An estimated eight million homeless animals in the United States are subject to euthanasia in order to keep the population under control (humanesociety.org). Not only are sick or elderly animals subject to these humane deaths, but also young and healthy ones that deserved a good home. Many veterinarians advise their clients to sterilize their furry companions, due to this overpopulation. However, people use inadequate excuses, such as breeding, to leave their mate intact. Thus, dogs and other animals should be spayed or neutered due to the fact that there are too many pets in the United States and that spaying and neutering reduces many known health risks in animals. The population of New York City is roughly equal to the number of homeless people. animals throughout the United States. The number varies from state to state, as the Humane Society states: "...in some states, as many as 300,000 homeless animals are euthanized in animal shelters each year...nationally, more of 2.7 million healthy adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters. annually." (humanesociety.org). Intact, homeless animals have offspring, and the offspring are captured by animal control. The animals are then placed in shelters and are usually euthanized. Oxford Pets and the Humane Society have both calculated how many animals, usually cats and dogs, are euthanized: about 10,000 per day (humanesociety.com), or about one every eleven seconds (oxfordpets.com Although there are anti shelters). -kill, they become crowded very quickly If people would simply neuter their pets, these excessive but necessary deaths would not occur and their companions would be much healthier Although some may not want to undergo simple surgery for theirs. companion, neutering and... ... middle of paper ...... it's like breeding for profit not to neuter animals, the population of homeless pets is already too large . Overall, neutering should be practiced to protect present and future generations of all domestic animals. Works Cited DiBlasio, Natalie. “Does where you live impact your pet’s longevity?” USAToday.com. Gannett Co., Inc., May 7, 2013. Web. November 14, 2013. “How will spaying or neutering change my dog?” » ASPCA.org. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 2013. Web. November 14, 2013. “Pet Overpopulation. » HumaneSociety.org. The Humane Society of the United States, September 4, 2013. Web. November 2013. “The United States and the numbers.” OxfordPets.com. Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society. Web. November 2013. “Why You Should Neuter Your Pet.” HumaneSociety.org. The Humane Society of America, May 10, 2013. Web. November 14 2013.