The Sobering Statistics
Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 6-8 million
Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: 3-4 million
Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 3-4 million
Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year:
Between 600,000 and 750,000
15-30% is a dog and 2-5% is a cat entering shelters

The Number of animal shelters in the United States: Between 4,000 and 6,000
Percentage of dogs in the shelters who are purebred: 25%


Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3
Average numbers of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6


In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000.
Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2
Average numbers of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10
In six years, one female dog, and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs.

Pet Overpopulation Is a Problem YOU Can Help Solve
Fortunately, there is a solution to pet overpopulation. It's a routine surgical procedure for your pet called spaying or neutering. Being a responsible pet owner means making this important choice for your pet, a choice that saves lives. Talk to your veterinarian about spaying and neutering. Prevent a litter and be a part of the solution to the tragedy of pet overpopulation.
Companion animals have been bred by humans for centuries, and as the stewards of these animals we have a moral obligation to do what is in their best interest. Cats and dogs mate because of their hormones and instinctive behavior. They have no concept of being "in love", so we must not anthropomorphize. Men tend to tie in their own masculinity to their companion animals - they need to understand that their masculinity is not tied to their pet's testicles. Their companion animals will live longer and healthier lives if sterilized.

What are the top three reasonsto spay and neuter?
It helps to reduce companion animal overpopulation. Most countries have a surplus of companion animals and are forced to euthanize or disregard their great suffering. The surplus is in the millions in the United States. Cats are 45 times as prolific, and dogs 15 times as prolific, as humans. They do not need our help to expand their numbers; they need our help to reduce their numbers until there are good homes for them all.

Sterilization of your cat or dog will increase his/her chance of a longer and healthier life. Altering your canine friend will increase his life an average of 1 to 3 years and in felines 3 to 5 years. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, per anal tumors, pyometria, and uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancers.

Sterilizing your cat/dog makes him/her a better pet, reducing his/her urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.

What Do "Spay" And "Neuter" Really Mean?
Your veterinarian can fully explain spay and neuter procedures to you and discuss the best age at which to sterilize your pet. Basically, female dogs and cats are "spayed" by removing their reproductive organs, and male dogs and cats are "neutered" by removing both testicles. In both cases, an operation is performed while the animal is under anesthesia. Sometimes the pet can go home the same day, and other times a stay at your veterinarian is required. Depending upon the procedure, your pet may need stitches removed after a few days.

Prevent a Litter - It's Good For Your Pet
Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.
Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.
Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

Prevent a Litter - It's Good For You
Spaying and neutering makes pet’s better, more affectionate companions.
Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.
Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle. Estrus lasts an average of six to seven days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered.
Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.

Prevent a Litter - It's Good For the Community
Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals. Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks. Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals. Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs. Some stray animals also scare away or kill birds and wildlife.

Excuses, Myths, - Myths..., and Facts
"My pet will get fat and lazy." The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don't give them enough exercise.
"It’s better to have one litter first." Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks of age. Check with your veterinarian about the appropriate time for these procedures.
"I want my dog to be protective." Spaying or neutering does not affect a dog's natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog's personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.
"I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male." Pets don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
"It's too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered." The cost of spaying and neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of the animal, your veterinarian's fees, and a number of other variables. But whatever the actual price, spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost and relatively small when compared to all the benefits. It's also a bargain compared to the cost of having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and litter; two months of pregnancy and another two months until the litter is weaned can add up to significant veterinary bills and food costs, not to mention the added financial and health costs if complications develop. Most importantly, it's a very small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention of more unwanted animals.
"I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens." You may find homes for all, or at least most, of your pet's litter. What you may not think about is that, in less than one year's time, each and every one of your pet's litter may have produced its own litter, adding more and more animals to the population. The problem of pet overpopulation is made and perpetuated one litter at a time.

Why Spay and Neuter?
Each day 10,000 humans are born in the U.S. - and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals. As a result, every year 4 to 6 million animals are euthanized because there are no homes for them. If you allow the pet to breed, even if you find a good home for the litter, they take the place of the homeless puppies, kittens and full grown dogs and cats in shelters that need to be adopted. Your litter may well take the life of a living, loving, wonderful—but homeless pet. What can you do to stop the suffering?

Simple Spay and Neuter Your Pets! Prevent A Litter - It's Good for You
Spayed and neutered pets are better, more affectionate, companions.
Neutered cats are less likely to spray and mark territory.
Spaying a female dog or cat eliminates its heat cycle, which can last twenty-one days, twice a year, in dogs, and anywhere from three to fifteen days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat often cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals.
Spayed and neutered pets are less likely to bite. Unaltered animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than those that have been spayed or neutered.

Prevent a Litter - It's Good for Your Pet
Spayed and neutered dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
Spaying female dogs and cats eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer.
Neutering male dogs and cats reduces the incidence of prostate cancer.
Neutered animals are less likely to roam and fight.

Prevent A Litter - It's Good for the Community
Communities spend millions of dollars to control and eliminate unwanted animals. Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks. Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals.

Additional Benefits:
Your community will also benefit. Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern in many places. Stray animals can easily become a public nuisance, soiling parks and streets, ruining shrubbery, frightening children and elderly people, creating noise and other disturbances, causing automobile accidents, and sometimes even killing livestock or other pets.
- The American Veterinary Medical Association
The capture; impoundment and; eventual destruction; of unwanted animals costs taxpayers and private humanitarian agencies over a billion dollars each year. As a potential source of rabies and other less serious diseases, they can be a public health hazard.
- The American Veterinary Medical Association