As human populations have increased, so have populations of our companion animals. In fact, communities around the globe now face a daunting challenge: overpopulation of humans’ best friends.

Whether in the markets of India, the mountains of Peru, or the fishing villages of Mexico, unwanted dogs and cats subsist off the refuse of their human communities, unhealthy and unloved. With no humane programs in place, governments and citizens sometimes turn to abhorrent methods of animal control: electrocution, poisoning, beating. Animals are treated as one more element of garbage to be removed from the streets. Without proper spay/neuter programs in place, these methods are not only brutal, but ineffective. Animals continue to reproduce, quickly replacing the ones who have been killed with yet another generation of ill-fated puppies or kittens.

The solution to this pressing problem is complex, but one component remains constant: the need for spay/neuter. Reducing the number of unwanted animals is the only way to reduce the number that end up on the street. HSI works with local partners and communities to implement spay/neuter and animal health initiatives in a dozen countries around the globe. By implementing low- or no-cost high-volume clinics, we’re making a tangible difference in the number of homeless animals. In addition, participating communities receive important training in how to implement such programs, so that as the demand for spay/neuter services increases, local professional are able to meet the need.