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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.

A person holding a small black pug and a white and black dog

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%.