The benefits for humans to reduce dog overpopulation outweigh the costs

The overpopulation of companion animals results in millions of deaths each year at shelters. The first step in minimizing these deaths is to minimize the direct suffering of the animals. And in the process creating a potential welfare impact.

To help visualize the cost and benefit analysis, I will list a variety of direct costs caused by animal overpopulation.

1. Migration Costs: After disposing of your pet and leaving them to those who actually care. The shelters are left to spend almost one billion every year to deal with unwanted animals.
2. Dog Bite Costs: The issue of strays includes their actions. Dog bites are in the top twelve most numerous non-fatal injuries in the United States.
3. Nuisance Costs: Strays cause a variety of complaint calls and the responding animal control. $500 million is spent each year for animal control.(Frank,108)
4. Ecosystem Costs: There is a reported ten million dollar cost of livestock loss due to dogs.

The benefit of reducing overpopulation ? Live without these costs and create a “no kill” society that adopts dogs and participates as part of the solution and not the cause. Ten to fifteen Americans belong to at least one animal welfare group. Why not act on it?