About 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs—about one every 11 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.
A solution is possible and starts with each of us taking one small step: getting our own pets spayed or neutered. 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.
You Can Afford to Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Here are some ideas for locating low-cost surgery options.
Learn MoreNews & Events
-
May 3, 2013
New Laws Protect Companion Animals in West Virginia
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed two important companion animal welfare bills into law. The bills establish better protections for dogs in commercial dog breeding facilities and support spay/neuter programs in West Virginia.
-
April 30, 2013
Animal Welfare Organizations Converge on Nashville for Animal Care Expo 2013
Presented by The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Care Expo is celebrating its 22nd year as the world's largest international education and trade show in the fields of animal care, sheltering and rescue. Animal Care Expo 2013 will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., May 8-11.
-
April 25, 2013
Massachusetts Animal Advocates Lobby Lawmakers to Protect Pets and Farm Animals
Residents concerned about animal welfare from across Massachusetts converged on the state capitol for Humane Lobby Day to lobby for better animal welfare laws to protect farm animals and pets.
-
April 22, 2013
World Spay Day 2013 Pet Pageant Winners Announced
A panel of celebrity judges chose Eddie, a dog from Front Royal, Va. who just loves to play fetch no matter what time of day, or night, to win the Judged prize in the World Spay Day 2013 Pet Pageant. With more than 5,000 votes, Titus, a rescued dog from Islip, N.Y. who loves to give kisses, took the Mister World Spay Day 2013 Popular Pet prize.
Our Victories
-
April 19, 2013
Arkansas Legislative Session a Success for Animals
The Arkansas State Legislature passed a number of animal protection bills that were signed into law by Gov. Mike Beebe this legislative session, receiving praise from The Humane Society of the United States.
-
April 5, 2013
The HSUS Honors Indiana Prosecutor with Award For Animal Cruelty and Fighting Case
The Humane Society of the United States honored Delaware County Deputy Prosecutor Joe E. Orick, of Muncie, Ind., with the Prosecutor Recognition Award, for successfully prosecuting Rahsaan A. Johnson for dogfighting-related charges.
-
March 22, 2013
Maryland Votes For Animals and The HSUS Celebrate Landmark Spay/Neuter Program
Maryland Votes for Animals and The Humane Society of the United States applauded the Maryland Senate and House for passing the spay/neuter bill, introduced by Sen. Joanne Benson, D-Prince George’s County, and Del. Barbara Frush, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, to establish a statewide fund to support spay/neuter services through targeted community grants.
-
January 31, 2013
Federal Court Refuses to Block New Texas Puppy Mill Law
A federal court in Austin Texas heard arguments and then rejected a motion by certain disgruntled commercial dog breeders to block the state’s new puppy mill law from going into effect.
