Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them.
Many cats and dogs who die as a result of pet overpopulation could have made wonderful pets. Between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters every year; far too many to all find homes.
A solution is possible and starts with each of us taking one small step: getting our own pets fixed. To help stop pet overpopulation further, consider adopting your next pet from an animal shelter.
Learn more about the pet overpopulation crisis and how, together, we can solve it.
Bring the Campaign to Your Community
People are responding to an innovative marketing campaign to promote the benefits of spaying and neutering pets. Watch the TV ads, view the billboards, and learn how you can bring the spay/neuter campaign to your community.
Learn MoreNews & Events
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March 18, 2010
Dagnabit, Never Give Up
Meet Dagnabit, the 2010 Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest Judged Category winner, and Ciao, the winner in the Fundraisers Category.
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March 18, 2010
The HSUS Announces Winners of Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest
The HSUS is pleased to announce the winners of the third annual Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest, presented by Visa, Inc. and Zazzle.
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March 13, 2010
Free Rabies Vaccine Clinic to Promote Spay/Neuter Efforts in New Orleans
The HSUS and the New Orleans Dream Center are providing free rabies vaccines for cats and dogs on Saturday. This event also promotes the Louisiana SPCA’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic that will open in April.
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March 10, 2010
Meet Our 2010 KIND Kid of the Year!
Zach Wilson, 9, won the 2010 KIND Kid of the Year Award for opening the Central Florida Animal Pantry, a pet food bank that provides pet food to families in need.
Our Victories
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February 26, 2010
Puppy Mill Operator Sentenced to 10 Years
The HSUS applauds Judge Timothy Easter for imposing an appropriate sentence following the conviction of the owner of Pine Bluff Kennels in Lyles, Tenn., on animal cruelty charges.
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February 8, 2010
Anniversary of Freedom
February 6, 2010 marked the one-year anniversary of freedom for 283 dogs rescued from dismal, filthy conditions at a puppy mill near Goldsboro, NC.
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February 2, 2010
West Hollywood City Council Prohibits Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats
The West Hollywood city council passed an ordinance to prohibit retail sales of dogs and cats at pet stores, closing off a primary channel for the sale of dogs from puppy mills.
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January 29, 2010
Cook County Government Passes Tethering Law to Protect Dogs and Community
The HSUS commends the Cook County Board of Commissioners for passing an ordinance to stop the inhumane tethering of dogs.
