Spay/Neuter Your Pets

• 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% of dogs and 2–5% of cats entering shelters

• Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3
  

• Average number of kittens in a litter: 4–6
  

• In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats.
  

*Statistics by HSUS (www.HSUS.com)

Spaying/Neutering Is Good for Your Pet

• Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.
  

• Spaying eliminates the risk of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer, particularly if your pet is spayed before she has her first "heat" cycle.
  

• Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and decreases the risk of prostate disease.
  

• Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
  

• Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to bite.
  

• Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.