Research| Animal Shelter

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Discover what Americans Really Think is Humane for Cats

Most Americans believe killing is inhumane.
Over 80% of Americans believe that leaving a stray cat outside to live out his life is more humane than having the cat caught and killed, according to a national survey conducted for Alley Cat Allies by Harris interactive.

Americans believe killing is inhumane even if it may prevent a future painful death.
Even when asked to assume that a stray cat will die traumatically by being hit by a car in two years’ time, more than 70% of respondents still said it is more humane to let the stray cat live outside than to kill the cat now.

Animal control and shelters claim it is more humane to kill.
Animal control and shelters claim that it is best to kill stray cats now because they may suffer “bad” deaths sometime in the future. These agencies make decisions every day about the fate of stray cats and carry them out with taxpayer dollarsyet their policy of killing is in direct opposition to the humane values of most Americans.

More than 70% of all cats entering animal shelters are killed.
The result of this policy of killing is that over 70% of all cats entering animal pounds and shelters in the United States are killed, according to the most comprehensive research to date. In fact, “euthanasia” at animal pounds and shelters is the number one documented cause of death for cats in this country.

You can make a difference and save lives.
Help spread the word that most Americans believe “humane treatment” means saving lives, not killing. Read the full text of our findings, and share it with your friends, family, and other interested groups and individuals. Most importantly, share it with your city council and other government officials, and help them discover what Americans really think is humane cat care.