Pet overpopulation is a crisis in the United States. Most people are unaware that a dog or cat is killed in a US animal shelter every 90 seconds. In 2023, over 38,000 dogs and cats were killed in North Carolina animal shelters because they did not have a place to call home. While not every animal can be saved (such as a dog who has been severely injured by being hit by a car and is suffering), we need to do better and be the voice to the voiceless!

North Carolina's laws need to change. We need mandatory spay/neuter laws to stop the births of unwanted animals, shelter intake, and euthanasia of healthy adoptable animals in shelters. The American Veterinary Medical Association states, "By having your pet spayed or neutered, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted animals. What's more, you could be setting your pet up for a longer life, as studies have repeatedly shown that spayed or neutered dogs and cats live longer, on average, than other dogs and cats. This advantage is likely due to the health and behavioral benefits of the procedures." There are no "accidental" unwanted litters when pets are spayed and neutered!

Young and old, purebreds and "Heinz 57" mixed breeds, big dogs and little dogs, and everyone in between can be found at local animal shelters and rescues. And sadly, any of these animals can find themselves on the list that nobody ever wants to be on. Young kittens and puppies are some of the most vulnerable populations in animal shelters because most do not have the staff to give them the round the clock care they need. Like a newborn human, kittens and puppies need to be fed every few hours. With limited staffing and hours, it is inhumane to let these babies starve. They are also more susceptible to diseases that spread in the shelters. Many neonatal kittens and puppies are sadly killed for these reasons.

To our North Carolina lawmakers, I am proposing the following.:

• Mandatory spay/neuter for all pets over 6 months of age.
• An exemption form can be obtained from a veterinarian due to health issues.
• Breeders can obtain a breeder's license from the county animal control. It will be renewed annually, and the NC Department of Agriculture and the county Animal Control have the right to inspect the breeding premesis to ensure safe and sanitary conditions.
• Citations will be given for violations of the mandatory spay/neuter law. The pet owner will have 60 days to have their pet spayed/neutered. The citation will include contact information for local vets and low cost spay/neuter clinics. If there is a financial hardship, the owner can apply for a voucher from the county animal control to help offset the cost. After the pet is spayed/neutered, the owner will bring proof to the court or animal control, and the citation will be dismissed. If the pet has not been spayed/neutered in this time, the owner will be subject to a $1000 fine. These fines will help fund county animal control and spay/neuter services.

A similar law (Senate Bill 820) was passed in Maryland in 2013. After this law was passed, a Maryland Department of Agriculture Spay/Neuter Grants report found “Of cats euthanized, there has been a 43% reduction from 2013 to 2016, and a reduction of intake of 2.5%. Of dogs euthanized, there has been a 25% from 2013 to 2016, and a 4% reduction of intake.” 

In addition to signing this petition for mandatory spaying and neutering pets in NC, the following can be done to help animals in shelters waiting for their furever homes.:

• Volunteering. Even taking a dog out of his/her kennel for a half an hour walk will help both the dog (and his/her mental health) and the staff, who are often overwhelmed. Transporting a homeless pet from an overcrowded shelter to a rescue, foster home, or furever family can mean the difference between life and death! Taking pictures of adoptable pets and helping with social media helps our furry friends find their new homes! Contact your local rescues and shelters to see how you can help! 
• Donations. Contact your local shelter/rescue first to see what they need. As the population of North Carolina has increased, unfortunately, the budgets for Animal Control in many counties has not increased also. Many shelters are in need of old blankets, sheets, and towels. They also do a lot of laundry and cleaning so bleach, laundry detergent, Lysol wipes, and other cleaning supplies are welcomed. And of course, food, treats, and toys are needed. These items can be ordered from sites like Amazon or Chewy and sent directly to the shelter or rescue. Many shelters have a "pet food pantry" for pets in need so that their owners do not have to surrender them for not being able to afford to feed them.
• Cash donations to shelters, rescue groups, and nonprofit spay/neuter clinics. Many people feed stray/feral cats but cannot afford to have all of them fixed. Donations to low cost spay/neuter clinics help pay for TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) for these unowned outside cats who would otherwise be having 2-4 litters a year. 75% of the kittens born outside die before they are 6 months old. The ones who survives continue the cycle of reproduction and live difficult lives.
• Fostering. A rescue is much more likely to pull an animal from a shelter if they have a foster in place. Shelters and rescues will provide food and other necessities for the pet you're fostering. This frees up space in crowded shelters, helps improve the animal's mental health, and lets the foster and rescue/shelter see the animal's true personality to help a forever home. Many animals become depressed and shut down while at the shelter. Fostering can be short term or long term. Sometimes kittens and puppies need somewhere outside of the shelter for a few weeks to get healthy and bigger so that they can be vetted (and fixed!) before they go to their forever homes. Contact your local shelters rescues and talk about how you can help!

Citations and links for further reading.:

https://bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statistics/north-carolina

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/spaying-and-neutering

https://voteanimals.org/kudos-maryland-spayneuter-grants-program/

Maryland Spay/Neuter Fund: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/legislation/details/sb0820?ys=2013rs#:~:text=Establishing%20the%20Spay%2FNeuter%20Fund,the%20revenue%20into%20the%20Fund%3B

https://mda.maryland.gov/about_mda/Documents/SNAB/Senate%20Bill%20820.pdf

Preliminary Assessment of the Effects of Recent Spay/Neuter Legislation in Buncombe County, NC: https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/reports/FinalReportPierceReed.pdf

Nationwide search for low cost spay/neuter services and organizations: https://gethelp.alleycat.org/