Posted: September 26th, 2024

The Stray Animal Concern Essay

The Stray Animal Concern: Addressing Roaming Domestic Animals,

Animal Cruelty and Abuse Essay.

A roaming animal is basically a domestic animal that has been lost or deserted. This can happen due to various reasons such as natural disasters, accidents, or intentional abandonment by their owners. The stray animal concern is by far among the most visible animal welfare concerns in the world. In many countries, the bulk of strays have actually been abandoned, or are owned however allowed to stroll about, resulting in unwanted kittens or pups.

Of all the animals, canines are unfortunately among the most affected animals; of the estimated 500 million pets worldwide, and exceptional 75% of those are strays. This staggering number highlights the severity of the stray animal problem and the need for effective solutions. Every year, 4 to 5 million unwanted canines and felines are euthanized since they are not able to find houses or they are in very state of health due to their time in the streets.

For lots of years, there has actually been awareness of approaches to be responsible when owning an animal. One of the most effective ways to prevent stray animals is by spaying or neutering pets, which can significantly reduce the number of unwanted litters. For instance, family pet microchips can be implanted into your animal. Within this chip, there is a special ID that will now be connected with stated family pet.

These chips are used to return lost animals quickly to their owners, preventing costs for housing, food, treatment, and euthanasia. Unfortunately, many pet owners do not take advantage of this technology, leading to a higher risk of losing their pets. Sadly, many individuals choose to not implant their family pets with this chip, resulting in lost animals.

Even though this stray animal concern can be discovered worldwide, in some countries it is not as severe. For example, in Germany, the government has implemented strict animal welfare laws, including mandatory spaying and neutering, which has significantly reduced the number of stray animals. If an individual would wish to reproduce their pet dog, they can request a license.

Besides those couple of exceptions, every pet is spayed and sterilized. This approach has proven to be effective in reducing the number of stray animals and preventing animal suffering. When nations have this problem so under control, they do not have to use the tax dollars on housing or euthanizing strays.

In fact, countries like this are even able to adopt and save animals from other countries. This demonstrates that with effective policies and laws, it is possible to make a significant impact on the stray animal problem. In America, numerous pets can not be taken in to shelters since they are too old or they have too many health issues.

For that reason, unless somebody wants to house this pet, they remain in the streets, alone. This highlights the need for more resources and support for animal shelters and rescue organizations. Why can’t they be taken in, though? Even if they probably won’t live for too much longer, that can have a home, a good quality of life for as long as he can, until the last possible moment.

This isn’t possible because there are hundreds of other pets that are abandoned in that same shelter; hundreds of pets that require grooming, food, and a basic “roof” to live under. The resources required to care for these animals are significant, and many shelters struggle to provide adequate care. And all of this requires so much more money than that shelter may have.

This issue regarding stray animals should not be ignored, or shrugged off. It is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted approach and the involvement of governments, organizations, and individuals. Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” This quote highlights the importance of treating animals with respect and kindness.

This issue is rapidly progressing year after year, with so many more pets being abandoned or lost. The consequences of this problem are severe, with many animals suffering from hunger, disease, and cruelty. Causes and Effects

There are so many causes to this stray animal problem we have in our community, most of which we can help prevent. One of the main causes is irresponsible pet ownership, which can lead to abandonment and neglect. One major cause of this is irresponsible animal ownership, which basically means that some owners just aren’t really good owners.

These owners don’t really have what it takes to take care of a pet, so they abandon their animals in the street, which is often the unfortunate fate of the unwanted litters of kittens or puppies. This can be prevented by educating pet owners about their responsibilities and providing resources to support them. Then there are some owners who just let their pets roam about, not bothering to look for them, because they know that will eventually come back.

This brings me to my next point: uncontrolled breeding. Uncontrolled breeding can lead to a rapid increase in the number of stray animals, making it difficult to find homes for them. Those dogs that are free to wander around may be impregnated, or impregnate another dog, all because they aren’t spayed or neutered.

This type of breeding with the stray population can indefinitely produce the next generation of stray animals. Unfortunately, the survival rate of these animals born stray is very low. There is also the problem of owners who allow their pets to breed as they wish within each other.

Although this may not seem like such a big problem- their owner is breeding them, so they’ll have a home; what’s the big deal? – it truly is. This can lead to overpopulation and increase the risk of animal cruelty.

Now, although this may not seem like such a big deal to those who don’t own pets, it really is. The stray animal problem affects not only animals but also human health and well-being. These stray pets, dogs and cats alike, carry diseases that can be passed to humans and other animals, such as rabies.

The strays are roaming about from place to place, and their only source of food, if they even have one, is trash. Any type of food they find on the floor is their meal, and these types of meal just happen to contain so many bacteria and viruses that are just looking for another host so they can be passed on.

Geography

Everywhere we look we seem to find at least one homeless animal. This highlights the widespread nature of the stray animal problem. It seems to be a major problem in our community but it turns out it is found worldwide.

Many people around the world are unable to take care of their pets and abandon them; others are lost when disaster strikes. These that are left behind then start a family of their own which leads to overpopulation. Many people with big hearts try to do the most they can but with limited resources and space they are forced to turn away.

Dog whisperer Cesar Millan wrote, “In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a memo came out that police officers were no longer supposed to bring stray dogs to animal shelters, because they were too full. Instead, they could either adopt the dogs, take the dogs outside of town, or they could just shoot the dogs.” He shares his thoughts and feeling about this heartbreaking news in his article “Solving the Stray and Unwanted Dog Problem”.

He starts by saying, “Here we are, one of the greatest countries in the world and this is what we do with our dogs.” Many people decided to protest to protect the innocent animals of Harrisburg. Cesar was sure that this wasn’t the only police station with that policy out there; it was the only one that went public.

Lucy Miller, a Lancaster University student, traveled to Delhi, India to witness the horrific states in which stray animals are living. She describes what she has seen as sickening and upsetting to know that the government is doing nothing to help the poor animals. “In a country like India, which has numerous problems, it is easy to see how problems that do not directly affect the human population can be brushed over” says Lucy.

She also adds that animal cruelty is not on the government’s priority list, although they do ask the public to help these poor animals. The Indian constitution states that every Indian has the duty to feed the strays, and that it is a criminal offence to stop this task from being carried out. The government also has a policy to sterilize strays, before returning them to the streets in hopes that they will eventually die out.

Many Indians are turning to violence to try and get rid of strays. Some will even go as far as poisoning their food to kill them. Potential Solutions

The Animal Welfare Activist of New Delhi have decided to take a stand for the helpless animals and created a petition entitled “Animals in India Need Urgent Help” which requested that law enforcement understand that crimes against animals are an indication of more serious problems. 1,400 citizens signed this petition that was addressed to the prime minister of India.

Unfortunately they have taken no action yet. Cesar Millan has a greater plan to try and help the stray animals in our community. He had the chance to visit Germany and what he witnessed what remarkable.

The people of Europe have so much respect and love for animals in their country. In Europe it is mandatory to spay or neuter your pets, it is also mandatory to have a license if you wish to breed your dogs. They have everything under control with their animals that they rescue others from different countries.

He adds, “The other thing that impressed me so much in Europe was how willing they were to adopt older or injured dogs” because he sees how Americans are towards injured or older dogs. Cesar wishes to educate more people about this problem and potential solutions like the ones in Germany. I believe that Cesar is right; more people need to see the reality of stray animals.

It is hard for someone to speak up and make a difference unless you have many followers or you’re famous and rich, but as long as you take care of your pets you can influence many people.

Background of POSC

The shelter that we now know as the Philippine Orthopedic Specialized Center (POSC) has a rich history that dates back to the post-war era. Established in 1945 as a small clinic for wounded soldiers, the shelter has evolved over the years to become a premier orthopedic hospital in the country.

In the early years, the clinic was staffed by a team of dedicated doctors and nurses who worked tirelessly to provide medical care to those in need. As the demand for orthopedic services grew, the clinic expanded its facilities and services to cater to a wider range of patients.

In the 1960s, the clinic was officially recognized as a specialized center for orthopedic care, and its name was changed to the Philippine Orthopedic Specialized Center. Since then, POSC has continued to grow and develop, introducing new technologies and treatment modalities to stay at the forefront of orthopedic care.

Today, POSC is a leading provider of orthopedic services in the country, offering a wide range of treatments and procedures for various musculoskeletal conditions. Its team of highly trained doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals work together to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients from all walks of life.

POSC Services and Solutions
Pet Orphans of Southern California tries to do the most they can to help stray animals in our community. Their dedication to providing a safe haven for these animals is truly inspiring. When we went in to tour their facilities we got the chance to learn more about exactly what they do and how it’s helping unwanted animals. The tour was a great opportunity to see firsthand the impact of their work. Unfortunately because they are not a city shelter they cannot accept stray animals but they can take in pets that owners can no longer take care of. However, they do work closely with city shelters to help rescue animals in need. Although there is some hope for stray animals taken to the city shelters. The city shelters have limited resources, so Pet Orphans’ efforts are crucial in helping to reduce the number of stray animals. Pet Orphans regularly visits the North and East Valley pet shelters and adopts pets they see that need to be rescued. This proactive approach helps to ensure that animals in need receive the care and attention they deserve. If dogs are rescued they are immediately enrolled into Haut Dog School, which is a school located within their shelter. The school provides a safe and supportive environment for the dogs to learn and grow. Here dogs are trained to become loving playful domestic pets, they are also taught tricks to keep them exercising. The training program is designed to help the dogs become well-adjusted and adoptable pets. Pet Orphans has joined with Fox 11 News to help find homes for the pets they have in their shelter. This partnership has been instrumental in helping to raise awareness about the shelter and its mission.

Every Friday a new pet is featured in the segment called “Pet Project” on the news to see if anyone would want to adopt them. The segment has been a huge success, with many pets finding forever homes as a result. When a pet is adopted, the shelter gives the new owners a week’s worth of pet food for their new family member. This generous gesture helps to ease the transition for both the pet and the new owner. They do this to help the owners with expenses they are not accustomed to. By providing this support, Pet Orphans helps to ensure that the adoption process is as smooth as possible. Because they are doing all this to try and decrease the population of stray animals they do offer affordable neuter surgeries for pets. This service is a vital part of their mission to reduce pet overpopulation. They do not offer to spay within their shelter because they feel it is more important to neuter males than females. While this may seem counterintuitive, their reasoning is based on a careful consideration of the most effective way to address the issue. They have a program where every Monday they have a veterinarian come in and perform the surgeries on the animals. This regular program helps to ensure that as many animals as possible receive the care they need. The loving staff and volunteers at Pet Orphans go above and beyond to give the best to the animals they home. Their dedication and compassion are truly inspiring, and a testament to the shelter’s commitment to its mission. They are very successful at finding homes for their friends. As a result, Pet Orphans has become a trusted and respected organization in the community.

Bibliography

Jaiswal, S., Kumar, A., & Chakraborty, S. (2023). Balancing the Scales of Governance: Man vs Strays. NUJS J. Regul. Stud., 8, 70.

“Stray and Feral Cats” ASPCA < http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/stray-and-feral-cats>
Whitfort, A., Woodhouse, F., Ho, S., & Chun, M. (2023). The Impact of Discretion in the Criminal Justice System on Animal Cruelty Prosecutions in Hong Kong. Animal Abuse and Interpersonal Violence: A Psycho‐Criminological Understanding, 210-226.

“Our Mission” Pet Orphans of Southern California < http://petorphans.org/our-mission/>

Munir, S. M. I., Mokhtar, M. I., & Arham, A. F. (2023). Public perspectives on strays and companion animal management in Malaysia. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1428.
Miller, Lucy “The Plight of Stray Dogs in India” National Student 01st November, 2011

Millan, Cesar “Solving the Stray and Unwanted Dog Problem” Cesar’s Way 04th June, 2013

Papavasili, T., Kontogeorgos, A., Mavrommati, A., Sossidou, E. N., & Chatzitheodoridis, F. (2024). REVIEW OF STRAY DOG MANAGEMENT: DOG DAYS IN THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 27(2).

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Tags: Addressing Roaming Domestic Animals, Animal Cruelty and Abuse, Animal Rescue, Animal Shelter, Animal Welfare