, director of North Alabama Spay Neuter ****istance ****ociation, said government agencies have no alternative but to euthanize animals. "Rescue****anizations can foster or hold animals until they find homes for them, but government agencies have a finite capacity," Ranaudo said.
According to the Web site of the Humane Society of the United States, 3 million to 4 million animals are euthanized in shelters each year.
Ranaudo said the****blem could be solved if people who take in pets would get the animals spayed and neutered.
Morson agrees spayed and neutered animals are essential in controlling the rising populations. "People have to take responsibility," Morson said.
Nix said the****blem is more prevalent in the counties than in the cities,
"About 80 percent of animals we see****e from outside the city," Nix said. "A city resident brings one dog, a county resident brings a litter."
The increasing population in feral cats c****es****blems in local eco-systems bec****e cats are such good predators. The cats diminish the small bird population as well as feed on bats that have the potential for rabies.
"Three years ago, U.S. Fish and Wildlife had feral cats listed as public enemy number one," said Nix.
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