• An estimated 53 million dogs and cats live with American families.
   
• For every human born, 7 puppies and kittens are born.
   
• One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years.
  
  • A female cat can produce 3 litters per year.
  • There are 4-6 kittens in an average litter.
  • Cats can produce a first litter at age 4 months.
  • The gestation period for cats is 58-70 days.
     
• One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years.
  
  • There are 6-12 puppies per larger breeds, and 4-8 for smaller breeds.
  • A dog can produce a first litter at age 7 months.
  • The gestation period for dogs is 58-71 days.
     
• An estimated 4-6 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year. Millions more are abandoned, only to suffer from illness or injury before dying.
   
• As many as 25% of dogs entering local shelters are pedigreed.
   
• At the Humane Society of Chatham-Savannah alone, approximately 7,200 are accepted annually, and approximately 1,500 are adopted out to good homes.
   
• Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Animal Control in 2005 impounded 5,260 animals and answered 9330 animal complaints. The complaints are generally concerning feral cats, dogs at large, and raccoon trapping. People feeding feral cats contributes to the enormous population of cats.

Despite our best efforts, Chatham County's homeless animal population is growing. When we consider that one female cat and her offspring, left to breed indiscriminately, can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years, and one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just 6 years, we certainly see the impact our unneutered pets and strays can have on the community. We at Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Animal Control encourage owners to be responsible pet owners. Consider spaying or neutering your pet - especially if they are inside/outside pets - and keep your animals up to date on their shots and tags. Remember, feeding feral cats that are exposed to other wildlife can and does present a public safety issue.

Please, help us and your community by reducing the pet overpopulation problem.

Statistics provided by The Humane Society of the United States, The American Humane Association, and Savannah-Chatham Animal Control.