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Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

Aaron Escajeda
RWS 1301: Veronica Cruz
University of Texas at El Paso

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

The amount of stray animals on the streets of El Paso is over whelming, and at least one day
out of the week in the community there can be a sighting of a stray pet without a collar and tags.
This can be a danger to the local community: disease can be spread to humans, claimed pets, and
can cause pollution to the streets of El Paso. There are more unclaimed pets on the streets than
responsible homes from them to live at. This is the cause of irresponsible pet ownership, owners
do not spay/ neuter their pets and if they cannot afford to keep them they are then released to the
streets where they can produce more offspring. These offspring grow up in filthy environments
where disease and bugs are then picked up putting us in danger.
Many accounts of violence can happen on the streets between the animals which creates ugly
scenes. Yet it is also a danger to any children, joggers, or pedestrians that makes their way
around these animals. There are many of reasons for aggression some of these stray animals can
be naturally aggressive due to past experiences. Others are naturally protecting their offspring
which makes the animal very territorial so it may not allow anyone to come near their nesting
area. A major reason an animal can be aggressive is because of the Rabies disease. Any open
wounds can cause infections and to someone who has been attacked they may catch the disease
of what the animal was carrying.
A Zoonotic disease is an animal to human transmitted disease which includes Rabies,
Ringworm, and Cat Scratch Disease. Rabies is the most dangerous of these diseases, it originates
from bites of raccoons, coyotes, skunks, and foxes which are located in our area. The symptoms
include muscle spasms, drooling, and hallucinations from a bite from an infected animal; death
may occur if treatment is not at the right time. Controlling these diseases is a must not only does
it put the community at danger, but other animals. Trying to rescue and take in a stray animal can
put other pets in major risk of capturing a disease.

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

Animals can contract serious illnesses from one another not only rabies, but diseases that
should be prevented by vaccinations at an early age. Parvo is a major killer of dogs at young
ages, once caught it can lead to an early death. If the puppy survives parvo it can cause the dog to
have major cardiovascular issues. It is transferred by contact of infected dog feces; it can survive
for months at a time it is usually carried on bottoms of shoes which can then transfer to carpets
of homes and any object that comes to contact. Another disease such as Feline Aids or FIV is the
equivalent to human aids, but is easily spread like Parvo. Simple cat to cat contact can cause the
contraction of FIV. On the streets it is very dangerous due to the fact that there is no sanitation.
Both these diseases can be easily picked up just by being exposed to the streets without being
properly vaccinated. Overpopulation of animals helps create more pollution on the streets, the
droppings of the animals creates the opportunity of more disease and makes the community
appear in poor condition.
The dangers of strays and the effects they have to the community are pretty apparent, but
what does El Paso do about this problem? The Environmental Services of El Paso runs a
program named the Animal Services Field Operations. Their duty is to enforce animal law in of
El Paso; this includes enforcement of animal codes for pet vaccinations and having them on
leashes. The program also investigates animal cruelty cases in the area they have the right to
issue tickets and get police involved in the matters. Not only do they enforce the rules of the city
upon pets, but they are there for the communitys needs for animal emergencies twenty-four
seven year round. Any dangerous animals can be taken care of as well as lost pets and strays.
Where they are taken to is the Animals Services Shelter where they are adopted or euthanized to
control the pet population.

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

Euthanasia is a procedure to put down an animal in a humane fashion. Meaning the animal is
not put in pain or suffering in the process. They are taken to a secluded silent room where they
are dosed an injection of sodium pentobarbital. There are is no mutilation of the animals body
such as a gunshot a crueler manner of handling euthanasia. Again the reason being for this
procedure is to control the animal population due to the huge amount of numbers. Other
reasoning could be due to the aggressive behavior and previous attacks. It can also be of illness
that keeps the dog in suffering state. In 2012 the number of euthanasians was at twenty-five
thousand and the shelter keeps getting more strays taken in every day.
The Animal Services Shelter is the main shelter for all strays and lost pets. Yet there goal is to
keep the animal population down so they must go to the euthanasia procedure. The shelter has
room for three hundred and twenty animals, but they receive a steady one hundred and fifty
daily. Strays are given three days to be adopted or shall go through the procedure; lost pets are
given ten days after arrival and contact of the owner. A responsible owner has their pet chipped
so the shelter may scan, and find out information on the animal so it is not mistaken for a stray.
The only risk taken by adopting an animal at this shelter is the fact that they are strays they have
been roaming the streets for however long they have been out there. So the risk of them carrying
a disease is high especially if they are older. Who knows how long and what conditions that
animal has been living in.
Another shelter is the El Paso Humane Society which is located right next door to the Animal
Services Shelter on Fred Wilson. This shelter is a non-kill shelter and they do not rely on the
euthanasia procedure to control the population. Their main goal is to find homes for these
animals so they must be well taken care of. They have vets working year round to make sure the
health of the animal is at its best. For behavior reasons the animals are always kept active with

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

plenty of exercise and socialized with other animals that reside at the shelter. There are volunteer
programs at the Humane Society to help support their cause and take care of these animals. In
order for an animal to be accepted into this shelter there must be room available; their capacity
holds about one hundred and fifty dog and fifty cats. They must be healthy with no disease to
infect the other animals living at the shelter. These animals come from the streets, saved from
animal services shelter, or given up by their owners who cannot keep their pets for whatever
reason being. Humane society is the most assuring shelter of making sure the animals are safe
from euthanasia.
When adopting an animal from either of these shelters they make sure it is done correctly by
El Pasos animal policies. Most importantly it follows responsible pet ownership. The cost to
adopt a dog or cat costs one hundred and ten dollars. With this fee it includes age appropriate
vaccinations, spay/ neuter surgery, and a microchip for any lost pet emergencies. Having these
procedures done for the pet is important in the issue of animal overpopulation they cannot go to
the streets and have offspring with strays. They also have a lower risk of catching any diseases
that can be easily caught out on the streets. Lastly and most importantly if the pet is lost it can be
found and returned so much easier. At any time an animal is found and is suspected to be
previously owned as a pet they can be taken to any animal services, shelter, vet, or store such as
Pets Smart and can be scanned for their microchip which can help find the owner on the spot.
In conclusion the best way to control animal overpopulation is to educate the public on what
to do when seeing a lost animal and on responsible pet ownership. With the community being
educated on these subjects everyone can help lower the number of euthanasias and strays in El
Paso. Taking the young to the shelters can help bring awareness at an early age and may teach
them the important facts of finding and owning an animal. The shelters goals are to control the

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

animal population and educate. By educating there will be prevention of the problems that come
with overpopulation and less acts of cruelty towards these animals such as letting them loose on
the streets.

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation of Animals

References
Animal Services. Shelter Services. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2015, from:
https://www.elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services/animal-services/shelter-services
Texas Department of State Health. Rules. ( September 1st, 1989 ). Retrieved October 13, 2015,
from http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/laws/rules/
Texas State Department of Health. Allowable Methods of Euthanasia. ( September 1st, !989 ).
Retrieved October 13, 2015, from http://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?
sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=25&pt=1&ch=169&rl=8
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Texas Department of State Health. Animal Control Officer Training. ( September 1st, 1989).
Retrieved October 13, 2015, from http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.829.htm
Environmental Services. Animal Services Field Operations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14,
2015https://www.elpasotexas.gov/environmental-services/code-compliance/animal-servicesfield-operations
Humane Society of El Paso. Found a Stray. (n.d.) Retrieved October 15, 2015, from
https://www.hselpaso.org/our-services/pet-help/found-a-stray
PETA. Euthanasia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2015, from
http://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/overpopulation/euthanasia/