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The Problem: Each year over 12,000,000 animals are left at humane shelters around the country. Some are lost, some are abandoned and some are neglected by their owners. Nearly 8,000,000 of these animals have to be euthanatized because there are not enough homes for all of them Every day, in the United States, there are more than 70,000 puppies and kittens born. That is seven time the number of humans births each day.

It is hard to imagine that letting our pets have one or even two litters can cause a problem. But the fact is that "just one litter" does cause pet overpopulation. In less than one year your pet's letter will be having litters or their own. Every day, thousands of these healthy puppies and kittens must be destroyed for lack of a home.

The Solution: A routine surgical procedure for your pet called spaying or neutering can be the solution to pet over-population. Talk to your veterinarian about spaying and neutering. Your veterinarian can fully explain the procedures and discuss the best age to sterilize your pet. Female dogs and cats are spayed, while male dogs and cats are neutered. sometimes your pet may even be able to return home the same day.

Positive Results:

	Spayed pets live longer and healthier lives.
	They have less health problems that could be difficult or expensive to treat.
	Spayed females have a reduced possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.
	Neutered males have a reduced possibility of prostate cancer.
	Neutered cats are less likely to spray and mark territory.
	Spayed females do not have heat cycles. Females "in heat" can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior and attract unwanted male animals.
	Spayed and neutered pets are less likely to bite, roam the neighborhood or get into fights.

How Your Community is Affected:

	Communities spend millions of dollars to control and eliminate unwanted animals.
	Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dogs bites and attacks.
	Animal shelters are overburdened with a surplus of animals.
	Stray pets get into trash, defecate in public areas or on private lawns.
	Strays also kill birds and other neighborhood wildlife.
	They can attack our pets, children, and joggers.

Excuses, Myths and Facts about Spaying and Neutering:

"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. Speak with your veterinarian about diet foods that are available.

"It's better to have one litter first"
Medical evidence shows that female spayed before heir first heat are typically healthier. Check with you veterinarian about the appropriate time for these procedures.

"But my pet is a purebred"
So is at least one out of every four animals brought to animal shelters around the country. There are just too may dogs and cats - mixed breed and purebred.

"I want my dog to be protective"
Spaying and neutering does not affect a dog's natural instincts to protect its home and family. a dog's personality is formed more by genetics and environment than its sex hormones.

"I don't want my male dog or cat to fell like less of a male"
Pets do not have any concepts of sexual identity or ego. Neutering a male dog or cat will not change its basic personality. It does not suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.

"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 to the population. The problem of pet overpopulation is made and perpetuated one litter at a time. In just six short years, one female dog and its offspring can be the source of 67,000 puppies. In seven years, one female cat and its offspring can produce 420,000 cats. Every day, in the United States, more than 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. There can never be enough homes for all of these pets.

"It's too expensive to have my pet spayed and neutered"
The cost of spaying and neutering depends on sex, size, age of the animal, your veterinarian's fees, and a number of other variables. But whatever the actual price, spay and neuter surgery is a one-time cost and relatively small when 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 cost is 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.