As a result, these animals endanger both the community and themselves in several ways. More than a million dogs and cats are killed by cars in the United States annually. Unconfined pets also cause thousands of car accidents every year when people swerve or brake to avoid hitting them. Every year at least a million people are bitten by dogs in the United States, making dog bites our second most commonly reported public health problem. A survey revealed that people in some areas of Pittsburgh feared being bitten by roaming packs of dogs as much as they feared being mugged.
Dogs harass elderly people carrying groceries as well as young children with lunch bags.
Free-roaming dogs kill or injure wildlife, livestock and other pets. I've treated my share of small dogs and cats chewed up by such packs. The owners of the attacking dogs usually have no idea what the family dog really does on an afternoon romp. Too many cats prowling through a neighborhood can also be a menace to birds, small wildlife and each other. Inc. All rights reserved.