A Brief History of the NPA
Our Commitment to Animal Welfare
National Pet Alliance was formed by a group of visionary dog and cat owners, to promote the care and well-being of cats and dogs within the context of the purebred dog and pedigree cat fancy. Our original intent was to set a standard of excellence among dog and cat fanciers with regard to the care and housing of animals, and to establish a mentoring program for those who were new to the world of animal breeding and exhibition.
We were diverted from our original goals by the type of anti-animal legislation which began in 1990 with the introduction of the San Mateo ordinance to ban all breeding of dogs and cats. We began to look into the facts, and found that this sort of legislation not only infringes on our rights as responsible pet owners and breeders, but also does nothing to address the real issues of surplus dogs and cats at the shelters, and the well-being of animals.
We resolved to work towards real solutions to these issues. Our comprehensive studies get at the facts. Our practical programs help animals and the people who care for them. Our legislative work protects the rights of responsible owners and breeders.
Our Studies and Programs
In 1991, in recognition of the fact that the vast majority of animals handled in animal shelters are unowned cats, the National Pet Alliance initiated a TTVAR program. TTVAR means Trap, Test, Vaccinate, Alter and Release, which the directors and supporters felt was one humane alternative to animal control's wholesale trap and euthanize approach.
The National Pet Alliance has made a commitment to separating truth from fiction on the very complex and little understood problem of how many, what kinds and for what reasons unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters, and to present that information in a factual format.
Data gathering began during the time of the San Mateo County Community Animal Task Force, and continues today on the efficacy of the San Mateo ordinance. In 1993, through a matching funds grant from The Cat Fancier's Association, Inc. (CFA), National Pet Alliance undertook a major random sample survey of pet ownership of Santa Clara County households. That survey gave new light to the numbers of homeless cats maintained in a community, the percentage of altered versus unaltered amongst the population of owned household cats, and a fresh insight into which pool of cats are being impounded by animal control shelters.
National Pet Alliance directors have also provided a balancing perspective on a number of local and statewide panels and national symposiums convened for the purposes of working on various aspects of animal control, public health and safety, and animal welfare issues.
National Pet Alliance plans to continue to serve as a front line source of information for dog and cat advocates and legislators who are confronted with the complexities of animal issues in our society today.
We Depend on Your Support
National Pet Alliance depends upon the generous support of individuals and groups to enable us to gather and disseminated research, information and statistics.
We appreciate your contribution toward the cause when requesting that information be sent to you.
Every dollar received is one more phone call, and several more letters we can send out.
Thank you for your support!
National Pet AlliancePO Box 53385
San Jose, CA 95153
Tel: (408) 363-0700