This petition is born out of a deep concern for the for the welfare and overpopulation of dogs and cats in the United States. The fact that most animal rescues are overwhelmed and unable to accommodate the sheer number of animals in need, is a testament to the urgency and gravity of this issue.

It's time we address the root cause of domestic animal overpopulation by restricting dog and cat breeding to specific police, military, and service animal breeders for approximately 4 years. This will allow ample time for homeless and neglected animals to be adopted, but still provide opportunity for certain breeds to be repopulated in a controlled manner later on. Once the 4 years is up, individuals could apply for a domestic animal breeding license and be subject to inspections or criminal charges if caught not following particular procedures and guidelines (E.g. home checks) 

While dogs are capable of having puppies at any age, vets advise that breeding should have stopped by the time the female dog reaches eight years old. Although many breeders stop breeding from as early as five to six years of age (petwise-insurance.com)

In theory, a female dog can have over 10 litters during her lifetime, but most dogs can't produce this number of healthy litters and remain healthy themselves. Overbreeding can have serious health consequences—not just for the mother, but for her puppies (Rover.com)

Pregnancy in a feline can occur as early as the first heat at 4 months. Cats don't experience menopause, so they continue to go into heat well into their senior years (12+). Once pregnant, a cat's gestation period is roughly 2 months, making it possible for her to birth as many as five litters a year. While cats usually have an average of four kittens in each litter, this can range from one to 12 kittens. If you do the math, that is a huge number of potential kittens being born!

Many individuals carelessly breed dogs and cats as many times as they can throughout the animals life cycle for monetary gain, without regard for what will happen to the animal in the future. In many cases, the animal is surrendered to an already full shelter (best case) or left for dead in the street or on the side of a highway. Targeting the root of the problem will hopefully reduce animal casualties, and allow animals already being cared for by non-profits to have the opportunity to find a home. 

The Humane Society estimates that there are about 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year in the United States alone (Humane Society). These figures do not even account for those who never make it to these shelters. Sadly, only half of these animals find homes while others have to be euthanized due to LACK OF SPACE and resources (ASPCA).

This situation can be mitigated by implementing stricter regulations on animal breeding. By limiting breeding activities exclusively to federally approved working dog and service animal breeders, we can ensure that every birth contributes positively towards preserving species or protecting public safety, or an individuals health rather than adding more pressure on already strained rescue centers. You don’t see reptiles, horses, or avians running around with no idea where to go. This petition is specifically for dogs and cats. 

We call upon our lawmakers to enact legislation that will restrict dog and cat breeding for approximately 4 years. This step will not only help control pet overpopulation but also contribute significantly towards domestic animal preservation efforts.

Please sign this petition if you believe in a future where every animal has a safe home and no rescue center has to turn away an innocent life due its capacity being overwhelmed. 

The pup in this photo is named Smitty, and he is available for adoption at Skiatook Paws & Claws Animal Rescue in Oklahoma. You can apply at https://www.skiatookpawsandclaws.com 

(Smitty was adopted but there are plenty more animals for adoption)