Implement TNR Programs And Convert To No Kill In North Carolina

When you sign this petition you are encouraging the governing officials to save animals lives. You are encouraging them to take part in TNR programs, while also urging them to Convert their shelters to the No Kill way.

To the Governor and General assembly of North Carolina.

We are respectfully requesting legislation to be brought forth that outlines the means to end the killing of strays, homeless or abandoned companions in local animal control facilities, rescues and shelters. We are respectfully asking that this legislation enact a Trap, spay & neuter return program (TNR).

That is either a very low cost or payment plans for those who cannot afford veterinarian bills. For a minimum allotted time of 3 or 4 years, to reduce the population of said homeless companions. We are also requesting that North Carolina, seek a way to go completely NO-KILL as many other states have done. The program will reduce pets in the animal control at least by 40% and can reduce by $40,000,000+ annually in the North Carolina tax expenditures.

North Carolina euthanizes approximately over 500,000 homeless companions per year, which is costing citizens and taxpayers over $100 million annually. These numbers are also in line with most other states, such as Georgia, Texas and Pennsylvania. We are urging that North Carolina would stop wasting money on needlessly putting homeless companions to death.

Statistics for United States

UNITED STATES FACTS & FIGURES

• Number of cats and dogs born every day in the U.S.: 70,000 (nearly 3,000 born every hour or 50 born every minute)

• Number of stray cats and dogs living in the U.S.: 70 million

• Number of animals in the U.S. that die each year from cruelty, neglect, and exploitation: 30 million

• Number of animal shelters in the U.S.: 4,000 – 6,000

• Number of cats and dogs entering U.S. shelters each year: 6 – 8 million

• Number of cats and dogs euthanized by U.S. shelters each year: 3 – 4 million (nearly 10,000 animals killed every day)

• Number of cats and dogs adopted by U.S. shelters each year: 3 – 4 million

• Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from U. S. shelters each year: 600,000-750,000 (10% of total entering shelters – 15–30% of dogs and 2–5% of cats)

• Yearly cost to U.S. taxpayers to impound shelter, euthanize, and dispose of homeless animals: $2 billion

• Percentage of dogs in U.S. shelters which are purebred: 25 – 30 %

• Average age of animals entering U.S. shelters: under 18 months old

• Percentage of animals entering U.S. shelters that are healthy and adoptable: 90%

• Percentage of owned dogs that were adopted from an animal shelter: 18%

• Percentage of owned cats that were adopted from an animal shelter: 16%

• Percentage of animals entering animal shelters by animal control authorities: 42.5%

• Percentage of animals entering animal shelters that were surrendered by their owners: 30%

• Percentage of people who acquire animals that end up giving them away, abandoning them, or taking them to shelters: 70%

• Percentage of animals surrendered to an animal shelter that were originally adopted from an animal shelter: 20%

• Percentage of animals received by animal shelters that have been spayed or neutered: 10%

http://www.oxfordpets.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61

If the TNR is enacted the feral, stray populace will be under controlled. There would be no reason to continue the needless killing of companions. If a low cost to free or payment plan spay, neuter program is enacted. Companion owners, will be able to spay or neuter their companions, which will also reduce unwanted litters or breeding. Which will also cut down on the over-population. Converting to No-Kill will give shelters or rescues more time to be able to have these companions noticed and adopted out. In order to convert to no-kill gas chambers and needles will have to be abolished. Shelters will have to expand their facilities while adding on more kennel areas. This may be an expensive under-taking however, it is worth it to save companion animals lives.

For more information on TNR please refer to Alley Cats Allies- http://www.alleycat.org/

For Converting to No-Kill, see here- http://www.nokillnow.com/converting_to_nokill.htm