By the Numbers

Millions of U.S. households have pets and we spend billions of dollars each year on their care…but here are some numbers that must make us take a hard, sobering look at a different kind of statistic – the millions of companion animals given up to shelters or left to die on the streets.  But the numbers only tell half the story.

As tremendous as the pet overpopulation problem is, it is one that can be solved if each of us takes one small step, starting with not allowing our animals to breed.  Here is information “by the numbers” about the crisis which demonstrate why spaying and neutering is the first step to a solution…

…and why Napa Humane is leading the way.

• It costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $2 billion each year to round up, house,
  kill and dispose of homeless animals.
   
• An estimated seven million cats and dogs are killed in U.S. shelters each year.
   
• $176 is the average cost to care for an animal in a U.S. shelter.
   
• 30% of animals surrendered to U.S. shelters are purebred.
   
• 47% of cats surrendered to U.S. shelters are not spayed or neutered.
   
• 55% of dogs surrendered to U.S. shelters are not spayed or neutered.
   
• 67,000 puppies can be born from one female dog and her offspring in seven years.
   
• 420,000 kittens can be born from one female cat and her offspring in six years.
   
• 71% of cats and kittens entering U.S. animal shelters are destroyed.
   
• 55% of dogs and puppies entering U.S. animal shelters are destroyed.
   
• For every human born, six puppies and kittens are born.