Visual Advocacy - Research

9.6 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States.
13,000 animals were euthanized in Kansas City Shelters in 2008.
in the last six years this number has dropped from 38,000 animals in 2002 due to the efforts of many adoption facilities that have created no kill programs which enable cats to be rescued from facilities that do still euthanize healthy cats and kittens. This also has increased the number of cats that need to be adopted and has not effected the abandonment rates of kansas city area.


How can graphic design help prevent the abandonment of Cats in Kansas City.

The related problem is that Cats are being treated as a commodity to a lifestyle. Dispensable. Cats are one of the most easily obtainable pet. They are usually free to procure which leads to irresponsibly people impulsively acquiring a kitten. The fun times eventually wear off and these pets end up on the streets or in shelters. This consumeristic attitude towards cats results in thousands of homeless cats throughout the KC area and is a serious problem.

Reasons for Abandonment or Relinquishment of Cats:
- Moving
- Too many animals in the household / incompatibility
- Landlord not allowing pet
- Cost of pet maintenance
- Owner having personal problem
- Allergies in family
- House soiling


Audience
Cats in shelters range from kittens to senior cats who can be as up to 20 years old. Cats live in many situations including in family’s with and without children, multiple animals or with one person. For this reason Cat owners range from young children to the elderly. The common thread between owners who abandon their pets is an attitude that the pet is expendable and not a part of the family.


The goal is to encourage an emotional bond between
pet owner and pet.

One of the reasons stated by a worker at the Humane society that animals are being abandoned was because of a lack of connection or bond with their pet. She stated that often pet owner who relinquished their pets didn’t care weather or not they would be euthanized. as if they were merely “throwing out a couch”.


The number of abandoned and relinquished cats in shelters will decrease with a stronger connection between owner and pet.