To Spay is the Way

Dear Neighbors,

About 90,000 puppies and kittens were born last year in Austin. Most were unplanned and unwanted, and more than 80,000 never found homes. Of these 80,000 animal orphans, at least 50,000 died from injuries, disease, or starvation. The "lucky ones" (more than 11,000) were humanely euthanized at Town Lake Animal Center.

But thousands survived long enough to ensure that the breeding-and-killing cycle will continue. Homeless, stray, and feral animals all contribute to the problem, as do animals with caretakers who do not prevent them from creating offspring. To their great disadvantage, dogs and cats are extremely prolific breeders. For example, one pair of breeding cats (one female, one male) can theoretically become 12,000 breeding cats in only five years!

As a result, tens of thousands of dogs and cats die in Austin every year, just because there are too many of them. They are sentenced to death for the "crime" of being born, literally from the moment of birth. Moreover, our homeless dog and cat problem costs Central Texas taxpayers millions of dollars every year. Dog and cat over-population is cruel, expensive, and senseless.

The SpayAustin Campaign aims to solve this problem. Our recommendations are straightforward:

(1) Spay and neuter your pets. Don't fall prey to the easy rationalization that if your pet makes babies, you'll find them all "good homes". Even if you do, you are condemning to homelessness or death an equal number of puppies and kittens who otherwise would have gone to those same good homes.

Full-service veterinary clinics in the Hyde Park area, such as Central Park Animal Hospital (phone 459-5855), offer spay/neuter surgery and other animal healthcare services at reasonable rates. The Animal Trustees of Austin Spay/Neuter Clinic (phone 450-0111) offers very low-cost spay/neuter surgeries because it is subsidized by charitable donations.