All cats and dogs adopted from animal care facilities should be spayed or neutered.
Pet overpopulation in the United States is driven by two primary factors: uncontrolled reproduction among cats and dogs with little prospect of finding homes for the resulting offspring, and the relinquishment of pets by owners who are unable or unwilling to continue caring for them. Overpopulation in animal shelters leads to thousands of animals being euthanized every year.
Until the imbalance between homeless animals and available responsible homes is resolved, American Humane Society believes that all cats and dogs adopted from public or private animal care and control facilities should be spayed or neutered. This includes prepubertal sterilization of kittens and puppies prior to adoption. American Humane Society supports the passage of laws and regulations mandating sterilization as a condition of adoption from public or private animal care and control facilities. Sterilization is an important component of companion animal population management; however, policies should emphasize accessible services, responsible ownership and breeding, education, and targeted interventions rather than broad community-wide sterilization mandates.
Sterilization Practices and Veterinary Guidance
American Humane Society encourages the veterinary community to actively support efforts to reduce the number of unwanted pets, particularly by supporting the sterilization of animals adopted from shelters and rescue organizations. The research base for prepubertal sterilization has grown substantially. A Veterinary Task Force on Feline Sterilization found no evidence of increased risk for complications or long-term adverse health effects after sterilization of pediatric and juvenile cats. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, and several cat advocacy groups now support spaying or neutering of cats by 5 months of age.
For animals owned by private clients, veterinarians should continue to apply individual clinical judgment when recommending sterilization timing, weighing both short- and long-term health considerations for each patient. As research has revealed more nuance around the health effects of gonadectomy in dogs, a more individualized approach to sterilization timing has gained support within the profession, and American Humane Society endorses this patient-centered approach in private practice settings. American Humane Society also encourages ongoing research into the development and refinement of nonsurgical sterilization methods.
Pet Relinquishment and Intervention
Owner relinquishment and post-adoption returns represent significant contributors to shelter intake and are often influenced by a combination of human circumstances and animal-related factors. Studies estimate that approximately 7–20% of animals adopted from shelters are subsequently returned, with behavioral concerns and changes in adopters’ personal circumstances among the commonly reported reasons. Research examining owner relinquishment more broadly has similarly identified housing and moving, financial hardship, inability to provide care and behavioral concerns as contributing factors. A recent analysis of more than one million intake records from 21 U.S. animal shelters found that housing-related issues accounted for approximately 14% of owner-relinquishment intakes, including pet restrictions, landlord issues, housing loss and homelessness. Other research indicates that many reasons for relinquishment may be amenable to intervention. Collectively, these findings support targeted programs addressing housing barriers, access to veterinary care, behavioral support, temporary financial hardship and other owner-specific circumstances as part of a broader strategy to improve pet retention and reduce avoidable shelter intake. American Humane Society supports continued research into the individual, cultural and systemic factors that contribute to pet relinquishment, and is committed to helping develop practical, accessible intervention strategies that keep pets in homes whenever possible.
What You Can Do
- If you are adding a pet to your family, adopt from a legitimate shelter, nonprofit rescue organization, or a responsible, humane breeder.
- Work with your veterinarian to make an informed decision about sterilization and its appropriate timing for your pet, while taking responsible steps to prevent unintended breeding.
- Before getting a pet, carefully consider all the responsibilities and consequences of pet ownership and always make a lifetime commitment to your pet.
- Educate those around you — family, friends, neighbors and coworkers — about pet overpopulation, the importance of adoption and the role of spaying and neutering in reducing animal suffering.
For additional guidance, download our free Spay and Neuter Checklist.
References
American Veterinary Medical Association. Gonadectomy resources for veterinarians. Available at: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-welfare/gonadectomy-resources-veterinarians. Accessed August 10, 2026.
American Veterinary Medical Association. Spaying & Neutering. Available at: https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/mcm-client-brochures-spay-neuter-2022.pdf. Accessed August 10, 2026.
Applebaum JW, Loney L, Horecka K, Graham TM. Housing-related companion animal relinquishment across 21 animal shelters in the United States from 2019–2023. Front Vet Sci. 2024 Jul 10;11:1430388. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1430388. PMID: 39051007; PMCID: PMC11266180.
Bushby PA, Griffin B. An overview of pediatric spay and neuter benefits and techniques. Available at: https://www.dvm360.com/view/overview-pediatric-spay-and-neuter-benefits-and-techniques. Accessed August 10, 2026.
Davis J. Summary of Pet Owner Surrender Analysis. Available at: https://bestfriends.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/212119_Network%20Research-Surrender%20analysis_CL.pdf. Accessed August 10, 2026.
Dolan ED, Scotto J, Slater M, Weiss E. Risk factors for dog relinquishment to a Los Angeles municipal animal shelter. Animals. 2015;5(4):1311–1328.
Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH. Assisting decision-making on age of neutering for 35 breeds of dogs: associated joint disorders, cancers, and urinary incontinence. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:388. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00388. PMID: 32733924; PMCID: PMC7359819.
Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH. Assisting decision-making on age of neutering for mixed breed dogs of five weight categories: associated joint disorders and cancers. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:472. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00472.
Hawes SM, Kerrigan JM, Hupe T, Morris KN. Factors informing the return of adopted dogs and cats to an animal shelter. Animals (Basel). 2020;10(9):1573. doi: 10.3390/ani10091573.
Oliveira-Martins M, Portugal M, Cardoso L, Martins-Bessa A. The Impact of Pediatric Neutering in Dogs and Cats-A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel). 2023 Aug 1;13(15):2487. doi: 10.3390/ani13152487. PMID: 37570295; PMCID: PMC10417290.
Powell L, Reinhard CL, Satriale D, Morris M, Serpell J, Watson B. The impact of returning a pet to the shelter on future animal adoptions. Sci Rep. 2022;12:1109.
Salman MD, Hutchison J, Ruch-Gallie R, et al. Behavioral reasons for relinquishment of dogs and cats to 12 shelters. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2000;3(2):93–106. doi: 10.1207/S15327604JAWS0302_2.
Salman MD, New, Jr, JG, Scarlett JM, Kass PH, Ruch-Gallie R, Hetts S. Human and animal factors related to relinquishment of dogs and cats in 12 selected animal shelters in the United States. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 1998;1(3):207–226.
Scarlett JM, Salman MD, New JG Jr, Kass PH. Reasons for relinquishment of companion animals in U.S. animal shelters: selected health and personal issues. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 1999;2(1):41–57. doi: 10.1207/s15327604jaws0201_4.
Last Updated: August 25, 2026