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WIAR Finding homes with a Heart.
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Facts About Animal Shelters, like WIAR,
Pet Overpopulation, and Pet Ownership.
Please take a few moments and read over this page it may help you to understand our mission that much more.
Source: ASPCA
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Pet Overpopulation
*The average number of litters a fertile cat produces is one to two a year; average number of kittens in litters is 4-6.
*The average number of litters a fertile dog produces is one a year; average number of puppies is 4-6.
*It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the US; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
*Owned cats and dogs generally live longer, healthier lives than strays.
*Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
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Pet Ownership
*About 60% of all households in the United States have a pet.+
*About 60 million dogs and about 75 million cats are owned in the United States.++
*About 65% of pet owners acquire their pets free or at low cost.
*The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. 15 - 20% of dogs are purchased from breeders, 10 - 20% of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues, and 2 - 10% are purchased from pet shops.
*At least 20% of cats are acquired as strays.
*Over 20% of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter.
*The cost of spaying or neutering a pet is less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for one year.
*The average cost of basic food, supplies, medical care and training for a dog or cat is $400 to $700 annually.
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Animal Shelters
*Approximately 8-12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year and approximately 5-9 million are euthanized (60% of dogs and 70% of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
*Less than two percent of cats and only 15-20% of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.
*25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
*Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. 75% of owned pets are neutered.
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