As a Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty of Animals volunteer, I also share Nancy J. Miller's concerns for the welfare of abandoned pets. Her April 8 letter indicates, however, the need for more than the mere placement of these animals in homes. This is a short-term solution to Pennsylvania's pet overpopulation problem. Instead, we need an effective, statewide spay/neuter program to curb the unnecessary proliferation of unwanted animals before they fill our homes and crowd our shelters.

To do just this, the Pet Population Control Act (SB 583) was recently introduced into the Pennsylvania Senate. It provides for educating pet owners on the need to spay or neuter their pets and for reimbursement of up to 50 percent of the cost of the animal's surgery. The cost would be paid by the Pet Population Control Fund, financed by a one cent per pound tax on pet food sold at wholesale level and administered by the Department of Agriculture. I urge you to write or call your state senator and representative and ask him/her to support the Pet Population Control Act.

This bill is desperately needed, as at least 100,000 dogs and cats are euthanized in Pennsylvania shelters annually. Only one out of five dogs and cats will end up in a responsible home for their entire lifetime. As taxpayers, our animal control programs cost us an average of $40 per animal to house, feed, and euthanize; PENDOT estimates that it costs them an average of $250,000 per year to pick up cats and dogs (not deer, raccoons, or other wild animals) from our highways.

Please show your support for the Pet Population Control Act by contacting your state legislators.