By: Tayler Bicandi

This term I did extensive research on the issue of animal abandonment in the U.S. in relation to the high financial responsibility required to care for them.

Animal Abandonment has been a current issue in the U.S. for years. Cats, dogs, and horses are common animals that get abandoned due to the high cost of caring for them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2011 the total spending mean on pets was $49,705.  When people are unable to handle those costs, one of their only options is to send them to animal shelters. According to the ASPCA, a non-profit Animal Welfare organization, 6.5 million pets enter shelters in the U.S. each year.

For cats and dogs, animal shelters are available for the re-homing process, but there is not always a happy ending for every pet. According to the ASPCA, 1.5 million pets get euthanized in shelters every year. Many horses face similar fates because they are more expensive to care for and it is harder to find places to keep them. Many horses end up at auctions, and those who cannot be sold are sent to slaughterhouses. According to the ASPCA 100,000 horses are killed every year.