250,000 healthy, but unwanted cats and dogs are killed in Australian pounds each year

In Australia, we have a system that perpetuates a cycle of breeding to excess, impulse purchasing of pets and then quiet killing of the surplus 250,000 mainly healthy cats and dogs year after year. (We kill 60,000 every year in New South Wales alone...)

This is not justifiable, not ethical and not acceptable. These animals are not just statistics, each one is a live sentient being that suffers immense stress and then death. Surely we have the ability to fix the problem and stop the oversupply and consequent unnecessary euthanasia of healthy cats and dogs by tackling all the reasons for it?

Here are 5 ideas we at DEATHROWPETS want to turn into a reality:

1. Restrict the sale of cats and dogs to ethical regulated breeders, pounds and animal shelters

2. Stop all sources of mass production of kittens and puppies for profit
   i.e. stop puppy and kitten farms and backyard breeders

3. Achieve widespread desexing of all pets

4. Increase the re-homing rate in pounds and shelters via better low-kill policies

5. And of course educate everyone on responsible and caring pet ownership...

"Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight."
Albert Schweitzer

We want as many people as possible to realise what is really happening to our Companion Animals so they can lend their support and take action. Together we can make a difference. CLICK HERE

You may not think it, but you CAN be part of the solution. Please read through this site to find out why this slaughter is happening in our Country. See what things you can do to help.

There is lots of additional information on our Blog page. If you would like to subscribe to our Updates, just send us an email or subscribe here. We also compile a library of Australia-wide media articles concerning pet overpopulation and pound killing of healthy animals at CompanionAnimalNews. Please become informed and encourage others to do the same.

The DogsTrust (UK) is running an excellent awareness campaign against the battery farming of dogs to highlight the fact that the dog-owning public is being duped into buying dogs from puppy farms, inadvertently fuelling the cruel trade and potentially landing themselves with huge vet bills.

"In a recent survey, we asked dog owners if they would consider buying a dog from a puppy farm. Although almost 95% said no, when asked where they had got their dog from 15.1% - potentially 900,000 dog owners – admitted they had got them from an advert in the newspaper, the internet, a pet shop or a pet superstore, all outlets often supplied by puppy farms...we've introduced the term ‘battery farming of dogs’ to associate the practice with the battery farming of chickens. We want dog lovers to be informed about how to find a 'cruelty-free dog'. Click here to read more.

In May 2009 we attended the 2009 No Kill Conference in Washington DC.  From what we saw and learnt, we believe that the learnings from this Conference could be a defining moment for Australian Pound and Shelter animals.

www.nokilladvocacycenter.org

We now have categorical proof that No Kill success is a reality in the US:

• It is working
• It is gaining momentum
• It has widespread support

We can see no reason why this movement cannot be appropriate for the Australian situation. Read here for the full picture.

The 2009 3rd National Summit to End Companion Animal Overpopulation

The No Kill Movement in Australia was launched at the 2009 3rd National Summit to End Companion Animal Overpopulation which took place on the Gold Coast in late September. We will be providing more information on this Summit over the coming months via our Updates. But for starters please read this important message for Australia from Nathan Winograd, Director of the No Kill Advocacy Centre in the USA.

Lord Mayor of Sydney and Independent MP Ms Clover Moore submitted her Bill to NSW Parliament in late October 2009. Sadly the Bill was defeated by the NSW Labor Government along with the call by the Opposition for an Independent Parliamentary Enquiry into the NSW pet industry.

We may have lost this particular battle, but we have not lost the war.

The two year campaign has stimulated much public awareness and debate about the reasons for pet overpopulation resulting in pound killing of healthy pets. It has drawn together a growing group of concerned animal lovers determined to build even more campaigns to put a stop to this daily atrocity. 680 healthy cats and dogs are killed every day in Australia...

See what actions you can take to help.