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HARRISON COUNTY
SPAY NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
MAY 4, 2009
Submitted by Tanya Tuell
E-Mail us and say: YES! I agree to help end dog and cat overpopulation!
POPULATION OF HARRISON COUNTY (2000 census)
34,235 people
12,917 households
HARRISON COUNTY DOG POPULATION
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH: The larger the quantity gets, the faster it grows
The social issue of dog and cat overpopulation is unique and must be dealt with using a
combination of spay neuter initiatives, ordinance measures, and animal control programs.
ONE FEMALE DOG
Keep in mind some dogs will have more than one litter per year and females often represent more than 50% of the litter. For simplicity here I have conveyed the totals based upon 1litter per year with females at 50% of each litter. Take the original mother and add to the females in each year’s litter for a total of reproductive females. NOTE: The first year is four females of the six total puppies.
Year 2001:
1 female dog has six pups - four are females
Year 2002:
5 female dogs have six pups each - 30 puppies - 15 are females
Year 2003:
20 female dogs have six pups each - 120 puppies - 60 are females
Year 2004:
80 female dogs have six pups each - 480 puppies - 240 are females
Year 2005:
320 female dogs have six pups each - 1,920 puppies - 960 are females
Year 2006:
1,280 female dogs have six pups each - 7,680 puppies - 3,840 are females
Year 2007:
5,120 female dogs have six pups each - 30,720 puppies - 15,360 are females
Year 2008:
20,480 female dogs have six pups each - 122,880 puppies - 61,440 are females
Take the approximately 30 female dogs that were spayed at the Corydon Fairgrounds in 2001 and multiply that number times the totals shown in Year 2008
30 x 122,880 = 3,686,400 puppies would have been born. (Three Million, Six Hundred Eighty Six Thousand, Four Hundred)
Harrison County Commissioners initiated and continue to support the Harrison County Spay Neuter Program beginning in 2001.
The program has prevented millions of unwanted puppies from being born. Prevention has improved public health and safety, helped protect the environment, saved taxpayers money and prevented neglect, abuse and abandonment of unwanted puppies and dogs.
HARRISON COUNTY CAT POPULATION
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH: The larger the quantity gets, the faster it grows
The social issue of dog and cat overpopulation is unique and must be dealt with using a combination of spay neuter initiatives, ordinance measures, and animal control programs.
ONE FEMALE CAT
Keep in mind some cats will have more than one litter per year and females often represent more than 50% of the litter. For simplicity here I have conveyed the totals based upon 1litter per year with females at 50% of each litter. Take the original mother and add to the females in each year’s litter for a total of reproductive females. NOTE: The first year is four females of the six total cats.
Year 2001:
1 female cat has six kittens - four are females
Year 2002:
5 female cats have six kittens each - 30 kittens - 15 are females
Year 2003:
20 female cats have six kittens each - 120 kittens - 60 are females
Year 2004:
80 female cats have six kittens each - 480 kittens - 240 are females
Year 2005:
320 female cats have six kittens each - 1,920 kittens - 960 are females
Year 2006:
1,280 female cats have six kittens each - 7,680 kittens - 3,840 are females
Year 2007:
5,120 female cats have six kittens each - 30,720 kittens - 15,360 are females
Year 2008:
20,480 female cats have six kittens each - 122,880 kittens - 61,440 are females
Multiply total x two litters per year - 245,760 kittens
Take the approximately 75 female cats that were spayed at the Corydon Fairgrounds in 2001 and multiply that number times the totals shown in Year 2008
75 x 245,760 = 18,432,000 kittens would have been born. (Eighteen Million, Four Hundred Thirty Two Thousand)
Harrison County Commissioners initiated and continue to support the Harrison County Spay Neuter Program beginning in 2001.
The program has prevented 10,506,000 unwanted kittens from being born.Prevention has improved public health and safety, helped protect the environment, saved taxpayers money and prevented neglect, abuse and abandonment of unwanted kittens and cats.
DOG AND CAT SPAYS AND NEUTERS
provided by the
Harrison County Spay / Neuter Assistance Program
DOGS CATS Dates M F sex unknown TOTAL DOGS M F sex unknown TOTAL CATS GRAND TOTAL 2001 - 2005 264 435 165 864 536 861 381 1778 2642 2006 36 23 5 64 23 45 12 80 144 2007 58 83 2 143 52 103 10 165 308 2008 75 122 6 203 166 256 22 444 647 2009 67 98 2 167 70 128 11 209 376 GRAND TOTALS 500 761 180 1441 847 1393 436 2676 4117 WE MUST INCREASE MALE DOG AND CAT STERILIZATIONS!
Dog and Cat Overpopulation - Creating Change
The majority of pet owners take at least minimal care of their dogs and cats and many citizens of Harrison County are heroes for the countless animals they cared for and sheltered before we had animal control and even since the shelter opened. What is now established in our county is that due to the incredible rate of dog and cat reproduction, it only takes a few people to cause an increased financial burden to fellow taxpayers regarding dog and cat overpopulation and to cause years of misery and suffering for many animals. The vast majority of all dog and cat related social problems are caused by dog and cat overpopulation, and it is a small percentage of citizens causing dog and cat overpopulation. We all pay the price.
A few facts:
We can eliminate dog and cat overpopulation.
Every year, millions of cats and dogs—half of all those entering shelters—are euthanized across the United States. Besides the obvious tragedy of lost pet lives, the costs of uncontrolled pet breeding can overwhelm cities and counties nationwide.
Dogs and cats entering shelters are both mixed breed and pure breed.
In Harrison County it costs an estimated $55 to $75 per each animal processed by the Harrison County Department of Animal Control.
The Harrison County Spay Neuter Program provides vouchers in the amounts of $35 per dog and $20 per cat.
We do not know how many dogs and cats there are in Harrison County. And we do not know how many are spayed and neutered. Our county was without animal control services until 2005 so normal data calculations would be skewed.
Regarding the issue of dog and cat overpopulation, a few aspects are known:
Prevention (spay and neuter) costs less than treatment (shelter expenses).
Fewer dogs and cats results in greater public health and safety, increased protection of the environment with less predation of wildlife by household pets and less burden to the taxpayer.
The majority of citizens will spay and neuter their dogs and cats, strays and purebreds, some with the added incentive of financial assistance and some with no incentive at all.
Without any public education programs, the majority of citizens know that dogs and cats need to be spayed and will access free and low-cost spay/neuter services.
With public education programs we have the increased measure of appropriate pet care, training and restraint methods which results in fewer dog and cat nuisance complaints, fewer animals relinquished to shelters, and an even greater number of spayed and neutered dogs and cats - both mixed and pure breeds.
So, if the majority of citizens do what’s right then what’s the problem?
The Most Important Known Fact Regarding Dog and Cat Overpopulation in Harrison County...
There is and will always be a percentage, a small percentage, of citizens who will not spay and neuter their dogs and cats, ever. Regardless of whether the surgeries are provided low-cost or free of charge, they will not have their dogs and cats spayed and neutered.
Why?
1 - Some families want their children to have the experience of puppies and kittens being born.
2 - Some folks claim their vet told them the dog or cat needs to have a litter before the dog or cat is sterilized.
3 - Some claim the dog or cat really isn’t theirs, so regardless that the sterilization is free, they still won’t even transport the animal to the vet clinic and they instead choose to allow continued litters and then stand at Wal-Mart handing out the puppies and kittens. Which, by the way, is against Wal-Mart’s corporate policy. Pet giveaways are not allowed on Wal-Mart property.
4- Some still refuse to have their male dogs and cats neutered because either the man of the family won’t allow it or those harboring/feeding the cat or dog do not see the males as part of the problem and believe they should be allowed to run because, “That’s their nature.”
5 - Some folks simply refuse to spay or neuter their dogs and cats. One family in Harrison County has allowed their chained dog to repeatedly have puppies. A reliable source says the man, an alcoholic who has been in and out of jail, shot one litter of the puppies in front of his 13 year old son. A neighbor spoke with the man’s wife letting her know we would assist with getting the dog spayed for free and the offer was refused.
The small percentage of citizens represented above do create huge problems for their fellow citizens, primarily the taxpayer. The excess numbers of dogs and cats caused by these citizens results in a throw-away attitude toward the animals and all citizens pay the price. Refer to the dog and cat population data attached.
How to solve the problem of dog and cat overpopulation:
Spay Neuter Assistance
Efficient Spay Neuter Assistance - (A referral program has been established with Community Services which will provide Program information to clients receiving assistance.)
Animal Control Services
Public Education
Ordinance Enhancements
We can't control all the world's problems, but we can control one serious, social tragedy in our own community. The killing of unwanted dogs, cats, puppies and kittens can be stopped. With your help. Not with your financial donation. But with your time. We must all commit to educating ourselves about the complex issue of dog and cat overpopulation. Only then, when we are all able to discuss this issue as an informed public, can we make progress. Please sign up to become a Voice for the Animals of Harrison County.
E-Mail us and say: YES! I agree to help end dog and cat overpopulation!