Help us reverse the trend of increased euthanasia

As reported in the Yuma Sun, we are fighting a full-scale war to reverse the trend of an increasing trend of the number of unwanted pets must be euthanized, but we cannot win without the full support of the community.

Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die: Adopt. There are so many pets waiting for forever homes here at the shelter, there is no excuse to either buy or breed pets in Yuma. When you purchase pet, you are providing a financial incentive for the breeder to breed another litter. When you breed a litter, no matter how responsible a breeder you are or how thoroughly you screen your clients, every puppy born there is a shelter who must wait one day more here at the shelter and one less empty kennel that would have given another dog another day's reprieve.

Don't litter: Spay/neuter: Every kitten or puppy born either enters our shelter, displaces a shelter pet from a loving home or lives a miserable life on the streets. While the number of pets that we adopt is no doubt important, it pales in comparison to the critical need of spay/neuter.

Giving up needs to be your last option. Giving up needs to be your last option. When a life change or other crisis arises in which surrendering your pet appears to be the only option make sure to do your research for alternatives. Searching the internet for counsel on your particular predicament will provide a wealth of information. "pets and a new baby," "coping with pet allergies," "moving with a pet," etc.

If you decide that the situation can not be rectified, you must understand that there is no a
alternative to surrendering your pet to us. When you consider the suffering and misery the life your pet would lead on the streets or the anguish and almost certain death he or she would face in the desert, the risk of a painless euthanasia is unarguably the better option.

If you want to help us reduce the number of unwanted pets and the number of pets we are forced to euthanize, please consider joining us.