What's the Problem?

Our concerns centre on the following:

1. Pet overpopulation due to failure to spay/neuter
2. Killing adoptable pets as a method of population control
3. Rescue groups overloaded
4. City policies concerning animal control and sheltering
5. Barriers to sterilization
6. Irresponsible pet ownership
7. Inadequate collaboration and partnership
8. Barriers to pet retention
9. Lack of community education

At NOKA, we believe that there is a better way to control pet population than killing pets who find themselves without a home. Our goal is to eliminate the need for the killing of adoptable pets. There is a better, more humane and responsible way to control numbers and enhance the lives of companion animals living in Lethbridge. In pursuing our goal of Lethbridge becoming a No-Kill City, Lethbridge would be joining other progressive cities in Canada and the US where the No-Kill concept is becoming and has become a reality.

Pet Overpopulation due to Failure to Spay/Neuter

Cats and dogs that are not sterilized can produce thousands of offspring. The number of offspring exceeds the number of available homes.

An unspayed female cat, her mate and all of their offspring, producing 2 litters per year, with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter, can total: In 1 year, 12; in 2 years, 67; in 3 years, 376; in 4 years, 2,107; in 5 years, 11,801; and in 9 years, 11,606,077!

An unspayed female dog, her mate and all of their puppies and their puppies’ puppies, if none are ever spayed or neutered, add up to: In 1 year, 16; in 2 years, 128; in 3 years, 512; in 4 years, 2,048; in 5 years, 12,288; and in 6 years, 67,000!

Hundreds, if not thousands, of puppies and kittens are born every year in Lethbridge. Between backyard “breeders”, legitimate breeders, pet store and puppy mill imports, ferals and strays, and many "oops" breedings, many animals are made available for adoption.

Many pets are also surrendered by their owners for a variety of reasons.

In a city of 75,000 there is simply not the demand for the number of pets generated and surrendered each year. Pets for whom no home is found are dropped off at the City-run animal shelter (where they are kept for 72 hours until eligible for adoption or killing) , abandoned by owners who are moving, or turned loose in city streets or fields. Animals at large are often maimed or killed by vehicles, other animals, starvation, or exposure. The perils of homeless animals are great and many cats and dogs suffer painful deaths.

Failing to spay/neuter pets is grossly unfair. Spaying and neutering saves lives.

Killing Adoptable Pets as Method of Population Control

One of NOKA's primary objectives is to bring to light and challenge the unmitigated killing of healthy and adoptable pets each year as a means of pet population control.

In 2003, the city shelter took in 600 dogs. Of these, 257 were claimed by their owners, 167 were adopted out, and 79 were killed, the majority of which were healthy and adoptable (per veterinary report). That same year, the shelter took in 344 cats. Of these, 196 cats were killed, representing a euthanasia rate of 54%.

Failure to address the root cause of pet overpopulation in Lethbridge contribues to 'catch and kill' pet control. The city shelter is often left with few options but to terminate lives. What else can they do?

The current band-aid solution to overpopulation is that many “excess” pets are killed. More “upstream” measures, such as mandatory sterilization, are not in place to control the burgeoning companion animal population. A question of morals and responsibility: Is killing the most humane and responsible way to control the pet population?

Rescue Groups Overloaded

In 2004, Lethbridge’s cat rescue groups were caring for 220 of the thousands of cats that are stray and abandoned. In addition, the Humane Society cares for cats and dogs. Weekly, local cat rescue groups turn away 500 more cats and kittens that are being abandoned by their owners or that are born to animals that are already abandoned.

There is no longer a local dog rescue group. Lethbridge’s only dog rescue group, K-9 Rescue, was forced to cease operations due to lack of foster homes, resources and volunteers.

City Policies Concerning Animal Control and Sheltering

Lethbridge City contracts both animal control/bylaw enforcement and animal sheltering to the same company. This may present problems because these two areas require different skill sets of the workers (i.e. bylaw enforcement versus compassionate care and adoption support). In addition, a conflict of interest may be presented between the moral imperative to conserve life and the bylaw mandate to control numbers.

Barriers to Sterlization

The primary reasons pet owners are not having their pets spayed or neutered are:

• Irresponsibility
• Lack of education
• Misinformation
• Inconvenience
• Lack of respect for the pet’s wellbeing
• Lack of incentive to care
• Cost

These are areas NOKA believes need to be addressed, and as such is seeking City assistance and public support.

Irresponsible Pet Ownership

Factors in irresponsible pet ownership include: Failure to consider the cost of owning a pet, failure to provide the pet with identification, lack of information, and failure to consider the long term commitment of owning a pet. This last item is particularly clear when pets are “gifts” or when pet purchasers are overcome by pet store infatuation.

Inadequate Collaboration and Partnerships

There exists a tremendous need to increase collaboration and partnership between shelters, rescue groups and the City. This would help meet the need for more progressive and expeditious adoption programs. Foster homes need to be improved and increased in number. Volunteers need to be encouraged and increased in number in animal sheltering and rescue operations. Spay/neuter programs need to become a part of animal control.

Barriers to Pet Retention

Pets often find themselves out of a home because their owner failed to understand commitment and failed to understand pet behavior. In addition, many rental properties disallow pets, leading to owner surrender. A change in life circumstances can lead to owner surrender as well.

Lack of Community Education

Free, widely distributed public information is not readily available for pet owners, especially new or first time owners. An organized campaign promoting responsible pet ownership does not exist.