Overpopulation, Spay/Neuter, & Marcus Bleasdale

Animal overpopulation is the oversaturation of animals in communities and shelters when there are more animals than time and resources can handle and because of that, so many animals are euthanized each year. At the root of this issue is the lack of enforcing spay and neuter practices to prevent accidental litters and control populations.

Montgomery County 2019 numbers: Dogs In 1936, Out 552, Euthanized 1384. Cats In 1312, Out 114, Euthanized 1198. Raccoons In 64, Out 0, Euthanized 64. Opossums In 55, Out 0, Euthanized 55. Montgomery County 2014 number: Dogs In 843, Out 415, Euthanized 428. Cats In 369, Out 36, Euthanized 333. 

The idea that “they’re just something you have in your yard” and that they are replaceable property is a common belief in the South and in agricultural counties like Montgomery County (Dogland, 46). It is also very uncommon to spay or neuter animals especially when it is believed that “an intact dog was meaner” and that what was preferred in some cases (Dogland, 46). From 2014 to 2019 we still see a majority of the cats and dogs that come in being euthanized just on a bigger scale, that increase in animal intake is most likely a result of so many accidental litters that come from these pets that are not spayed or neutered. There are just too many animals coming in, the shelter gets overwhelmed, and it’s the animals that pay the price.

 I would address spay/neuter programs because it is the root of the overpopulation of animals. If we want to tackle this issue, we have to start at the source. If I had to time and resources, I would want to photography a series of animals and their quality of life before and after being spayed or neutered to show the positive impact it has on the life and health of the animal. Marcus Bleasdale’s work showing the realities in areas of conflict and where human rights are oppressed have been shown in the Senate and at the UN to influence decision making on national and global policies.

Marcus Bleasdale, Machete collected by African Union troops in the disarmament process, https://www.marcusbleasdale.com/unravelling-gallery/lj2kp1brni1y4ul1tlcsha70xm4veb

Bleasdale is a documentary photographer. If Bleasdale took on advocating for spaying and neutering, he would likely go into areas with major overpopulation issues and start by photographing the suffering animals, the ones on the way to being euthanized to make room or the tired mother pregnant with another litter. That’s because so much of his work focuses on the victims and the consequences of the issues he pursues. He would also showcase pets after being spayed or neutered, happy and healthy. In addition, I believe he would photograph the tools of spaying and neutering like he did with the machetes above because it is just as important. For this project, the tools would represent the solution, it would promote them and, hopefully, destigmatize them.

These photographs were created in the vision of Bleasdale: