AboutReverend S. Abbott Expertise I am the owner of 4AnimalCare.org, a rescue, rehab and behavior modification network with volunteers across the country ready to help contribute time, effort and knowledge for animal welfare.
We have re-homed dogs, countless cats and are growing our activities in exotic bird care.
I’d like to provide the answers to your questions and concerns about how to recognize animals in need, what you can do in your area and contribute to supporting you through the initial adjustment time after adopting a previously neglected animal.
If I don’t have the answers, I’ll do whatever I can to find someone who does!
Experience Endangered/Protected species caretaker working with state veterinarians more than 25 years.
Exotic bird care, macaws a specialty, working with breeders, researchers and veterinarians (ongoing)
Cats (40 years), rodents and marsupials
Publications United Media Syndicate (weekly column); United Press International/Associated Press (daily); Bird Talk Magazine; various others
Awards and Honors Listed in 3 Who's Who publications for outstanding accomplishment in field
Expert: Reverend S. Abbott Date: 6/22/2008 Subject: Percentage of animals abandoned and lost
Question I've read that in the USA " most dogs spend less than two years in a home before they are dumped at a pound or otherwise transferred to a new owner; more than 70 % of people who adopt animals, give them away, take them to shelters, or abandon them."
(Francione, G. L. Introduction to Animal Rights: Your Child or the Dog?, Philadelphia; Temple University Press, 2000.)
Could these numbers be true? Unfortunately I couldn't find any information about it on the internet.
Thank you!
Answer Those numbers sound right for that time. As disheartening as this is, these numbers are higher today.
Your question came at the right moment. I am in process of updating local numbers in upstate California - more than 6,000 abandoned animals, mostly cats (I own a small animal rescue org, working together with a network of other rescue orgs) this season alone, so far. A 'season' is just the Spring months. So expected numbers this year could top 20,000 --- and that's just animals that we know of! How many thousands are never found or caught is incredible.
The massive foreclosure epidemic has resulted in a huge number of animals being left behind when owners can't afford to move them, are not allowed to have pets where they're going, or simply can no longer afford to support them.
Shelters are refusing them or warning that they'll be euthanized and owners leave the animals (quite often unspayed, unneutered) thinking they have a better chance that way.
Instead, they keep breeding - and not only are these abandoned pets doomed, but so are their offspring.
Animals are consistently the innocent victims of the animal supposedly with the more developed brain.
