Domesticated animals have been part of human communities for thousands of years. Just as people continue to debate what our responsibilities are to one another, the debate about our responsibilities to animals as members of our communities also continues. These issues are sometimes difficult, and people’s opinions vary.

The number of animals who wind up in shelters is much lower than it was even twenty years ago, but it is still a concern. Some pet owners turn animals over to shelters because they cannot find housing, or they need help learning how to train and care for their pets. What should be done to help people become more successful as pet owners?

Feral cats remain an important, and difficult issue, for many communities. Estimates of 40 million feral cats may be conservative. Efforts to reduce the numbers of feral cats involve both trapping and killing and a new approach called “trap-neuter-return,” which aims to produce stable, and eventually declining, populations without euthanizing large numbers of animals. What can pet individuals do to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned cats? Do you agree with the "TNR” approach?

“Puppy mills” and even “kitten mills,” continue to survive, especially in rural communities. The living conditions in such places are often very poor, and the breeding practices often result in animals with temperament and medical problems. Yet groups representing pedigreed dog breeders have resisted legislation to control their activities. What should be done to control or eliminate the poor operations? Does controlling these breeders mean limiting the rights of other dog breeders?

In the last two decades, the old and outlawed practice of dog fighting has experienced a revival. Along with its obvious cruelty to animals, the practice is often associated with drug-dealing, gambling, and illegal weapons. In November 2004, David Tant, considered the second-largest breeder of fighting dogs in the United States, was successfully prosecuted by the State of South Carolina. Convicted of 41 counts of dog fighting and one count of aggravated assault and battery, Tant received a prison sentence of 40 years. However, many dogfighters keep only a few dogs and they are difficult to prosecute. This small-scale dog fighting is now also associated with gang activity in communities. What can be done to eliminate dog fighting and similar cruelties to animals in communities? Is aggressive prosecution the only answer?