Essay on Animal Overpopulation - 1405 Words

There can be no doubt that shelters in the United States are overcrowded, feral cats roam our city streets, thousands of dogs live in grotesque conditions in puppy mills across the country, and yet most American citizens when polled will readily declare that their cat or dog is like ‘a member of the family’. The state of companion animals in this country is precarious at best; caught between scientists who subscribe to Descartes’s idea of ‘anima ex machina’ (unfeeling, a living example of biological processes without the status of ‘being’) and the more common phenomenon of people who pamper their pets in ways that most people would envy. For most individuals living in an urban society such as ours, the most common interaction with animals†¦show more content†¦While Rollin’s point might be a little strongly worded for some people, he succinctly gets at the root of the problem – the poor treatment of man’s so-c alled â€Å"best friends† and their feline compatriots is at its heart a moral problem. Improving the moral status of companion animals in this society would solve the problem of overpopulation and there are several different ways this is addressed: through reforming shelters, promoting spay and neutering programs, stamping out poor breeding practices, and all of these work toward the common underlying goal of changing the way that society views our relationships with our pets. The first way that ‘animal people’ (by which I simply mean anyone who is actively working for the betterment of the condition of animals in society or outside of it) are trying to improve the moral status of companion animals is through working to change the way that animal shelters operate. One issue being dealt with is that of the high rate of humane killing of healthy animals in animal shelters. While there are defensible circumstances surrounding ‘humane killing’ (animal w elfarists, those people concerned with â€Å"particular attention to the avoidance of pain to individual animals and to the health of populations as a whole† may advocate humane killing of ‘unadoptable’ animals or inShow MoreRelatedThe Overpopulation Of Humans And Animals857 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many articles and newspapers about how bad the world is becoming overpopulated. The overpopulation of humans and animals is a constant threat to people way of life on earth. Monbiot states, â€Å"The growth in human numbers, they say, is our foremost environmental threat† (Monbiot 1). Suggestions for extending women’s reproductive choices should be made, and the world population would drop dramatically because of this. George states, â€Å"If this need were answered, the impact of population growthRead MoreThe Cruelty Of Animal Overpopulation1015 Words   |  5 Pageseuthanize the animals.(â€Å"Animal Rights Uncompromised: ‘No-Kill†™ Shelters,† n.d.). Large numbers of animals are simply abandoned in the streets suffering from a lack of basic care such as food water shelter and veterinary care.(â€Å"Companion Animal Overpopulation,† n.d.). There is a cruel contribution to the animal overpopulation of companion pets, specially the ones living on the streets. People are well known to always be dissatisfied with their pets for many reasons so it is easy to find animals left inRead MoreEssay on Prevention of Animal Overpopulation1722 Words   |  7 Pagesnothing to end the horrific crimes of animal deaths in shelters. It is no secret that this world has become infused with problems that have extended from one side of the globe to the other. Amongst these problems lies a terrible truth: nearly every year, sums of almost eight million cats and dogs have been placed in shelters around the world. Out of these vast numbers, half will be euthanized; that equals to one animal being put down every 8 seconds. Animals that are not adopted are kept in sheltersRead MoreThe Importance Of Spaying And Neutering And The Problems Of The Overpopulation Of Animals1151 Words   |  5 Pagesspaying or neutering a pet, the owner would be help ing lower the overpopulation of animals. A pet owner would also be helping their pet by not allowing them to go through puberty or heat cycles. It is a fact known worldwide that spaying and neutering your pet will help lower the overpopulation of animals. Overpopulation has been a problem for many years now. There are too many stray animals wandering the streets and living in animal shelters awaiting a home that won’t come. The importance of spayingRead MoreThe Population Of The Planet Is Reaching Unsustainable1377 Words   |  6 Pagesexpansion in less developed and developing countries is straining the already scarce resources. Overpopulation is the exasperating force behind global warming, environmental pollution, habitat loss, intensive farming practices, and the consumption of finite natural resources, such as fresh water, arable land and fossil fuels, at speeds faster than their rate of regeneration. Also, due to overpopulation, agricultural practices used to produce f ood necessary to feed the ever growing population, damagesRead MoreProblems Caused By Overpopulation Is The Rise Of A Place Populated With Excessively Large Numbers879 Words   |  4 PagesProblems Caused by Overpopulation in Cities Overpopulation is ‘The condition of a place populated with excessively large numbers’. It is considered a problem in many senses, since it causes a number of issues for various different reasons. One major issue caused by overpopulation is the rise of unemployment. This is when people actively seeking employment or just people that are able to work remain unemployed. Overpopulation causes this because the amount of jobs available would be the same as beforeRead MoreThe Effects Of Human Overpopulation On The Environment1242 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Human Overpopulation on the Environment â€Å"Can one apple slice feed the world?† If the world were an apple, farmland would only be one very thin slice. The growing population on this Earth has some serious questions that it needs to consider as a whole. How are we all going to eat with eight billion mouths to eat? Farmers have an interesting proposition, they need to feed a growing population with very little land. Overpopulation also has negative effects on the earth through pollutionRead MoreThe War Of A Forest Fire1380 Words   |  6 Pages ). Because there are far less people we are able to sustain ourselves in terms of resources. It’s important to consider how much food and materials each human uses in their lifespan. Overpopulation is one the most pressing environmental issues. Many other environmental issues are derived from overpopulation; including global warming, environmental pollution, habitat loss and the consumption of finite natural resources( ). Furthermore, when population is at an a cceptable number the world canRead MoreHuman Overpopulation Essay1109 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Overpopulation Increasing human overpopulation throughout the world is one of the biggest global issues addressed in the 21st century. This concept negatively affects almost every aspect of society: extinction of plants/animals or habitats, over use of natural resources, climate change, and other environmental problems (â€Å"As World’s Human†). This continual predicament needs to be corrected by intensified human productive abilities and a global law that will stimulate positive outcomes acrossRead MoreOverpopulation : Sustainability Of Human Life1438 Words   |  6 PagesOverpopulation: Sustainability of Human Life Overpopulation, in my belief, is becoming one of the foremost problems facing human civilization. This complex, permeating issue will likely prove to be a problem of paramount importance for all people in the future. Overpopulation is a serious global issue that is often overlooked by most people. This is likely due to lack of knowledge and fast paced distracting lifestyles we embrace this day and age. While it is not a common problem or subject we speak