Spay & neuter your pets

Every year, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. animal shelters. According to the Humane Society of the U.S., three to four million of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them.

• Think you can't afford to spay or neuter your pets? Call your vet and ask if you can work out a payment plan.
• If your vet is too expensive, call your local animal shelter. Look in the yellow pages under "animal shelter," "humane society," or "animal control." Ask if they offer reduced rates for spay and neuter services. Some may offer vouchers to have your pet spayed or neutered at a lower cost by local veterinarians.
• SPAY/USA is a national spay/neuter referral network that may be able to direct you to subsidized spay/neuter clinics in your area. Contact them at 1-800-248-7729 or http://www.spayusa.org/.
• Pets 911 is an online resource for pet owners. This online database can provide you with information on spay/neuter resources in your area.

Remember that even if you pay full price for the procedure, spaying or neutering is a one-time cost with a lifetime of benefits. Spaying or neutering your pet not only helps reduce pet overpopulation but also reduces your pet's risk of developing health problems later in life.