For years the veterinary and animal welfare community have been working to educate pet owners about the benefits of spaying or neutering for family pets.  Yet a large number of dog and cat owners continue to skip this important health care action for the family dog or cat because of misinformation purely because of lack of information.  Here are some vital statistics to inform you of the facts:

• Over $2 billion is spent annually by local governments to shelter and ultimately destroy between 8-10 million cats and dogs because of a shortage of homes.

• An unspayed female cat her mate and all of their offspring producing 2 litters per year with an average of 2.8 surviving kittens per year can total 11 606 077 cats in only 9 years.

• An unspayed female dog her mate and all of their puppies if none are ever neutered or spayed can add up to 67 000 dogs in 6 years.

• Seventy thousand kittens and puppies are born every day in our country.  On average in the U.S. 415 children are born each hour yet 3 500 cats are born each hour as well.

• The majority of animals that are destroyed are bright-eyed and healthy with no physical or mental deformities.  Their own downfall is not having a caring owner.

• Every year in the U.S. an estimated 3-4 million cats and dogs are killed in shelters simply because there are far more cats and dogs in the world than responsible pet owners.

At Pet Supplies 4 Less we encourage responsible pet ownership and breeding.  Every year communities spend countless resources on catching sheltering euthanizing and disposing of homeless cats and dogs.  Spaying and neutering animals to prevent accidental or irresponsible breeding is a highly cost-effective way to reduce these expenses while enabling shelters to make better use of their limited resources.  Coupled with the behavior and health benefits of sterilizing your pet it is evident that being a responsible pet owner and spaying/neutering your pet not only improves your companion’s life but also positively impacts you and your community.