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By making sure that your pet can't have puppies or kittens, you'll have peace of mind that his or her offspring won't be euthanized in an animal shelter or that they won't be suffering by freezing or staving to death. Many people are surprised to learn that nationwide, there are more than 3 million cats and dogs that are euthanized in shelters. You might think that these are animals born in the street or there is something "wrong" with them. But oftern they are the next generation of one time cherished family pets, even the purebreds. Maybe someone's dog or cat escaped just one time. Below are some very interesting facts estimated by the Humane Society of the US. Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 6-8 million (HSUS estimate) Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: 3-4 million (HSUS estimate) Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 3-4 million (HSUS estimate) Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year: Between 600,000 and 750,000 -- 30% of dogs and 2-5% of cats entering shelters (HSUS estimate) Number of animal shelters in the United States: Between 4,000 and 6,000 (HSUS estimate) Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred: 25% (HSUS estimate) Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3 Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6 Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2 Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10 |