The words in the title may sound familiar; that's because Bob Barker ended every episode of his game show "The Price Is Right" by issuing that reminder. Turns out Bob was onto something. Somewhere in the neighborhood of six to eight million pets enter animal shelters every year. Of those, only three to four million find homes. You do the math: that means that three to four million cats and dogs are euthanized every single year because they aren't taken into loving homes. Surprisingly enough, a lot of these animals don't just come off the streets, nor are they in ill health. Often times family pets have gotten loose (and gotten busy!) or owners have bred the animals to reproduce, but in any event, these animals don't find homes.

Those are some pretty scary - and sad - numbers. Shelters are overcrowded and millions of potentially great family pets are being put down simply because there aren't enough good homes to take them in. If you needed a good reason to spay or neuter your pets, there you have it. Breeders make good money from selling their animals, however for every cat or dog sold by a breeder, one less shelter animal has the opportunity to be adopted.

The reason for fixing 
Beyond helping to control the pet population, spaying or neutering your pet comes with other benefits. Females that are spayed do not go into heat, thus preventing the associated "mess" that comes with it, nor do you have to protect her from males trying to take advantage of an opportune situation and get their mojo on. Neutering a male dog also has benefits: neutered dogs tend to be less territorial and don't mark their spot by urinating as often. Neutering also tends to reduce a male dog's instincts to become "affectionate" with inappropriate objects. There are also health reasons to consider: spaying a female reduces the risks of mammary tumors, uterine infections and tumors in the uterus or ovaries. Neutered males are less likely to experience prostate tumors and infections, testicular tumors and perineal hernias.

Timing is everything
Typically the procedure takes place between five to eight months of age, however some believe it can take place as early as six weeks. If you aren't sure when the best time to spay or neuter is, talk to your vet (or the person who will be your vet) and get their opinion. Just remember that until the surgery happens, you'll want to keep a closer watch on your animal to eliminate the potential for an accident.

What to expect
After the procedure, your pet may be ready to come home within hours, or in some cases it may be days (your vet will be able to advise). Prevent the animal from licking the area and if necessary, invest in a cone. The cost can vary depending on the size and sex of your dog. If you're worried about financing, contact your vet to see if any type of discounts or subsidies apply. It is an initial investment, however you will spend more on food over your pet's lifetime than you will on the one-time cost of the surgery.

Common Myths (and the truth)
Your animal will gain weight and become lethargic when you "fix" it - Obese, lazy pets are a result of being fed too much and exercised too little. Make sure you know the proper amount of food a pet your size should eat per day and find out what how much daily activity they need and the best ways to accomplish that.

One litter of offspring is healthier - Contrary to this belief, females spayed prior to their first heat are healthier.

Children can learn about the miracle of birth through animals - Children should actually be taught that preventing the birth of pets can save the lives of other ones. Besides, most animals give birth at night and in seclusion.

Animals are less protective after being fixed - Genetics and environment influence your pet's protective instincts more than sex hormones. Spaying or neutering doesn't change these instincts.

Good homes can be found - While that much is true and you may be able to find good homes for litters of puppies and kittens, each home that buys one of your pet's offspring may be preventing an animal in a shelter from finding a good home and instead being euthanized. This mindset is a major contributing factor to the overpopulation of pets.

» The Humany Society of the United States