5 Negative Effects of Stray Animals

  5 Negative Effects of Stray Animals   

 

While there are many great and heartwarming reasons for adopting animals and having them be taken care of by a shelter or owner there are some other reasons that many people over look and are vitally important to negate these effects as they are detrimental to the community as a whole. 

 

1. The dangers that stray animals have in motor vehicle use.   

 

We have all seen Stray Animals cross our paths while operating vehicles and this provides and indisputable risk to not only the animals but also to the drivers of the vehicles.  Often drivers will be forced to choose to either collide with the animal or take a maneuver that can cause crashes with other vehicles or other objects which can lead to life threatening accidents.  Often these poor animals are forced to cross these dangerous roads in hopes of finding their next meal. This sad reality is unavoidable for most strays.   

 

2. Stray Animal dangers to domesticated animals. 

  

Often stray animals are constantly in search for their next meal and often resort to garbage and other sources of food near residential homes and if they come into contact their fear can escalate as they are now seen as competition for this food which could lead to a dangerous confrontation.   

 

3. Spread of disease and stray breeding.   

 

With Stray animals often “packing” together there is extreme risk for disease spread as these animals do not have proper sanitation control or proper veterinary care.  Over Breeding can cause the stray population to explode if left unchecked as for example dogs can have on average 5-6 puppies per litter. Therefore it is easy to see how the population can explode quickly.  

 

Conclusion

With these three reasons it is easy to see why it is so important to limit the number of strays in our community as they prove to be a safety issue for the community therefore it is important to report these animals if seen to the appropriate governing authority as well as supporting your local shelters in their goals of rescuing and providing care to these animals. 

                                                                                                Avery Harper (JHN Animal Shelter)