Pet Overpopulation

Pet overpopulation occurs when there are more homeless pets than there are available homes. This is a problem across the country.

Each year, Orange County Animal Services receives approximately 20,000 animals. That's approximately 53 dogs and cats each day! The shelter makes every effort to secure homes for our shelter pets, but to the high volume we receive it is not always possible.

The Solution

Pet overpopulation is a problem that cannot be resolved quickly, but everyone is able to do something to prevent it from getting worse.

  1. ADOPT. Animal Services encourages everyone who is looking for a pet to adopt from a shelter rather than purchase a pet from a breeder or pet store.
  2. SPAY/NEUTER. Animal Services recommends all owned pets be spayed or neutered. A spay (females) or neuter (males) is a surgery that takes away the pet's reproductive abilities. Spay and neuter surgeries prevent any unwanted litters. Spaying and neutering is not always expensive. Animal Services recommends contacting local veterinarians or searching for low-cost spay/neuter options.
  3. EDUCATE. Education is key to resolving this issue as many people are still unaware of this issue. Everyone can take a role in educating community members about pet overpopulation.

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