The Silent Crisis: How Abandonment of Spay/Neuter Funding Set Animal Welfare Back Decades

How National Animal Welfare Groups Quietly Abandoned Spay/Neuter Programs, Setting Back the Fight Against Pet Overpopulation by Decades

For decades, spay/neuter programs were the cornerstone of efforts to combat pet overpopulation in the United States. These initiatives, championed by national animal welfare organizations, helped reduce shelter intakes and euthanasia rates by 80% during the years from 1990 to 2010 - bringing us closer to the dream of a no-kill nation. Yet, in recent years, a troubling shift has occurred: many of these organizations have quietly deprioritized funding for spay/neuter services. This policy pivot may have set back national progress toward no-kill by decades, exacerbating the very problems these groups once sought to solve.

The Decline of Spay/Neuter Funding

Historically, organizations like Best Friends Animal Society, the ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) invested heavily in spay/neuter programs. For example, Best Friends' No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA) initiative once allocated nearly $1 million annually to fund free or low-cost spay/neuter surgeries in underserved areas, targeting communities with high shelter intake rates. These efforts resulted in measurable declines in shelter populations and euthanasia rates.

However, by the mid-2010s, this funding began to wane. Today, while some state-level initiatives like California's Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program and localized efforts still exist, national organizations have largely redirected their focus to broader "access-to-care" models. These models prioritize wellness checks and vaccinations over targeted spay/neuter campaigns. While these services are undoubtedly valuable, they fail to address the root cause of shelter overcrowding: unchecked reproduction among companion animals.

The COVID-19 Effect

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated this crisis. Between 2020 and 2021, an estimated 2.7 million fewer spay/neuter surgeries were performed nationwide compared to pre-pandemic levels. This deficit has created a ripple effect, with shelters now facing increased intakes of unwanted litters. The long-term consequences are dire: more animals entering shelters means higher euthanasia rates and fewer resources for other life-saving programs.

Implications for No-Kill Goals

The shift away from spay/neuter funding has undermined decades of progress toward achieving no-kill status nationwide. Without robust prevention efforts, shelters are left to manage the symptoms of pet overpopulation rather than its causes. This reactive approach is not only less effective but also more costly in the long run.

Moreover, the lack of national leadership on this issue has left smaller organizations and local governments scrambling to fill the void. While some states have stepped up with grant programs aimed at expanding spay/neuter capacity, these efforts are fragmented and insufficient to meet the scale of the problem.

Animal Politics is launching a #NoFixNoFunds Campaign. Until national organizations financially support spay/neuter programs they will receive no donations!

A Call to Action: Leveraging Donor Power for Transparency and Change

The abandonment of widespread spay/neuter funding by national animal welfare organizations has left a gaping hole in the fight against pet overpopulation. While some groups, such as the BISSELL Pet Foundation, have stepped in with targeted initiatives like "Fix the Future" to address the crisis, the lack of consistent, large-scale funding from major organizations has created a bottleneck in progress toward no-kill goals.

Donors play a critical role in shaping the priorities of these organizations. By leveraging our financial contributions, donors can demand transparency and accountability. Specifically, we call on all donors to withhold or condition their donations until these organizations publicly explain:

1. Why they deprioritized spay/neuter programs, despite decades of evidence showing that these initiatives are the most effective and cost-efficient way to prevent shelter overcrowding and euthanasia.

2. What alternative strategies they are pursuing to address pet overpopulation and how they measure success.

3. How donor funds are being allocated, particularly in light of the growing emphasis on "access-to-care" models that often exclude direct spay/neuter services.

The implications of this shift cannot be overstated. As highlighted by groups like American Humane, spay/neuter programs are essential for stopping generations of suffering caused by unwanted litters. The math is simple: investing in prevention through spay/neuter saves countless lives and reduces the long-term financial burden on shelters.

This call to action is not about undermining the important work these organizations do but about ensuring that their strategies align with the proven solutions needed to end pet overpopulation. Donors have the power to influence these priorities, but only if they demand answers and accountability.

By withholding donations or earmarking them specifically for spay/neuter initiatives, donors can send a clear message: prevention is non-negotiable. Without spay/neuter funding, the dream of a no-kill nation will remain out of reach. #NoFixNoFunds

Ed Boks is a former Executive Director of the New York City, Los Angeles, and Maricopa County Animal Care & Control Departments, and a former Board Director of the National Animal Control Association. His work has been published in the LA Times, New York Times, Newsweek, Real Clear Policy, Sentient Media, and now on Animal Politics with Ed Boks.