A while back someone interviewing Dr. Jen about the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) and euthanasia rates asked her what she needed. A bigger facility? More money? Her answer said everything, “No. We need fewer animals coming to the shelter and that will only be accomplished with more rigorous spaying and neutering.”

As things are in the United States, we will never be able to save them all when they are brought to shelters – either by owners or as strays – at an estimated average of 17,000 to 23,000 animals per day. In 2012, the WCAC took in an average of 145 animals per week; adoptions, transfer to rescues, and owner reclaims averaged 71 per week.

Most every rescue and shelter has spay and neuter policies that will not let an animal be adopted unless it has been or will be altered. The WCAC also tries to incentivize owners to reclaim their “intact” pets by offering reduced fines if they will let the shelter vets spay or neuter their pet.

It doesn’t always work. And it’s frustrating for those of us who see all the wonderful abandoned animals having to live at the shelter and hope that someone will be their furever family. The reasons people give to keep them intact, such as “it’s wrong to take away their manhood/womanhood” or “I love them so much and they’re so cute I want them to have one litter before we have them altered,” make us want to scream and rant.

You want to respect others’ opinions, but when you know how many animals have to be euthanized every day the thought of random and accidental pregnancies is infuriating.

I’ll cover other aspects of spaying and neutering over the course of the month so for now I leave you with this – please make sure your pets, your family’s pets, and your friends’ pets have been spayed or neutered.

Stop the madness before it starts!

Spotlight on Man Man

Now Man Man (WCAC ID: 97507) is a special boy as during his 51+ day stay he became the foster coordinator’s go-to dog for testing the temperament of other dogs and today I found out that he is going to go into foster at Camp Bow Bow.

This beautiful red and white Terrier mix is about a year and a half old and weighs around 56 pounds. He came to the WCAC in early December as a stray and he is a volunteer favorite. But you know what, I think I’ll let Man Man speak for himself.

Man Man is also one of Shannon Johnstone’s famous Landfill Dogs. Shannon had this to say about him, “This good boy is very snuggly and goofy. He loves humans, walks well on a leash, plays well with other dogs, knows “SIT”, is very treat motivated, and is constantly looking to people for direction. He is a volunteer favorite, and has a very wrinkly head and a luxurious copper brown coat. He will try to climb in your lap no matter what! It is very easy to fall in love with this guy. Come on out and see for yourself.”

Man Man is currently at the Wake County Animal Center, but with his new foster opportunity you need to check the website and call ahead if you want to visit with him. Or, just stop by and see all the other wonderful dogs, cats, hamsters, and whatever looking for their furever homes.