De-Sexing Isn’t Sexy – But It Is Necessary

In its “Altered Status Data Report – 2019–2023 Trends in Animal Sterilization at Intake”, Shelter Animals Count reveals an alarming shift in the altered status of dogs entering U.S. animal shelters. Fewer dogs are arriving spayed or neutered — a change that directly impacts shelter overpopulation, animal outcomes, and community animal control costs.

📉 Declining Spay/Neuter Rates in Shelter Dogs

Between 2019 and 2023:

Percentage of dogs altered before shelter intake fell from 33.2% to 22.3%.
Owner surrenders: altered status dropped 10.7%.
Strays: altered status dropped 8.7%.
In 2023, just 28.9% of owner-surrendered dogs were already altered.
Male dogs had higher altered rates than females (24% vs. 21% in 2023), reflecting the higher cost of spaying compared to neutering.

📏 Large Dogs Show Steeper Declines

Data shows large dogs are more likely to be altered at intake than medium or small dogs — but their rates are dropping faster, down about 10% over the study period. This matters because large dogs often face longer adoption waits and are harder to place.

🕒 How Spay/Neuter Affects Shelter Stays

In 2019:

Altered dogs: 10 days average stay
Unaltered dogs: 11 days

By 2023:

Altered dogs: 14 days
Unaltered dogs: 18 days

This widening gap (4 days longer for altered vs. 7 for unaltered) suggests adopters hesitate to take unaltered pets — especially when they must pay for surgery themselves.

🦠 COVID’s Lasting Impact on Spay/Neuter Access

Over 60% of the decline in altered owner surrenders happened between 2019 and 2020 due to:

Veterinary clinic shutdowns during COVID
Permanent closures and reduced staffing
Overbooked schedules and rising costs for procedures

From 2020 to 2023, rates continued to decline, reflecting ongoing inaccessibility and affordability issues.

🌍 Why It Matters for Communities

If shelter intake reflects the community at large — which it often does — then declining altered rates indicate fewer dogs in the public are spayed/neutered. This leads to:

More accidental litters
More strays on the streets
Greater pressure on shelter capacity and resources

With 3.6–3.7 million dogs entering U.S. shelters each year, even a small percentage drop in altered status represents hundreds of thousands more intact animals in the population.

💡 How to Reverse the Trend

To address declining altered rates, communities must:

Expand low-cost spay/neuter programs
Increase public awareness campaigns on the importance of pet sterilization
Support shelter partnerships with veterinary clinics

📌 Resources for Affordable Spay/Neuter and Pet Care

Find financial help and low-cost services here:

PetHelpFinder.org – Locate veterinary care, spay/neuter clinics, vaccines, pet supplies, and pet food assistance.
Pets.FindHelp.com – Search for free or low-cost pet services including vet care, food pantries, and temporary pet housing.
United Spay Alliance – Nationwide directory of low-cost spay/neuter providers.

Bottom line: Declining spay/neuter rates are a clear warning sign. Accessible and affordable sterilization services aren’t just good for pets — they’re essential for reducing shelter overcrowding and saving lives.