According to Shelter Animals Count (SAC), in 2023, 359,000 dogs and 330,000 cats were euthanized in shelters across the United States.

According to Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), CACC euthanasia (by request and "other") counted to 3,306 dogs and cats in 2023. Many healthy animals are euthanized due to overcrowding, lack of funding, lack of resources.  

Why outlaw euthanizing adoptable shelter animals due to overcrowding? Euthanasia is a bandaid to cover a much larger issue:

• The issue is overpopulation of cats and dogs in the state of IL
• Overcrowding of shelters
• Lack of state funding and resources to mitigate overpopulation of these animals

No adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home. Your signature and sharing of this petition will solidify that this is a worthy issue for policy-makers to take to Springfield. We are currently working to bring this to various Illinois State Representatives. The hopes is they will back this idea and come up with a bill to save the lives of these animals.

A similar bill SB3791 was to be passed July 2024 but was dropped.

Just a few SOLUTIONS to the overpopulation of cats and dogs in the state of IL:

• Increase Spay/Neuter Program: Low-Cost or Free Clinics, Mobile Clinics
• Community Education and Outreach: Awareness Campaigns, School Programs
• Adoption Incentives: Reduced Fees, Promotions and Events
• Foster Care Programs: Expand Foster Networks, Incentives for Fostering
• Transport Programs: Develop transportation programs to move animals to areas with higher adoption rates
• Outlaw boutique pet shops (like Petland): This would steer people toward adopting from local shelters
• Holding community events to reunite lost pets or outreach programs for owners in crisis
• Animal welfare to increase animal’s socializing behaviors and likability: Mandating each animal in the shelter is able to get out of their cage 2x per week, Making sure staff is attentive and knowledgeable with animal handling
• Pet-Friendly Housing Initiatives: Advocate for policies that support pet ownership in rental housing to reduce the number of animals surrendered to shelters, increase pet limit per household
• Conduct research to understand the demographics and needs of the pet population, leading to more targeted interventions & Track Outcomes: Monitor the success of various programs to adapt and improve strategies over time

All of the solutions to overcrowding of cats and dogs will COST MONEY:

• Increase funding for public state-operated pet shelters: Not relying on volunteers, increasing full and part-time staff budgets
• Funding to go toward animal welfare education in schools, low-income areas, shelters, general public
• Funding for spay/neuter costs
• Funding for animal training/handling
• Funding for marketing adoptable shelter animals
• Funding to fosters for fostering costs
• Funding to lower cost of adoption fees
• Funding for more staff veterinarians, giving full-time hours and livable wages

There are solutions to overpopulation of cats and dogs. Euthanasia is bandaid to a larger issue. Let's tackle the larger issue and give these animals a second chance at a good-quality life.

Why should you care? Because we are a nation known for our love of pets - they become our family. These cats and dogs have faces, names, and stories and have the right to life just like you and me.  

Please do not donate here on change.org

If you would like to donate money, please consider these organizations:

PAWS Chicago

Nokilladvocacycenter.org