HOUSTON – KPRC 2 and our proud Community partners at Energy Transfer, Houston Christian University and Exclusive Furniture recently supported the tenth annual Clear The Shelters™ campaign, NBC and Telemundo stations’ nationwide pet adoption campaign, which wrapped up on September 10. While adoption counts are still coming in from individual shelters and rescue groups, thousands of cats, dogs, bunnies and other pets found their forever homes in the greater Houston area. A horse was even adopted from our friends at Houston Humane Society!
While the campaign was a success, it only makes a small, temporary dent in Houston’s persistent shelter overcrowding and stray animal problem. According to the American Kennel Club, dogs can have litters of anywhere from one to 12 puppies, with the average being five to six puppies per litter. Cats average between three and five kittens per litter. So, with so many stray and owned animals running loose without having been sterilized, it’s easy to see how the area is constantly inundated with litters of puppies and kittens and not enough homes in which they can live out happy lives.
SPAY AND NEUTER
One solution is for the community to be vigilant in spaying and neutering their pets. Local low-cost and free spay and neuter programs look to alleviate some of the overpopulation:
- Safe Haven Vets in partnership with Laurel’s House
COMMUNITY CATS: TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN (TNR)
Cats are a bit more skilled than dogs at living outdoors. Some communities offer programs to help control the feral cat and kitten population. Cats are trapped, sterilized and released with an identifying ear tip or notch. Here are some resources:
- TNR Texas page for more links and resources
LOW COST PET HEALTH AND WELLNESS
If you have a pet, you know veterinary care can get expensive. There’s help for that, too. In addition to the spay and neuter resources listed above, several local shelters and rescue organizations offer low-cost care and preventatives to help care for your pet. You can get low-cost or free services like rabies vaccinations, heartworm preventative, flea and tick medication and more.
HOW DO WE REACH “NO-KILL” STATUS?
Shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed at levels that are seemingly endless. You can help make a difference by adopting or fostering an animal in need. Rescue groups typically provide crates, food, preventatives and cover veterinary care. They just need fosters to help give shelter, love, and to help with basic training and assessing a pet’s disposition to best prepare them for success in matching them with a loving forever home.
While organizations like Best Friends Animal Society are working toward the goal of “no-kill” animal shelters, the reality is that dogs and cats are humanely euthanized nearly every day in municipal shelters like BARC. Some of these animals are perfectly healthy and adoptable, but there is simply not enough space to hold them. BARC reported an 83.6% total save rate from July 2023 through June 2024 with an intake of a whopping 20,024 cats, dogs and other animals during that year.
In addition to the tireless work of local rescues, out-of-state rescue groups like Pennsylvania-based Bark About It Rescue work with BARC to save pets from daily euthanasia lists. They depend on local fosters, arrange transport and find adopters up north, giving BARC dogs a chance at a happy life.
How can you help? Foster, adopt, volunteer at a shelter, volunteer to transport a pet, or donate to a reputable rescue. Make sure your pets are spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. Be an advocate for the animals by sharing adoptable pets on social media.
PET ADOPTION INCENTIVES
Several local shelters regularly offer low-cost adoptions, which include spay/neuter, microchips and vaccinations. Check with your local shelter for adoption specials and incentives.
Fort Bend County Animal Services is offering free pet food and preventatives for one year to their adopters, while supplies last.
REPORTING ANIMAL CRUELTY
Owning a pet means you take responsibility for the life of the pet with the understanding that some pets may live ten years or more. While we hope every pet goes to a loving home where they are provided food, shelter, routine veterinary care and lots of love, that’s not always the reality. Some pets sadly experience abuse, being left in extreme heat or cold, starved, chained up or other forms of neglect. To learn more about what constitutes animal cruelty or to report instances of suspected animal cruelty, visit one of the links below or check with your municipal shelter for resources.
Pets can provide years of unconditional love and support to your family. We hope you will consider fostering, adopting or supporting your local shelters and rescue groups by volunteering or donating. Together, we can make a difference to help alleviate shelter overcrowding and the overabundance of stray animals trying to survive on Houston’s streets.