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Maryland Department of Agriculture

Spay & Neuter Resources for Pet Owners

Why spay and neuter is so important

  • The intentional efforts to increase and promote spay/neuter services over the past 50 years has been the single most important driver in reducing pet overpopulation and euthanasia in shelters.
  • Approximately 6.3 million ​companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are do​gs and 3.2 million are cats. 
  • Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,0​00 dogs and 530,000 cats).​
  • Cats can have their first heat cycle as young as 4 months old, and dogs can have their first heat cycle as young as 5-6 months old. 
  • In just seven years, one pair of unspayed/unneutered cats and their offspring can produce 420,000 cats.
  • In just six years, one pair of unspayed/unneutered dogs and their offspring can produce 67,000 dogs.
  • Cats can have up to 3 litters per year, with an average of 4-6 kittens per litter; and dogs can have up to 2 litters per year, with an average of 6-10 puppies per litter.
  • Cats and dogs will breed​ with their littermates and other relatives, even their parents – they do not understand familial relationships like humans do.
  • Unneutered males (usually dogs) will travel up to FOU​R MILES away on the scent of a female in heat – they have a higher tendency to come into shelters as strays due to breaking out of their homes and yards, attempting to locate the unspayed female, and sadly they are also hit by cars at a higher rate.
  • Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our pets can get away from us. If your pet is fixed, you don't have to worry about it becoming pregnant or causing an unwanted litter (which you might not even be aware of!)
  • If your pet is fixed, you also don't have to worry about your dog or cat attracting unaltered animals seeking a mate, when they are in your yard or when out for a walk.​​
  • Can reduce or eliminate the chances of your pet developing some cancers, a​nd other diseases and complications due to producing litters.
  • Helps minimize vet bills from treating disease or litters, saves on licensing fees, and fixed pets tend to be less destructive to property and other animals. 
  • Can reduce spraying, marking, mounting, yowling, excessive barking, aggression toward people or other animals, property damage, and other unwanted behavior

Free and low-cost Spay & Neuter services for pet owners

View a list of active MDA-funded Spay and Neuter projects.

In addition to MDA-funded projects, there are many other high-quality, low-cost and/or free spay and neuter programs and clinics throughout Maryland, as well as in surrounding states. 

We encourage you to contact your county's animal shelt​er(s), who may know of these low cost/free surgery options, or other programs in your area.

​You may also visit the United Spay Alliance List of Clinics, a regularly updated interactive map showing low-cost spay and neuter clinics and programs, sortable by state and county.​

Before & after your pet's surgery

These helpful guides can help you prepare for your pet's surgery and recovery, so that you can both have a low-stress and safe spay or neuter experience:

Don't forget about pet licensing!

It is vitally important to comply with your county's pet licensing law. Why?

Helps reunite owners & lost pets

If your pet goes missing, having them licensed drastically improves your chances of getting them back as quickly as possible. 

A license tag on your pet's collar helps animal control agencies and shelters quic​kly identify your pet and get them back to you safely, especially after an incident such as a fire, flood, home break-in, car accident, etc. 

In addition, having an ID tag on your pet, and especially a microchip with your information kept current, are extra precautions recommended to ensure your pet gets back to you as quickly as possible - they can even possibly prevent your pet from ever having to step foot inside a shelter!

Confirms rabies vaccination status

License tags let people know that your pet is up to date on its rabies vaccinations. A pet cannot be licensed unless it is properly vaccinated against rabies. 

It's the law

If you get caught without a license, which can and does happen, you may have to pay a hefty fine. Many counties in Maryland have substantial fees if your pet is unlicensed, and the cost of the license is far less than the penalty for being caught without one.

Discounts may be available

Many counties and cities in Maryland that require licenses will give you a great discount on your pet's license if your pet is spayed or neutered.​

How to license your pet

For information regarding licensing your pets and yo​ur county's requirements for licensing, please contact the animal control agency or shelter in your county. 

Find a list of Maryland animal control facilities here: Maryland Animal Control Facilities