THE PUPPY MILL TO POUND PIPELINE: PROVIDENCES COSTLY

PET OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM

The Puppy
Mill to
Pound
Pipeline:
Providences
Costly Pet
Overpopulation
Problem

Issue Date
Pet overpopulation in Providence is
a serious problem that effects every
resident. Each year the city spends
millions of tax dollars to shelter,
care and euthanize stray,
abandoned and unwanted animals.
Pet overpopulation burdens the system
and hinders the Providence Animal
Controls ability to enforce animal
welfare ordinances, and hold animals for
the time required by law.
For example in 2010 Providence Animal
Control Services (ACS) drew public
outrage, a lawsuit and negative press
coverage when it illegally euthanized a pit
bull mix. The healthy 5-year-old mixedbreed pit bull named Tyson slipped out of
his leash in the city. As his owner and
volunteers searched the city reaching out
to local police and animal control

departmentsincluding Providence ACS,

Tyson lay dead in the ACS backroom
euthanized illegally. City law requires ACS
to hold stray dogs for 5 days to allow
owners to recover their pets. ACS
euthanized Tyson within hours. Tysons
tragedy and the ACSs failures are
indications of an overburdened
department. The more homeless animals
entering the city pound means the more
space is needed and unfortunately that
results ACS having to euthanize healthy
cats, rabbits and dogs like Tyson.

FAST FACTS

68%
Providence ACS euthanizes 68% of
feral cats that enter its doors.

42%
Around 42% of dogs that are
euthanized annually by Providence
ACS are pure bred and designer
mixed breeds.

THE PUPPY MILL TO POUND PIPELINE: PROVIDENCES COSTLY

PET OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM
Pet overpopulation results in large feral
cat populations that prey on wildlife and
pose unique threats to public health.
Feral cats pose a unique challenge for local
governments. Feral cat populations must
be controlled because they can have
staggering impacts on wildlife including
devastating endangered bird populations.
Experts estimate that feral and stray cats
kill hundreds of millions of birds annually.
Feral cats are essentially unadoptable. ACS
must either euthanize cats deemed feral or
release the cats back into the city through
trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs.
Proponents of TNR claim that sterilizing
feral cats will lead to eventually population
control. Unfortunately, TNR does not stop
feral cats from harming local wildlife.
Additionally feral cat feeding stations
creates the perfect environment for
disease to spread. Pet overpopulation

contributes
to the feral
cat problem
solving the
latter
depends on
curtailing
the former.

Pet overpopulation endangers the general pet population and citizens.

Pet overpopulation can result in the spread of diseases like rabies and distemper,

animal bites, and attacks. Also stray dogs damage property and threaten
public safety.
These animals are the direct result of pet owners failing to spay and neuter
their pets, the city failing to control the feral cat population, barriers to
adoption, and most significantly pet stores continuing to sell dogs, cats and
rabbits sourced from commercial breeders.

What Can the City Do?

Enact Legislation to End the Sale of Puppy Mill Puppies
Educate the Public & Reach Out to the Community
Offer Low Cost Spay & Neutering Options for City Residents
Remove Barriers to Adoption
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Contact Providence City Council
Support Animal Rescue by Donating Your Time and Money
Adopting and Fostering Homeless Animals
Spaying & Neutering your Pet