According to the American Pet Products Association, 75% of owned dogs and 87% of owned cats are spayed or neutered. There are many reasons to spay and neuter your pets. The biggest reason most proponents give is the reduction in pet overpopulation. Shelters around the country euthanize perfectly happy and healthy pets because there are too many pets and not enough adopters. So, you are saving a life by adopting a pet – and saving several lives by spaying and neutering the pet you adopt!

But there are other benefits to spaying and neutering as well. Sterilization can increase your dog’s lifespan an average of one to three years, and your cat’s lifespan an average of three to five years. It also leads to a much lower risk of mammary gland tumors, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and other forms of cancer.