Spay/Neuter Questions

What does it mean to have a pet overpopulation problem in Buncombe County?

As long as there are more abandoned animals in our community than there are homes for them, we will have an overpopulation problem. Because we are charged by the community with managing this problem, we are perhaps more aware of the crisis than most.

Overpopulation causes a host of problems: feral dogs can endanger the health and even the safety of people, domestic animals and native wildlife. Equally important, they live in an unaccommodating habitat, with harsh winters, speeding cars, disease, and insufficient food. Feral animals reproduce at a rate greater than domesticated animals, making the problem even worse. Our tax dollars must pay to cope with these problems as long as overpopulation plagues us. And the only realistic short-term solution to overpopulation -- euthanasia of excess animals -- is an intolerable long-term solution.

There is only one acceptable long-term solution to overpopulation: we must, as a community, lower the birthrate of companion animals by spaying and neutering our pets.

I'm a responsible pet owner, and I'd like my cat/dog to have one litter before I spay her. What's wrong with that?

We understand the desire to let your pet become a parent. Some people want their children to learn about the miracle of birth by watching the family pet have a litter. Baby animals are also adorable, of course, and many people even believe that an animal must become a parent in order to mature properly. While this belief is completely untrue (in fact, many animals develop neuroses when their children are taken from them), we understand and appreciate the sentiment behind it.

It is our affection for young animals, in fact, that makes us so passionately opposed to pet owners allowing their companions to have "just one litter." Because of overpopulation, we are forced to euthanize many wonderful puppies and kittens, and we hate doing it.

We often must euthanize entire litters whose owners were trying to teach children about birth, or who were trying to give their pets a "natural" life. These owners have not considered what their abandonment of the puppies or kittens will teach their children about the value of living beings, or how the abrupt loss of her young will affect the mother. And even when owners are able to find homes for an entire litter, these are homes that might otherwise have been available to the animals at the shelter.

We cannot escape the math. Each extra pet brought into the world will, as long as we have a pet overpopulation problem, represent one animal that will be euthanized. Please have your pets sterilized today.

Finally, note that in Asheville and most other areas of Buncombe County, pet owners are required by law either to have their animals altered by the age of six months or to obtain an unaltered animal permit for each animal they do not have spayed or neutered. These permits cost $100 per animal, and help defray the cost of animal control services.

Why won't you let me adopt a non-sterilized animal from the shelter?

One of our most important goals is to reduce pet overpopulation. If we let you adopt an animal that isn't sterilized, we would be working against that goal, encouraging rather than discouraging pet breeding. Our policy -- that all adopted animals must be sterilized -- has no exceptions.

Can you help me get my own animals spayed or neutered?

There are several community resources that may be able to help you:
•    Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic operates a low-cost spay-neuter clinic. You may reach them by calling (828) 252-2079.
•    Animal Compassion Network offers assistance to low-income pet-owners at their adoption days and through the mail. You may contact them at (828) 258-4820.
•    Asheville Kennel Club has limited spay/neuter funds for dogs only. You may reach their answering service at (828) 258-4833.

Asheville Humane Society sometimes has a limited amount of spay/neuter assistance available, primarily for cats. If you are unsuccessful with the above options, please call us at (828) 236-3885.