Animal homelessness and euthanasia are tragic problems in Oregon that can be solved with your help. They are caused both by animal overpopulation from failure to spay/neuter pets before they reproduce AND by pets being abandoned from failure to commit to a pet for its lifetime. Year after year, thousands of animals are given up because they are unwanted, inconvenient, do not behave. Animal protection workers, communities and pets experience the terrible results, whether animals are abandoned on the streets, in apartments, in the country or surrendered to a shelter. Over 40,000 dogs and cats are killed in Oregon each year mainly because they are homeless. Many people adopt, but there are not enough homes for the number of animals. Here is what you can do to help:

Prevent "just one litter" and accidental litters by spaying and neutering your pets before they have a chance to reproduce.

  • Encourage, educate and enable your family, friends and neighbors to spay/neuter their pets before they have a chance to reproduce.
  • If you feed or care for stray or feral cats, have them spayed or neutered right away.

Year-round information and financial assistance for spay/neuter:

Spaying and Neutering is much less expensive, emotionally and financially, than euthanasia. Remember cats can become pregnant at four months and while nursing. Spay/neuter can be safely performed as early as eight weeks.

Keep your pets for life.

  • Learn about types of animals and their care BEFORE you obtain a pet.
  • Take behavior classes/obedience training with your dog. It's fun and may save your dog's life. Obtain help if your cat has a behavioral problem.
  • Please provide your pets with two forms of identification -- a tag inscribed with your phone number and either a tattoo or a microchip.

For assistance:

  • Oregon Humane Society Free Pet Behavior Help Line
    503-285-7722 ext. 227
    http://www.oregonhumane.org/petcare/
  • Indigo Rescue
    503-626-7222 (free consultation to help end animal abandonment)
    http://www.indigorescue.org
  • Local Animal Shelters and Organizations
  • Yellow Pages under Dog Trainers, Animal Behaviorists
  • Online and Books from your local library or bookstore

Save Animal Lives AND Tax Dollars!

~ It Takes a Community ~