Animal Overpopulation Stressing Shelters

It was Bob Barkers motto for over 20 years, but according to officals, the pet population in the Ark-La-Miss has not been so controlled. An animal shelter volunteer Kayla Walker said, "Theres all these strays that nobody wants and they end up here." But Why? Walker said, "Its most accredited to people not spaying and neutering their pets." According to PAWS of Northeast Louisiana, a nonprofit organization created to help area communities and animals, the most effective way to reduce the pet population is to spay and neuter. PAWS even assists families who need financial help fixing their pets. "A lot of them, sadly, end up getting euthanzied," Walker said. PAWS says over 7 thousand animals are euthanized in Ouachita Parish alone each year. A spay neuter supporter, Amy Wright said, "I think that its a good idea, especially if you have them running loose in the backyard." Other residents say they agree. Ben Crook said, "If youre going to own an animal, you should be responsible." But the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter, in just one day this week, took in 97 animals. -Candace Miers, NBC 10 News