Spay or Neuter your Pet
One of the most important health decisions you can make for your companion animal and your community is to spay or neuter your cat or dog. It benefits your animal, helps them live longer and healthier lives, and often improves their behavior and happiness. As the spcaLA's Dr. Karen Halligan writes, "Every year, tens of thousands of female dogs and cats die from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, uterine infections and difficult pregnancies. I can't tell you how many times devastated pet owners have said to me, 'Nobody ever told me the health risks of not spaying my pet.' Most people think that veterinarians recommend spaying and neutering solely to help the pet overpopulation crisis. While this is certainly a major reason to spay, there are numerous major health benefits to doing it as well."Spaying and neutering also helps keep our local animal population under control so that there are less homeless animals who needlessly suffer on the streets, overwhelm our shelters and are subsequently euthanized. Find out more about why spaying and neutering is good for you, your animals and the community in English and Espaņol!
All dogs in the unincorporated areas of the County and City of Los Angeles four months of age or older (with a few exceptions) must be spayed or neutered. In Los Angeles County and its unincorporated area, they must also be microchipped.
