While pets provide companionship to 65 percent of U.S. household, each year there are millions of pets housed in shelters, living on the streets or that ultimately die because resources are not available to them.

Each year, about 2.4 million animals are euthanized in animal shelters because of lack of resources. Most of those pets are healthy and adoptable, and find the loving the homes they deserve in time.

According to Animal Sheltering, a national reduce advocacy group, 90 percent of pets living in poverty and 98 percent of feral and stray cats are not spayed or neutered, leaving them open to reproducing and adding to the problem.

Each February is recognized as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, a time to have discussions about the importance of spaying/neutering animals and the benefits spay/neuter programs can have for communities.

“Without spay and neuter initiatives, homeless animals are often euthanized, killed, neglected or die of disease or injuries,” according to Human Society International. “Sterilization is critical for management of overpopulation and related disease control concerns. Millions of animals suffer on the streets worldwide. Preventing litters reduces the number of animals for whom resources are not available. Most people support spay/neuter, but affordable services are out of reach for many pet owners, and funding is always needed for street animal surgeries.”

Spaying and neutering has also been shown to dramatically reduce the number of animals who are put down in animals shelters. Euthanasia rates increase exponentially in areas where there are no viable spay/neuter programs readily available.

Some other benefits of spay/neuter, according to Humane Society International, include:

— Spay/neuter curbs undesirable hormone-related behaviors. Females no longer have a heat cycle; this eliminates the attraction and approach of unwanted attention by male dogs. Roaming is greatly reduced; male dogs, especially those used for security, are less likely to wander off an owner’s property if they do not have the hormone drive to pursue a female in heat. This way, they can better serve as watchdogs, may not need to be tied up, and are less likely to contract disease or suffer injury. Neutered dogs may actually be more protective, as they no longer are distracted by the temptations of breeding with females or fighting with other males. Spraying and marking territory in males is reduced.

— Spay/neuter reduces health risks for the animals themselves. There are a number of potentially fatal health conditions and transmissible diseases that animals can contract or develop as a result of being intact and breeding; for example, pyometra, TVT, and reproductive cancers. These risks are eliminated when the animal is spayed or neutered. On the whole, animals who have been sterilized at an early age tend to live longer, healthier lives, potentially increasing their lifespans by an average of one to three years for dogs, and three to five years for cats.

— Spay/neuter is cost effective. By spaying or neutering your pet, you save the cost of caring for future litters and reduce the likelihood of your pet needing veterinary treatment for injuries occurring when roaming or fighting.

Clark County is lucky to have multiple rescue groups, including C.A.R.E.S., Friends of the Clark County Animal Shelter, L.I.F.E. for Pets and FairyTales Adoptions, that contribute to helping get animals off the streets, spayed or neutered, provide veterinary attention and re-home animals.

There are low-cost spay and neuter programs offered throughout the year, which are advertised on the Clark County Animal Shelter’s Facebook or through contacting the shelter.

There are several ways recognize National Spay Day and Spay/Neuter Awareness Month.

If your pets are not fixed, make an appointment with your veterinarian or contact the shelter about the low-cost program to ensure your pet does not contribute to overpopulation and reaps the benefits of being spayed/neutered.

If your pets are spayed or neutered or you do not have pets, consider making a donation to a local animal welfare group to sponsor the spay/neuter of another pet. Low-cost programs locally cost about $50, which includes the surgery and rabies and CVRP vaccinations.

Making the choice to spay/neuter or helping out programs that spay/neuter can make a big difference in an animal’s life and control overpopulation in our community, making resources go further at the local shelter and making our community a better place to live.