Overpopulation is not a dog and cat problem- adopt a child

While it is true, dogs and cats in shelters, waiting for adoption is sad- far more children are experiencing the same fate- yet the Animal Rights movement will attempt to convince us that people who have a litter of puppies are "bad" because they are contributing to "over population". Well- Overpopulation is NOT a dog and cat problem. It IS a human problem. Telling people they can not have children will never happen. Neither should telling people they can't have puppies or kittens. A look at the trends of children in Foster Care should open someone's eyes to the fact that PEOPLE need help- Adopt a child!

The data show that the estimated number of children in foster care on the last day (September 30) of each federal fiscal year has decreased steadily from 552,000 in FY 2000 to 514,000 in FY 2005. After remaining relatively stable from FY 2000 through FY 2003, the number of children entering care increased in both FY 2004 and FY 2005. The estimated number of children exiting foster care increased between FY 2000 and FY 2005 from 272,000 to 287,000.

Each year, the number of children entering care has exceeded the number of children exiting care. Concurrently, the number of children in care on the last day of each fiscal year has been declining. Based on extensive review of the data, the Children's Bureau is confident that the data depicted in the chart for entries into foster care and for children in care on the last day of the fiscal year accurately reflect national trends. However, the Children's Bureau continues to examine the data and explore programmatic issues to resolve the apparently conflicting trends.

The estimated number of children waiting to be adopted declined between FY 2000 and FY 2005 from 131,000 to 115,000. The estimated number of children whose parents have had their rights terminated shows no distinct pattern. Between FY 2000 and FY 2005 the number of children whose parental rights had been terminated ranged from 73,000 to 65,000. The estimated number of children adopted annually from FY 2000 through FY 2005 remained relatively constant in the low 50,000's. After having remained relatively stable from FY 2000 through FY 2002 at between 811,000 and 813,000, the number of children served declined in FY 2003 through FY 2005 to approximately 800,000. (source: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/trends.htm)