Why are dogs and cats euthanized? The reality and what owners can do

If you follow pet-related topics, you'll often see news about dogs and cats being euthanized.

The annual number of dogs euthanized is approximately 4,000, and the number of cats euthanized is approximately 19,000.

(Source: Ministry of the Environment - Statistical Data "Status of Collection of Dogs and Cats, and the Acquisition and Disposal of Injured Animals, etc."

"How many dogs and cats are being euthanized?"

"Is there anything I can do as an individual?"

For those of you with questions like these, we've compiled information on euthanasia of dogs and cats.

Even if you can't live with a dog or cat for some reason, we'll introduce what you can do to achieve zero euthanasia, so please read to the end.

Why? Reasons why dogs and cats are euthanized

According to a 2020 Ministry of the Environment survey, 4,059 dogs and 19,705 cats were euthanized, resulting in a total loss of 23,764 lives.

(Source: Ministry of the Environment - Statistical Data "Status of Collection of Dogs and Cats, and Acquisition and Disposal of Injured Animals, etc.")

Of these, the number of puppies and kittens euthanized was 13,836.

Although an increasing number of people are adopting dogs and cats from animal shelters and rescue groups in search of new family members, the fact remains that many dogs and cats are still being euthanized.

Why are dogs and cats euthanized in the first place?

Why euthanasia persists

Dogs and cats are euthanized for two reasons:

1. Unneutered/unspayed stray dogs and cats breed.
2. Owners selfishly surrender them to animal shelters.

Stray dogs and cats have an incredible reproductive capacity, even producing offspring between parents and children or siblings.

For example, if cats are not spayed or neutered, the population will increase to more than 20 in one year, more than 80 in two years, and more than 2,000 in three years.

(Source: Ministry of the Environment Pamphlet "Do you want to keep more pets?")

The situation is one in which large numbers of dogs and cats are being protected by local governments, and if there are no people to take them, they are euthanized.

Furthermore, dogs and cats that are left at animal shelters for various reasons of their owners' selfishness are euthanized if no one takes them.

For these reasons, the number of dogs and cats euthanized has not decreased.

Cats are particularly common

Cats are euthanized at a particularly high rate, about five times the rate of dogs.

The reason is that the number of rescued cats is overwhelmingly large, and it is extremely difficult to adopt stray cats.

In Japan, stray dogs are required to be protected under the Rabies Prevention Act. Therefore, you won't see stray dogs on the streets.

On the other hand, stray cats are plentiful, and if they meet, they will breed, resulting in even more kittens. While many of these stray cats are rescued, they often have a fear of people, making it difficult to adopt them into regular homes.

The Dark Side of the Pet Industry and Culling

In the past, unscrupulous pet dealers would bring unsold dogs and cats to public health centers.

Due to amendments to the Animal Welfare Act, the number of unscrupulous dealers bringing in dogs and cats has decreased, but there are still cases where pet dealers pose as individuals and bring dogs and cats to public health centers.

As a result, there are still dogs and cats caught up in the dark side of the pet industry.

In addition, there are now "recruitment companies" that take in unsold or bred dogs and cats for a fee.

While taking in animals is not illegal, unscrupulous companies sometimes cram animals into small cages without food or water, leaving them to languish and die.

The existence of such unscrupulous companies is absolutely unacceptable.

What individuals can do to achieve zero euthanasia

Here, we'll introduce what individuals can do to achieve zero euthanasia for dogs and cats.

We'll introduce activities that are not only available to pet owners, but also to those who cannot keep dogs or cats. Please take a look.

What Dog and Cat Owners Can Do

To achieve zero euthanasia, there are two things dog and cat owners can do:

• Make sure your pet doesn't get lost
• Get your pet spayed or neutered

If your pet gets lost, dogs will be taken to a shelter to prevent rabies. If they aren't returned to their owner or someone finds them during the shelter period, they will be euthanized.

To prevent the worst-case scenario, make sure your pet can't escape from the house and keep it on a leash or harness even when walking.

Cats are also at risk of being rescued or breeding with stray cats, resulting in an increase in the number of kittens. We recommend locking the door to prevent cats from accidentally venturing out.

It is also important to have your pet neutered or spayed.

If an unwanted pregnancy occurs, if the owner is unable to care for the pet, they will have to find a home for it, or if they cannot find one, they will have to take the pet to the public health center. Taking the pet to the public health center may ultimately result in the pet being euthanized.

To prevent unplanned breeding, if you do not wish to breed, be sure to have your pet neutered or spayed.

Neutered or spayed dogs and cats are also free from the stress of mating.

What you can do even if you can't keep a dog or cat

Even if you cannot keep a dog or cat for some reason, you can still contribute to zero euthanasia by participating in the following activities.

• Participate in TNR activities
• Caring for rescue dogs and cats

TNR is the process of capturing stray cats and spaying/neutering them to ensure they live safely. After surgery, stray cats are returned to their original habitat.

TNR activities are supported by many volunteers, so please consider participating.

You can find information about nearby TNR activities by searching for "area name + TNR activity".

Some rescue organizations also operate shelters that care for rescued dogs and cats.

Shelters that are short-staffed are always looking for volunteers.

If you're interested in helping with daily care, such as preparing meals and walking rescued dogs and cats, please consider volunteering.

For more information on volunteering at shelters, please refer to the following article.

【Support dog and cat shelters! Introducing volunteers and five ways to support us】

How can I help rescued dogs and cats? Essential Knowledge

Next, we'll introduce some important points to keep in mind when adopting a rescue dog or cat.

• Adopting from a Public Health Center
• Adopting an Adult Dog or Cat
• Adopting from a Home with Existing Dogs or Cats

To ensure a smooth adoption process, first check the adoption conditions and fees.

Adopting from a Public Health Center

To adopt a rescue dog or cat from a public health center, you must meet the following conditions and pay the following fees:

The adoption conditions may seem long, but they are the bare minimum for raising a dog or cat.

Meeting the conditions is important, but be sure to meet the dog or cat you plan to adopt before adopting to ensure compatibility. If they're compatible, you'll be able to live together without unnecessary stress.

Adoption fees are generally free, but many places charge an administrative fee. While most are under ¥10,000, we recommend checking in advance.

For details on the conditions and costs of adopting rescued dogs and cats from a public health center, please see this article.

【I want to adopt a dog or cat from a public health center! Explaining the costs, conditions, and more! 】

Adopting an Adult Dog or Cat

Adult dogs and cats at animal shelters may not be used to people even after the socialization period and may be very wary. Even if they are wary at first, please continue to patiently try to get along with them.

Also, be sure to properly train them not to jump on or bite people. Potty training, especially for dogs, requires patience.

For information on how to potty train an adult dog, please see the following article.

【Can adult dogs be potty trained? Introducing three key points for success】

Neutering/neutering may be mandatory for adult dogs and cats.

However, because neutering/neutering requires general anesthesia, the risk of side effects increases with age. Be sure to check with your veterinarian beforehand to determine the extent of the risks.

The risks, advantages, and disadvantages of neutering adult dogs are explained in detail in the following article.

【【When to Neuter a Dog】Is it too late for an adult dog? Risks, Advantages, and Disadvantages】

Adopting into a home with existing dogs or cats

If you already have a dog or cat, the process will vary depending on which one was there first.

If you already have a dog, it's often relatively easy to adopt a rescue dog or cat. Dogs live in groups, so they may welcome new dogs or cats into their home and care for them.

If you already have a cat, try to keep them apart for a while. Cats are sensitive to changes in their environment, so they may feel very stressed when a new family member arrives.

At first, try to keep them in separate spaces. Once they're able to recognize each other from a distance, gradually introduce them to each other by meeting face-to-face.

If owners try to force their pets to get along, it can lead to fights, so please help them get along naturally.

For more information on raising a new cat if you already have a dog or cat, please see the following article.

【【I love both!】Can dogs and cats be kept together? Introducing methods and precautions】

Summary (Why dogs and cats are euthanized)

The main reasons why dog ​​and cat euthanasia continues to be a problem are the proliferation of stray dogs and cats and the selfishness of their owners.

Although not included in the numbers released by the government, some dogs and cats meet tragic ends at the hands of unscrupulous pet dealers and adoption companies.

Just like us humans, dogs and cats are living beings, and their lives are just as precious.

To reduce the number of dogs and cats that meet a tragic fate, owners can prevent them from getting lost and perform spay/neuter surgery.

Even if you can't keep a pet for some reason, you can participate in TNR activities and care for rescued animals.

Pet volunteers are always short on manpower, so if you're interested in caring for dogs or cats, please consider this.

When adopting a rescued dog or cat, there are many things to check beforehand, such as adoption conditions and fees. Dogs and cats will likely live with you as family members for over 10 years, so please be sure to prepare well before welcoming them into your home.

Even small actions by each of us can help reduce the number of dogs and cats euthanized. Let's start by doing what we can to reduce the number of dogs and cats that meet such a tragic fate.