Why Spay/Neuter Your Pet?
Discover the vital reasons to spay/neuter your pet at HELP Spay/Neuter Clinic. Prevent pet overpopulation and support animal welfare.
Animal Shelters
- Approximately 8-12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 5-9 million are euthanized (60% of dogs and 70% of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
- Less than 2% of cats and only 15-20% of dogs are returned to their owners.* Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos, or microchips.
- 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.*
- Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. 75% of owned pets are neutered.
Pet Overpopulation
- The average number of litters a fertile cat produces is one to two a year; the average number of kittens in litters is 4-6.
- The average number of litters a fertile dog produces is one a year; the average number of puppies is 4-6.
- It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the US; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
- Owned cats and dogs generally live longer, healthier lives than strays.
- Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
Statistics from our Clinic’s Target Areas:
County | Estimated # of Pet Cats | Estimated # of Pet Dogs | Estimated # of Feral Cats | Estimated # of Pitbulls |
Coweta | 38,518 | 31,777 | 21,185 | 1,440 |
Troup | 19,591 | 16,163 | 10,775 | 1,020 |
Meriwether | 6,903 | 5,695 | 3,797 | 400 |
Heard | 3,493 | 2,882 | 1,921 | 200 |
Fayette | 32,360 | 26,697 | 17,798 | 1,420 |
Estimated Shelter Intake/Euthanasia:
County Shelter | Estimated # dogs impounded | Estimated # cats impounded | Estimated # dogs euthanized | Estimated # cats euthanized | Data Year |
Coweta | 2,302 | 1,735 | 1,281 | 983 | 2008 |
Troup | 1,313 | 1,008 | 954 | 733 | 2008 |
Meriwether | 388 | 297 | 111 | 85 | 2008 |
Heard | 639 | 491 | 87 | 67 | 2008 |
Fayette | 820 | 630 | 319 | 245 | 2008 |
Data extrapolated from Georgia Voters for Animal Welfare Survey of Animal Services in Georgia 2008 Animal totals, and not species totals, were available in this survey.
Coweta County Animals Control 6-Year Impound/Disposition Statistics– Self-Reported
Year | Total Impounded | Total Adopted | Total Rescued** | Total Euthanized | Reclaimed |
2004 | 3887 | 855 (15%) | 456 (12%) | 2288 (59%) | 249 (6%) |
2005 | 3743 | 693 (19%) | 380 (10%) | 2318 (62%) | 268 (7%) |
2006 | 3912 | 835 (21%) | 1253 (32%) | 1399 (36%) | 316 (8%) |
2007 | 3918 | 797 (20%) | 1300 (33%) | 1475 (38%) | 266 (7%) |
2008 | 4037 | 993 (25%) | 1473 (36%) | 1237 (31%) | Not available |
2009 | 3,644 | 828 (23%) | 1,282 (35%) | 1,157 (31%) | 273 (7%) |
** Rescued by humane societies, rescue groups, or other licensed agencies
CONCLUSION: Euthanasia rates have been impacted by an increased rescue presence at this facility. Notice that in 2006, the total number of animals rescued increased by 22%. Efforts by rescue agencies also more highly publicized the animals at the facility thus increasing both public adoptions and animals reclaimed. In the absence of these rescue agencies, the euthanasia statistics would still be at approximately 70%.