Can we come together and stop the killing of unwanted pets?

I have spoken to a number of people about an idea I have on how American cities can solve the nationwide problem of unwanted pets. Like many of you I am very saddened by the fact that thousands of pets are being euthanized in the city where I live every year. I have sent the following plan to elected officials, the media, and community leaders. As of today I have not heard back from a soul. One lady who is helping to find homes for unwanted pets told me the other day that my plan was unrealistic, but yet no one seems to be proposing other ideas. If you are one who cares then please look it over and send any and all comments to rickllobello@cs.com. You can also express your opinon by posting a comment on this blog. Since few plans that address America’s growing problem with unwanted pets seem to be working, I believe that now is the time for a new way of thinking.

What does this topic have to do with my website and parks? Think about it, how can we respect and take care of the natural world if we can't take care of living creatures like dogs and cats living in our homes.

Sincerely,
Rick LoBello
915-474-1456

“Stop the madness and save unwanted pets”

SUMMARY

This plan calls for the adoption of a pet ordinance that regulates the number of dogs and cats that are sold within city limits so that the number of pets available stays in balance with the overall demand for pets. For such a plan to be adopted by any community many issues will need to be addressed including Spaying and Neutering, pet population levels in shelters, budget, etc. What follows is an outline written in paragraph form and the document is far from being complete.


DRAFT Strategic Plan Outline

This plan was inspired by all the dogs I have rescued. To think that if I had not come along they would have been put to sleep is unimaginable.

Mission

The mission of this plan is to establish a publicly supported and achievable plan that will dramatically decrease the number of unwanted pets euthanized in any American city.

Objectives

1. Dramatically decrease the number of unwanted pets that are euthanized by creating partnerships with neighborhood associations, the media, animal shelters, pet owners, schools, businesses and other institutions across the city where people of all walks of life can sign on to a new city wide plan (see strategy below). The big goal of the plan is to dramatically decrease the number of unwanted pets that are euthanized to the lowest number possible, realizing that some pets are very difficult to find homes for because of behavior and health problems.

2. Create an enforceable ordinance that will control the number of pets sold using a licensing/permit system tied into a city-wide database of pets waiting to be adopted and people wanting permits to sell.

Resources

Political body directing the future of the City/Community
Non-profit groups
Churches
Pet owner groups
Pet Stores
Schools and institutions of higher learning
Media outlets

Strategy

A new ordinance could be adopted that protects unwanted pets (dogs and cats) using common sense and the concept of supply and demand. As long as the supply of pets is higher than the demand there will always be a problem of pet overpopulation. Every city needs an effective plan that controls the number of pets available for sale and adoption at a level that provides for a continuous supply of pets, but also is in harmony with the overall demand for those pets by responsible pet owners. To help insure the plan’s success all new pet owners would be required to sign a legally binding license/permit outlining the expectations of all pet owners living and working in the city. A legally binding license/permit would help all people living in the city understand how the city values responsible pet guardians.

If a strategy can be implemented that decreases the number of pets available to a point below the demand, the city over time should be able to see the day when people have to get on a waiting list to both buy, adopt and breed pets. Achieving this goal will no doubt also mean a major change in how people in the city value pet ownership.

Measures of Success

Two important measures of the success of the plan are the number of pets that are euthanized and the number of people who have to wait to adopt/purchase pets within city limits. This kind of radical approach could have a measure of success if a city wide education outreach effort is also implemented that explains how the plan would work and asks people, groups, and organizations to sign on as sponsors/supporters. The strategy requires a long term commitment by the community where current and reliable pet population information is made available to planners and managers.

To help insure a high level of communication the strategy involves using the Internet as a tool to help the city regulate the number of pets sold by both pet stores and private individuals. A new ordinance would protect all adoptable and healthy pets and in the long term result in a very low number of pets being euthanized each year. Non-adoptable pets that would need to be euthanized (guidelines to be determined by a team of veterinarians) would include those with terminal illnesses or with serious behavioral problems.

The plan would require that no pet be sold or breeding operation allowed to operate within the city’s limits until all city certified animal shelters have a combined total population of 50 or fewer adoptable pets and at least 100 pre-qualified people are in line who have signed up and paid adoption fees in advance to adopt a pet. The plan would also require that pets transported into the city from outside city limits be licensed within 30 days and not be sold without a city permit. An ordinance could impose fines to anyone not following the city plan with funds received being put back into the operation of the program.

How permits to sell or breed pets could be regulated

As long as the city can maintain a list of at least 100 pre-qualified and pre-paid people ready to adopt an animal shelter pet, and certified shelters have a total population of 50 or fewer adoptable pets, the city will allow pets to be sold by pet stores and private individuals on a first come first serve basis. All pet sales would be regulated by a “pet sale license” system available to businesses and private individuals. For example, if the number of pets in shelters goes down to 25 and there are at least 100 pre-qualified people ready to adopt the city could issue 25 permits to pet stores or other individuals with pets to sell.

Some pet stores that depend on the sale of dogs and cats at current retail levels would no doubt go out of business if they could not adapt to the new ordinance, but the upside would be a tremendous decrease in the number of pets being euthanized each year.

The AZA Species Survival Plan – learning from the experts

A suggested methodology to guide a new controlled breeding and retail program could be modeled in part after the highly successful Species Survival Program (SSP) being used by Association of Zoos and Aquaiums across the US to control the breeding of animals of all kinds. The SSP plan requires that all participants control the breeding of their animals and that breeding take place only when there is space available to hold additional animals or replace animals that have died. SSP plans work because individuals and institutions agree to the guidelines set forth. Similar guidelines could be adopted by almost any city in the US.

Tools for Success

This plan calls for the creation of a regularly updated bilingual City website managed by Animal Control or a local non-profit organization where anyone can access all the information needed to make the plan work including adoption information, applications to adopt, breeding guidelines, city wide inventories of pets needing adoption, education resources for schools, individuals and groups, license to sell information etc. A phone number people can call for more information would need to be widely distributed especially for those who are not online or have questions. People should also be able to access all information regarding the plan by visiting the City Animal Control Office or the local non-profit organization.

Critical to Success – City wide support

Enforcement of this plan will be difficult without city wide support. This plan proposes that prior to adopting a new city pet selling/adoption ordinance in support of this plan, the resources of the city be used to publicize a place on the Internet and a place off the Internet (for those not online) where citizens can sign on to and demonstrate their support. The city should also consider including the plan on the next city wide ballot to provide another way citizens can show their support. Once the city has gathered the support of a significant percentage of the public in support of the plan, the plan should then be voted on as a new ordinance and then implemented.

There is a good possibility that such a new strategy could work under the leadership of a City government and a coalition of citizen groups who support the new approach.

SAMPLE timeline:

1. By Date to be determined form a working group to design an achievable plan that can be presented for approval by City Council and County Government by Date to be determined. This plan would ask city and county leaders to buy into a plan that focuses on the supply and demand approach and city-wide buy in by the citizens. It would not involve any changes in law or ordinances until city buy in can be achieved.
2. Implement the education component of the plan using all city and county education resources with media support by Date to be determined.
3. Evaluate the success of the educational initiative by Date to be determined.
4. Present a draft new ordinance to the City by Date to be determined.

End Note

Please note that this is a draft outline of a plan that the author believes has some merit and should be considered by any community wanting to finally end the problem of unwanted pets. Please help spread the word about this and comment on how the plan can be improved.