Six to eight million dogs and cats end up in U.S. shelters every year. Photo: Jennifer Leigh/Flickr
Every year, six to eight million unwanted cats and dogs enter shelters in the U.S., and three to four million are euthanized according to the animal welfare organization Found Animals.
Now American billionaire Gary Michelson -- a surgeon who has invented hundreds of patented medical devices and procedures -- has decided to tackle the problem with $75 million of his own cash!
Through the organization he created, Found Animals, Michelson is offering $50 million in research grants to scientists with promising approaches for inexpensive, one-dose, surgery-free methods of sterilizing cats and dogs. The first team to succeed in creating a sterilant that works in both dogs and cats, male and female, will walk away with $25 million in prize money, Shirley Johnston, director of scientific research for Found Animals, tells Paw Nation.
Why the need for non-surgical sterilization? Spaying and neutering is important, but the procedures alone can't solve the huge animal overpopulation problem. Surgical sterilization is expensive and it requires access to anesthesia and proper veterinary facilities. That's not practical in many rural areas of the U.S., let alone in the developing world.
"China may have 150 million dogs, and very few are sterilized. India has 30 million street dogs," Andrew Rowan, chief scientific officer of the Human Society of the United States [HSUS], tells Paw Nation. "In places like India and Africa, there's an active rabies problem; in India, for example, there are 20,000 [human] deaths to rabies every year."
In addition to human health impacts and the tax burden of keeping stray animals in check, animals themselves suffer from overpopulation. Rowan estimates that as many as one to two million of the cats and dogs euthanized in the U.S. each year are healthy and adoptable. And around the world, millions of nuisance strays are shot or poisoned, Science magazine reports.
Johnston is optimistic that science is advanced enough to deliver a solution. Her organization has received grant applications from researchers with all sorts of approaches up their sleeves, from switching off the genes that control reproduction, to vaccine-like shots that would cause the reproductive system to shut down. "We really want people to think outside the box," she tells Paw Nation. That said, "we're really committed to a safe product. We're not going to give a prize for something that's going to hurt dogs or cats."
HSUS's Rowan thinks the big money offered by Found Animals might be just what's needed to make a dent in the pet overpopulation problem.
"I hate to be crass, but there's nothing like the availability of large sums of money to concentrate the scientific mind," he tells Paw Nation. "There's no question in my mind that people will come up with interesting new ideas. I don't know what they might be, but I know something will pop out of the woodwork."
With the lives of millions of dogs and cats hanging in the balance, we sure hope he's right.
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And it will make Trap Neuter Release program administration easier, too.
At last; an idea that actually makes sense. This is the best news I have heard in a long time.
Rest assured that Wayne Purcell and HSUS are scrambling to figure out how to get their hands on as much of that 75 Mil as possible. Maybe they should send in Mike Vicks managers. They certainly know how to make deals. Is there no shame ?
The basic problem wih animals are humans. Many just do not accept the responsiblity that go's with owning a pet. Having so many animals put down each year is truly sad.
This is great I just hope someone can accomplish this goal!
Seems like everytime I read somthing on the Paw Nation web site I learn something. This is one of the Academy-Award-Winners in the animal sphere. What a blessing if dogs and cats were not in such over abundance and they became valuable and appreciatedbecause there is only enough to go around. A globe where no creature languishes in a shelter unto death. I pray for the complete success of someone's research. Mister Michelson is a grand philanthropist in the heart of the word.
I Just Want To Make Sure These NEW Developed Contraceptives,etc Are NOT Tested On Live Animals!
I see the benefits of such a technology, but the serialization, especially if it relates to shot-like vaccines, could have serious side effects. Think about it, if the intention is for it to be universal for both cats and dogs, male and female, I can't imagine it would be simple enough to avoid serious health complications, the treatment would be too broad. Would you inject a substance into your body, so intense that it could sterilize, men, women, and lets say beavers alike? I'm being a bit comical, but our pets are our friends right? We should avoid any type of intense measures.
Gene manipulation could also have serious side-effects. When you change one gene, other areas of the body are effected. It is unavoidable.
I love this idea to help with overpopulation. Here are two initial thoughts I had, though.
1.) What are the health risks involved? Cysts? Heart problems? That comes down to how well this is tested, though, I suppose.
2.) Will everyone turn to this method instead of spaying and neutering? For those who CAN get their pet, or donate to help others pets get, spayed or neutered I believe that should be the choice over this method. Is has been proven that animals who are spayed and neutered are less likely to develope certain types of cancers. Simply being sterilized will not help reduce an animal's chances of getting certain types of cancers.
The idea is wondering, though. I love that someone with that much money is doing something so selfless, and I wish all people with money would donate more. The world would be a better place, that's for sure.
I read some of the concerns on here...
no testing on live animals... at some point it will have to be tested that way you know. Even human drugs go through a human trial period.
side effects. EVERYTHING has a side effect. When you spay & neuter your pets you deprive them of their natural cyclical hormones. I'm not a scientist and I couldn't tell you what that does, I do know what it does to humans. Regardless I spayed & neutered my pets and will always do so.
I'm looking forward to seeing this man's generosity pay off. God bless you Gary Michelson.