A fertile cat can have approximately three litters per year with each litter having about 5 kittens. Therefore within seven years, her and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats.
Within six years, a fertile female dog and her offspring may produce 67,000 dogs.
8-10 million (8,000,000) cats and dogs enter shelters each year.
Shelters euthanize 4-5 million (5,000,000) cats and dogs each year.
About half of the dogs or cats that enter shelters are euthanized.
There are estimated to be between four and six thousand shelters in the United States.
There are too many animals and too few good homes.
Some animals are transferred to warehouses or other sources that use them for research or experimentation.
Animals that have been roaming the streets can pose a health threat to humans and other animals.
Some may carry diseases.
Uncontrolled breeding can lead to inbreeding, mean dogs, and varied breeds.
Many unwanted or neglected pets are euthanized (humanely destructed) each day.