Frequently Asked Questions
What are the services that BARK provides?
BARK rescues stray dogs and cats and provides them shelter and food until they are adopted. We also
help find lost animals, and operate a catch and spay/neuter and release program for feral cats.
How big of a problem is pet overpopulation?
The Human Society of the United States estimates that there are 6 – 8 million dogs and cats that
enter shelters every year, and estimates that out of that number, only half of the animals taken in get adopted.
How can I help solve the problem of pet overpopulation?
You can help by spaying or neutering your pets before they have the chance to have any litters.
Why should I spay/neuter my pet?
You should spay/neuter your pet to help control the pet population. In six years a female dog and her babies can give birth to 67,000 puppies, while in seven years a cat and her babies can give birth to 420,000 kittens! In addition, spayed and neutered pets are friendlier, less aggressive, and less likely to run away. They also enjoy great health benefits when fixed.
What are the health benefits of spaying/neutering?
Besides helping keep pets from roaming and reducing the change they would get hit by cars, spaying and neutering pets has tremendous health benefits such as it eliminates the chance of several cancers and effects. For example, spayed cats have a lower risk of developing mammary gland tumors, of which more than 90% are malignant in cats. Additionally, spayed cats will not contract pyometra, an infection of the uterus, because the uterus is removed during the surgical procedure. Source: ASPCA Action Newsletter, Summer 2008, from Kathleen Makolinski, DVM
About how much does it cost to spay/neuter a pet?
It can vary on several variables, such as size and age, so it is tough to say exactly how much it costs. However, many places offer financial assistance, some will even perform the operation for free, if you live on a low income.
Why does your feral cat program release the cats you catch after spaying/neutering them?
We release the cats we catch and spay/neuter to help keep the population in balance. By releasing the sterile animals back to join their groups, we are keeping other, non-sterile cats from taking their place.
Why do I have to go through so much paperwork to adopt a pet?
It is most important that the pet you get is a purrfect match with you and your family. To ensure this, we ask questions about your expectations in areas like temperament, size, personality, and breed/type. Too many pets come back to shelters because of behavior related issues. Also we want to make sure that our rescue pets find the best homes. It is our responsibility to protect ALL animals from abuse and neglect. The application process helps make sure that pets and people will become the best of friends.