OAA Book of the Month: Getting to Zero: A Roadmap to Ending Shelter Overpopulation
Shelter overpopulation is often framed as an unavoidable reality of animal welfare work. In Getting to Zero: A Roadmap to Ending Shelter Overpopulation, Peter Marsh challenges that narrative head-on, arguing that overpopulation is not inevitable—it is the result of policy choices, resource allocation, and a failure to prioritize prevention.
Rather than focusing solely on rescue and adoption, Marsh centers the conversation on upstream solutions. He makes a compelling case that the most effective way to reduce shelter intake is by preventing animals from entering the system in the first place. Through clear explanations and real-world examples, the book highlights how access to spay/neuter services, community-based programs, and responsible breeding oversight dramatically reduce shelter intake and euthanasia.
One of the book’s most important contributions is its insistence on accountability. Marsh emphasizes that shelter overcrowding does not occur in a vacuum—it is directly tied to irresponsible breeding practices, gaps in enforcement, and policies that allow animals to be treated as disposable commodities. This framing is especially relevant in states like Ohio, where large-scale commercial breeding continues to fuel shelter intake and overwhelm local resources.
Getting to Zero also reinforces a key truth often overlooked in animal welfare: rescue alone cannot solve a population problem. Without prevention, shelters are forced into a perpetual cycle of crisis response. Marsh’s roadmap pushes readers—advocates, policymakers, funders, and shelter leaders alike—to invest in strategies that create long-term, sustainable change.
At Ohio Animal Advocates, this book strongly aligns with our belief that humane systems are built through prevention, enforcement, and community-based solutions, not emergency responses alone. Getting to Zero is an essential read for anyone committed to ending shelter overpopulation at its root.
Take Action
Reading is just the first step. Real change happens when we act.
Hold Puppy Mill Breeders Accountable for Animal Abuse. Support stronger enforcement and accountability for commercial breeders who fuel overpopulation and suffering. Take action through our Hold Puppy Mill Breeders Accountable for Animal Abuse action alert.
Stop the Irreversible and Painful Practice of Declawing. Contact your Ohio Senators right now, using our Action Alert and urge them to cosponsor S.B. 252.
Support Community Cat Solutions. Humane, evidence-based community cat programs are a proven prevention strategy that keeps cats out of shelters and communities stable. Visit our Community Cats Advocacy page to learn more and get involved.
Stand Up Against Puppy Mills. Weak oversight of puppy mills directly contributes to shelter overcrowding and lifelong suffering for dogs. Learn how you can help on our Puppy Mill Advocacy page.
Attend OAA’s Community Cat Summit. OAA hosted two successful Community Cat Summits in 2025, and will do so again in 2026. Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about our next summit.
