Keeping pets alive

This past March, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reported a dramatic decrease in homeless animals at shelters. In the past six years, the number of dogs and cats euthanized in the U.S. has fallen from 2.6 million per year to an estimated 1.5 million. According to researchers, factors contributing to the decline include decreased overall intake, more lost animals being returned to owners and an increase in adoptions—up 18.5 percent, from 2.7 million in 2011 to 3.2 million annually today. To help improve the chances that your lost pet gets returned, the ASPCA recommends owners fit their pets—especially outdoor cats—with ID tags and microchips.