Students throw away pets at end of semester

Oshkosh municipal code states that no one may "neglect or abandon an animal," and those who have abandoned an animal can face a fine from $100 to $500.

However, according to Pawprints and Purrs, Inc., a non-profit organization that seeks an end to euthanasia by spaying and neutering cats and dogs, more than $2 billion is spent each year by government bodies to shelter and, ultimately, kill eight to 10 million adoptable pets.

"Seven dogs and cats are born every day for each person born in the U.S.," the organization's website states. "Only one in five puppies and kittens stay in their original home for his or her natural lifetime. The remaining four are abandoned to the streets or end up at a shelter."

The website also lists actual responses of pet owners when giving up their pets.  Included is the dog's "bark is irritating" and "he was so cute as a puppy, but now he's gotten ugly."

The Humane Society of the United States lists this fact: "Animal shelters located near colleges find that students may abandon pets when the animal is no longer convenient. End-of-semester dumping of animals is a sad reality."

Cheryl Rosenthal, communication and education coordinator for the Oshkosh Area Humane Society, said if students really want to have pets around, there are other options.

"If they really want to hang out with animals, they can come here and volunteer," she said. "They can walk the dogs, they can pet the cats and they can see what taking care of a pet really involves."

A pet requires much more than a daily bowl of food and water. According to Rosenthal, pets like to keep a similar schedule every day and require a lot of time.

"Think of your pets as young children," she said. "They need your time and your love. They need exercise and play. You wouldn't leave your children at home all day. Don't think you can do that for pets."

Time is one thing most college students don't have a lot of. Students face many obligations of school, work, family and social events that could leave pets alone for long hours.

The OAHS puts prospective owners through a thorough inspection. They want to be sure owners will care for their pets and that the pets will not end up back at the shelter.

There are options for pet owners who can't afford to take care of their pets. Domestic animals cannot survive on the streets, where there is not a reliable source of food, water or shelter.

The OAHS allows residents of the city to surrender a pet for no charge at the shelter and will try to find an adoption match as soon as possible.

According to OAHS, the cost to care for a surrendered pet is about $240 until they are placed in a new home, and they appreciate donations to help alleviate these costs.

Pet owners outside of the city must pay $50 to surrender their pet at the shelter, but it is less expensive than the possible $100 fine for abandoning a pet on the streets.

The shelter is open Tuesdays through Saturdays.

This shelter is a no-euthanize organization.  It is always looking for volunteers to take pets as "foster parents."

Rosenthal said they do have to euthanize some animals.

"No animal should have to live in a cage its whole life," she said. "We think of those things before we euthanize."

This no-euthanize ideal is not found at every shelter. In most areas, because of a lack of funding and space for abandoned pets, more than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year, according to the Animal World Network.

"That is about 61 percent of all dogs and about 75 percent of all cats entering shelters," the network's website states.

To reduce the number of animals killed each year, Rosenthal strongly suggests having pets spayed or neutered. This would lead to fewer pets being abandoned and lower costs of care.

To spay or neuter a dog or cat costs, on average, from $60 to $100. Rosenthal said the lifetime cost of one dog is $20,820, including spaying.

However, one un-spayed cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years. That total cost, according to the network, will either be taken on by the owner or by local government and charitable agencies.

Potential owners should know these costs and obligations before adopting or buying a pet. It is not a decision that should be taken lightly.