Why are dogs and cats euthanized? The current situation and what we can do

Japan is said to have one of the highest rates of dog and cat euthanasia in the world. Meanwhile, demand for pets continues to grow every year. This high demand has led to mass breeding of popular dog breeds, resulting in unsold pets in pet shops.

Another characteristic of today's society is that irresponsible pet owners are easily adopting dogs and cats due to the boom and the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the dark side of pet ownership, such as abandoning pets because they are not what they expected or are difficult to care for, has become a social issue.

The Ministry of the Environment's Nature Conservation Bureau has designated September 20th to 26th of each year as Animal Welfare Week. The Animal Welfare and Management Act states, "Animal Welfare Week will be established to deepen public interest and understanding of the welfare and proper care of animals, which are living things." It also states, "This week is intended to deepen public interest and understanding of the welfare and proper care of animals."

The effectiveness of government efforts is evident, with announcements showing a decline in the number of rescued pets in recent years. However, the fact remains that tens of thousands of small lives are still lost each year.

In this article, we summarize the current situation in which many precious dogs and cats are euthanized and what we, as humans, can do.

※"Animal Welfare and Proper Management," Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation Bureau website

Why the number of dogs and cats being euthanized is decreasing

Dogs and cats bring joy and enrichment to their owners' lives. However, behind the scenes, it is also true that many animal suffering issues arise due to improper treatment by animal breeders and irresponsible owners.

As a result, the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals was revised in September 2013. The revised Act sets the theme of "Toward the Realization of a Society in Coexistence between Humans and Animals" and lists specific initiatives.

The revised Animal Welfare and Management Act requires animal owners to take responsibility for the proper care of their animals throughout their lives. It also strengthens regulations for all animal-handling businesses. Furthermore, each prefecture can refuse to take in an animal without a valid reason, which violates the "lifelong care" principle.

In addition, as private rescue organizations have become more active in directly taking in dogs and cats, they are actively working to return them to their owners or find new homes for them. It's also true that the number of animals being taken in by public health centers has been declining due to the increased activity of rescue organizations.

[Reference] "Regarding the September 2013 Legal Amendments," Ehime Prefectural Government Website

Why are dogs and cats euthanized?

Some people may think that if abandoned dogs and cats can be protected at public health centers, there is no need to euthanize them. However, currently, the space and number of cages available for protecting dogs and cats are limited.

As a result, we cannot continue to protect the ever-increasing number of rescued dogs and cats. If the number of rescued pets exceeds a certain capacity, it becomes difficult to continue protecting them.

As a result, if no one is willing to adopt them at adoption events, they will end up being euthanized.

Current Status of Dog and Cat Euthanasia

30,000 cats are culled annually

According to data from the Ministry of the Environment, the number of cats culled in fiscal year 2019 exceeded 32,000.

Among these, the number of cats culled is overwhelmingly higher, about five times that of dogs. Cats reach sexual maturity at 5-6 months of age and are said to give birth to 4-6 pups per litter. Owners who do not spay or neuter their cats are increasingly raising large numbers of kittens, leading to overpopulation and overpopulation. The same is true for stray cats, which naturally increase the number of unhappy cats.

[Reference] "Animal Welfare and Proper Management," Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation Bureau website

From Owners to the Public Health Center

For various reasons, some owners are unable to keep their pets and end up taking them to public health centers.

A common scenario is when an owner becomes elderly and the caregiver is hospitalized or placed in a nursing home, forcing them to give up their pet. While it's a good idea to appoint a guardian, few people seem to be fully prepared for this.

As a result, when no one wants to take a pet, taking it to a public health center becomes an unavoidable decision.

Rescuing Ownerless Dogs

According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of the Environment, "Status of Collection of Dogs and Cats, and the Containment and Disposal of Injured Animals," the number of dogs and cats rescued from unknown owners far exceeds that of owners. The overwhelming majority of rescues are in cases where the owner cannot be identified, such as abandoned dogs and cats, stray dogs and cats, and those involved in unforeseen accidents. One possible reason for this is the proliferation of stray dogs and cats that have not been spayed or neutered, resulting in the birth of new owners.

[Reference] "Animal Welfare and Proper Management," Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation Bureau website

We want to save dogs and cats! Is there anything we can do?

Once rescued, dogs and cats are posted for adoption, and in most cases, it takes anywhere from a few days to a week.

If the owner doesn't contact us or we can't find a new adopter during this time, the pet may be put down. Let's think again about what we can do to prevent more pets from becoming unhappy.

If you're thinking of adopting a dog or cat, please keep the following in mind.

・Dogs and cats have a lifespan of 10 to 20 years. Please take responsibility for your pet until the end.

- To reduce the number of stray dogs and cats, owners should have their pets microchipped as a form of ownership. Wearable devices that can be attached to collars or other items to allow for tracking are also available.

- To prevent traffic accidents, keep pets indoors. Also, have them spayed or neutered to prevent unplanned and uncontrolled population growth.

- If keeping a pet for its entire life is difficult, you may be able to live with rescued pets for a short period of time by volunteering or fostering them. Please contact the organization in your prefecture.

・It may be possible to support private animal rescue organizations to continue their pet repatriation and adoption activities. You can also support them through donations or the purchase of charity goods.

Summary

Japan has one of the highest pet euthanasia rates in the world, but many lives can be saved with the efforts of each individual. Currently, the nation is working to achieve zero euthanasia, but more than 30,000 animals still die each year.

Low awareness of animals is the reason why Japan is considered a backward country when it comes to pets, despite the current pet boom. If you love dogs and cats, you can take action to prevent more unhappy animals.

Small actions by each individual can eventually evolve into larger actions through the influence of many people.

Let's think again about what we can do and start with even small things. This will surely be the catalyst for saving many lives that do not need to be lost.