Spay / Neuter: Statistics

Still thinking about whether or not you should have your pet spayed or neutered? Many people find themselves locked in this debate when they get a new pet, wondering if it is worth the expense, or whether it hurts their pet to have them fixed. Although rumors and myths abound about the pros and cons of spaying and neutering, the facts show that it is one of the most important things you can do as a responsible pet owner to ensure the safety and happiness of your pets!

For instance, think about this:

• Estimates place the total population of cats and dogs in the United States at approximately 60 and 65 million, respectively.
• Of these, approximately 8-10 million animals are entered into shelters each year.
• Nearly half of these - some 4-5 million potential pets - go unclaimed and unadopted each year, and are thus euthanized.

Every day, then, nearly 14,000 cats and dogs are euthanized across the country. The ways that these pets end up in these shelters is varied - some are unwanted, others are lost, and many are lifelong strays, animals who have never had a home or an owner to care for them.

Why so many? These are large numbers - it is surprising to most people when they hear how many animals there are in the US, let alone how many are euthanized each day. The most significant reason for this is also one of the most obvious. Essentially, one cat or dog that goes without being spayed or neutered can produce many offspring in a very short time.

• Estimates show that a normal female cat can average three litters per year, while a normal dog averages two.
• Although litter size varies, the typical litter size for cats is 4-6 kittens while the typical litter size for dogs is 6-10 puppies. Thus, one cat can produce as many as 18 offspring in a given year, and one dog as many as 20.

The net result is a population explosion! Theoretically speaking, with their offspring, one cat can wind up producing 420,000 other cats, and one dog could produce 67,000 other dogs in just 6-7 years!