Cat and dog population in the US.

[Cotton1]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.was...outputType=amp


love for their pets is apparent in dog parks and grooming parlors, on cat videos and pet food price tags. But just how many pets we love is less clear.

Google the U.S. pet population, and you’re quickly confronted with two oft-cited, and contradictory, sources. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that 68 percent of U.S. households owned some sort of pet in 2016 — “equal to the highest level ever reported,” it gushed in the executive summary. Among those pets were about 90 million dogs and 94 million cats, the group said

More at link..

[Standing Wolf]

Yes, and tragically about one-and-a-half million animals are euthanized in shelters every year - not to mention the homeless dogs and cats, many of them former pets, who are trying to survive on the streets and in the fields of America. This, while too many people patronize breeders in order to have a "purebred".

[Dr. Who]

Yes, and tragically about one-and-a-half million animals are euthanized in shelters every year - not to mention the homeless dogs and cats, many of them former pets, who are trying to survive on the streets and in the fields of America. This, while too many people patronize breeders in order to have a "purebred".

Unfortunately today, many of the shelters now make the adoption of homeless animals almost as arduous as adopting a child and charge fees commensurate with buying purebreeds. For many people the idea of having their home inspected and then waiting to find out whether they are deemed 'qualified' to own a pet is off-putting, particularly when they may be taking on an animal with emotional baggage, making the purchase of a purebred a lot more attractive.

[EvilCat Breath]

I once adopted a rescue min pin from a rescue group. It cost $600.00. My fingerprints were taken and I had a DOJ background check. An investigator interviewed my landlord, my neighbors and a vet reference. I had ahome check. Then I was approved to adopt. Sadly a year later I was abandoned for another home and min pin. He left me for another woman.

Shelters don't do this. You go in and leave with the new furbaby. When I adopted Henry it was from a rescue that specialized in special needs dogs. I had the vet interview, character references and a home check. He was free and 15 years old.

[Standing Wolf]

I guess policies do vary quite widely from one agency to another. We've adopted four cats over the years from two different local rescue groups, both extremely well run and reputable, and it was just a matter of signing the papers and taking them home.

I don't know what any of the private rescue groups and shelters require when it comes to dogs, but the incredible, caring people at the Arizona Humane Society need an adopter to have a photo ID, be at least 18 years of age, and you (and your chosen pup) are good to go.

https://www.azhumane.org/adopt/how-adopting-works/

[Mister D]

I read that feral cats kill and estimated several billion birds every year.

[Standing Wolf]

I read that feral cats kill and estimated several billion birds every year.

That might be a little inflated. Half a billion maybe, according to this source.

https://www.sibleyguides.com/conserv...ird-mortality/

About half as many as are killed by windows.

Besides, the birds are one of the cats' important sources of food. Humans kill roughly 39 million cows, 120 million pigs and more than 8.5 billion chickens every year. A cat has got to eat, too.

[Mister D]

That might be a little inflated. Half a billion maybe, according to this source.

https://www.sibleyguides.com/conserv...ird-mortality/

About half as many as are killed by windows.

Besides, the birds are one of the cats' important sources of food. Humans kill roughly 39 million cows, 120 million pigs and more than 8.5 billion chickens every year. A cat has got to eat, too.

Apparently, this is the source of the claim.

http://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploa...fe-in-U.S..pdf

I suppose their point is that there shouldn't be so many feral cats. The implication being human practices (or laziness and irresponsibility) are part of the problem.

[Standing Wolf]

Apparently, this is the source of the claim.

http://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploa...fe-in-U.S..pdf

I suppose their point is that there shouldn't be so many feral cats. The implication being human practices (or laziness and irresponsibility) are part of the problem.

Of that there is little doubt.