By: <Maddy Kunstel>

Dog euthanasia is a major problem that animal shelters around the world are forced to deal with. Whether it be due to medical issues, behavioral problems, or an inability to be adopted, an estimated 4 million dogs are euthanized each year according to the research study done by PetSmart Charities. Though shelters are working to combat this issue, the general public is not educated on the issue of euthanasia, as 88% of the respondents in the same research study underestimated the number of shelter dogs that are put down each year. As stated in Lila Millers article on animal shelters, many organizations have started no kill programs, a movement which first started in San Francisco in 1989. Yet even with this ongoing movement, there are still laws in place today allowing the euthanasia of shelter animals, such as the New Jersey bill which states that shelters may put down a dog if it is deemed to have health issues. Many dog rescue programs, such as Sherri Franklin’s Muttville, are taking this issue into their own hands by rescuing at risk dogs from shelters. Franklin has adopted out more than 4,000 dogs, many of whom were at risk of being euthanized. While programs such as Muttville are taking the necessary steps to help these dogs, the issue still remains, as shelter dogs are continuously being euthanized day after day.