Every day, thousands of puppies and kittens are
born because of uncontrolled breeding of pets. Add to that the number of offspring of stray
and abandoned companion animals and the total becomes staggering.
Too many companion animals competing
for too few good homes is the most obvious consequence of uncontrolled breeding. Unfortunately, living creatures have become throwaway
items to be cuddled when cute and abandoned when inconvenient. In fact, the main reason for cat
overpopulation is feral, free-roaming animals. Our society is literally "loving our animals
to death."
And now, the poor economy and high
unemployment rate has led to more backyard breeding and more strays on the
street as people find it difficult to keep their pets or find them new homes. Increasing requests for low-cost spay and
neutering pour in from pet owners finding it increasingly difficult to pay for
surgeries.
Our goal at The Flathead Spay &
Neuter Task Force is to change the perception that dogs and cats are expendable. The end result is to provide a humane
solution that would eventually manage the pet overpopulation to a number that
would make it possible for all adoptable animals to find a safe and loving
home.
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do
something: and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something
I can do."
~ Edward Everett Hale, 1794-1865, American Orator and Statesman