Running head: ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 1

Awareness of Animal Overpopulation:

A Community Problem Report

Ashlee Marrufo

University of Texas at El Paso

ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 2

Abstract

This report will be explaining how animal overpopulation is an issue and not a lot of

people are aware of or its effects. It will also elaborate these issues among El Paso and at UTEP

whether its dogs or cats abandoned and left on the streets or with stray animals roaming on

campus. This report will cover solutions for this community problem at UTEP and El Paso. Our

community needs to be aware of these issues because there are concerns with health, space, and

the animals. Overall this report will bring awareness to the community about animal

overpopulation.
ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 3

Awareness of Animal Overpopulation:

A Community Problem Report

The community should be aware of animal overpopulation here in El Paso and UTEP’s

campus. The community is affected by the issues that animal overpopulation brings to our

community. The overpopulation of animals is an ongoing crisis and is a serious issue in every

community. Even among UTEP’s community with the stray cats roaming around campus. Students

should be aware about this issue due to its effects on the community. With awareness about this

issue maybe it won’t be an issue any longer.

Causes

According to Franks (2004), the overpopulation of animals is a problem created by humans.

There are people among the community that are not responsible for their own companions and act

like it is not a big deal, which causes these animals to become stray, unwanted, and abandoned.

(pg. 107) As shown in image 1, this dog was left abandoned on the streets without the care and

loving this dog needs. If people within the community is willing to have pets, they should be able

to care for them. According to Franks, we are responsible for the welfare of these animals that we

bring to our society (pg.108). According to Poss and Bader (2007), animal overpopulation and the

free roaming of dogs are causing significant problems within communities, especially among the

Texas border communities such as El Paso County (pg. 244). These issues occur because the

community isn’t aware of the effects of not taking the proper care of these animals. Which leads

to more issues.
ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 4

Concerns

There are concerns that affect both the animals and humans such as health risks,

placement of animals, and well-being of both. According to Linzey (2004), these animals can

communicate diseases like “toxicara canis,” which can cause blindness in young children (pg.

207). As a student in the nursing program we should educate others in the health risks animal

population can cause. Bringing awareness about the health risks can help the community realize

the problem and want to take action to eliminate it. PETA (2018), states that many animals go

insane from loneliness and confinement. This occurs when these animals are placed in shelters

that are overcrowded. These companions need the proper care that they need.

UTEP

Poss and Bader (2007) claims, that these free roaming dogs and cats consist of strays and

owned dogs and cats that do not confined to their home or guardians (pg. 244). This can be a

reason why stray cats or dogs are seen around campus. After all these unwanted companions are

left to fend for themselves. The rate of cats and dogs on UTEP’s campus has increased over the

years and to eliminate this issue these cats should be neuter/spray. So that there won’t be too

many strays on campus. According to Olmedo, Camacho, and Caire (2008), for the unclaimed

animals they shouldn’t be euthanized, they should put for adoption. With this ‘no kill’ survey

(pg. 6). Knowing this UTEP communities should help bring awareness for these animals by

promoting adoption.
ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 5

Solutions

To eliminate this problem among our community, we need to warn people about the

risks animal overpopulation can cause and the effects of it. People need to be aware of this issue

in their community and take action to make the community better for both humans and animals.

Tanner (1978) claim, that the growth of animal overpopulation should be carefully observed and

analyzed. McNeil and Constancy (2005) states, that the animal control agencies take on a big

role within our community. With the help of our animal control agencies, we as community can

come up with agreements and solutions. If this problem is dealt with then everything will soon

part in place and clear up too. So, it will be better if this change can start at UTEP and advance to

the whole community of El Paso.

Conclusion

The overpopulation of animals can only be address if the community takes action and

does something about it. After all we were the reason why now we have to be aware of this

problem. If this issue is taken care of there will be less dogs and cats roaming the city and on

UTEP’s campus. Animal shelters won’t be so cluttered with unwanted pets and adoption will

probably increase. These animals won’t have to suffer anymore and our community won’t have

to deal with the risks anymore.

ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 6

References

Frank, J. (2004). An interactive model of human and companion animal dynamics: The ecology

and economics of dog overpopulation and the human costs of addressing the problem.

Human Ecology, 32(1), 107-130. Retrieved from http://0-

www.jstor.org.lib.utep.edu/stable/4603504

According to Franks, the overpopulation of animals is a problem created by human kind

and could only be resolved if humans address it. In conclusion these animals will fall in

the middle between the human world and the natural community, best of both worlds. But

this leads them to be labeled as property or a “tradable good.” This is where humans need

to realize that having a companion there is a responsibility to own up too. Theses

companions depend on us to serve for their needs. Humans are responsible for the

welfare of these animals that we bring to our society.

Poss, J. E., & Bader, J. O. (2007). Attitudes toward companion animals among Hispanic

residents of a Texas border community. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science,

10(3), 243-253. 10.1080/10888700701353717 Retrieved from

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10888700701353717

According to Poss and Bader, animal overpopulation and the free roaming of dogs are

causing significant problems within communities, especially among the Texas border

communities such as El Paso County. These free roaming dogs consist of strays and

owned dogs that do not confined to their home or guardians. Resident’s attitudes about

the impact of animals roaming around have concerns about the effect of having them

spay and neuter. Some of these companions face a hard living as well as the owners due

to the circumstances.
ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 7

Linzey, A. (2004). Animal welfare and rights. Pet and companion animals. In S. G. Post

(Ed.), Encyclopedia of Bioethics (3rd ed. ed., pp. 205-208). New York: Macmillan

Reference USA. Retrieved from http://0-

link.galegroup.com.lib.utep.edu/apps/doc/CX3402500055/GVRL?u=txshracd2603&sid=

GVRL&xid=7902a8dd

The author claims that high pet population can upraise numerous problems for us human

beings. These hazards can cause health nuisance and social control. These animals can

communicate diseases like “toxicara canis,” which can cause blindness in young children.

Another issue would the cost of providing the food that these animals need. As well as

those dogs that are stray and are aggressive can become dangerous to the community.

This is a negative side effect due to the cause of animal overpopulation.

Tanner, J. T. (1978). Guide to the study of animal populations. Knoxville: University of Tennessee

Press.

The author stipulates the measurement of observed increases or decreases in population size

and analyzes the changes. The growth of these populations increases over the period which

lead to issues like the food sources and the space in the community. The decrease of a

population can lead to the instinct of that population over time. So, the growth of these

populations should be carefully observed and analyze to come up with a solution on how

to keep everything constant and steady.

McNeil, J., & Constancy, E. (February 20, 2006.). Addressing the problem of pet

overpopulation: The experience of new hangover county animal control

ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 8

services. Retrieved Animal Overpopulation, 2006,

from https://sph.unc.edu/files/2015/07/nciph-maph-jphmp-452-455.pdf

According to McNeil and Constancy, pet overpopulation is an issue among

humans due to the increased rabies exposure and this puts a strain on animal

control agencies that help out in the community. These animal control agencies

take on a big role within our community. They have to deal with the unwanted

pets and that becomes a problem. Simply because they have to come up with a

plan to diminish the number of unwanted companions in the community. They

came across a solution to start a facility to spay or neuter pets. To help eliminate

the overpopulation.

Olmedo, C., Camacho, G. & Caire, M. (2008). El Paso animal services survey: Support
for no kill community.

https://digitalcommons.utep.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1077&context=iped
_techrep
These authors presented a survey to support the ‘no kill’ community to residents

from El Paso County about stray and unclaimed animals within the community.

This survey regards the ‘no kill’ initiative as well as the residents’ attitude based

upon this issue. There is a problem overall in El Paso community with the amount

of stray and unclaimed animals. This would include both cats and dogs. These pet

owners are responsible for providing care. For the unclaimed animals they

shouldn’t be euthanized, they should put for adoption. With this ‘no kill’ survey

more people were aware of this problem and took action. Eventually EPAS

became a ‘no kill’ community.

ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 9

PETA. March 2, 2018. Companion animal overpopulation.

https://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/overpopulation/

According to the author, every year there more and more lost, abandoned, or

unwanted dogs and cats in the animal shelters. Not all of these dogs and cats are

adopted and well taken of afterwards. More animals are in need of help for

example, they need a family to care for them in a permanent home. Some of these

cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters every year, but the alternative to this is

the “no kill” shelters. But the reality to this is that these animals suffer way more

due to being the cage for so long. Many more unwanted companions suffer more

simply because they are left to fend for themselves. In these conditions many

animals go insane from being alone and confinement.

ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION 10

Image 1: Animal Overpopulation

Stray dog abandoned on the streets left to survive on its own without the proper care to stay

alive.

Erinn Richert. (2013). Taking in a stray dog. 2017, from https://3milliondogs.com/3-

million-dogs/taking-in-a-stray-dog/#comments