Spaying and neutering your pets is important to reduce the over-population of animals.  Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals end up homeless, and many of those pets end up in shelters.  In order to reduce the numbers of stray and unwanted animals, it is vital to spay and neuter your pets so they do not reproduce.

Additionally, pets that are not spayed and neutered face a higher risk of developing a variety of health problems.  With each heat, unspayed females are more likely to suffer from mammary cancer, and they are more prone to ovarian and uterine cancers.  Unspayed females are also more susceptible to infections of the uterus.  Unneutered males have a greater risk of testicular cancer and prostrate problems. 

Pets that are not fixed are also more likely to roam searching for a partner, so owners risk losing their animals and animals risk getting injured.  They also may “spray” or mark their territory with urine to set boundaries.  Many pets that are not spayed or neutered are also more likely to suffer from behavior problems, including aggression.

There are a number of low-cost clinics where pet owners can have their dog or cat spayed or neutered across the country.  Please contact your local Humane Society or ASPCA for more information on low-cost veterinary clinics in your area.