Almost everyone has a beloved pet in their home. Whether it be a dog, cat, bird, or lizard, to many they are considered family. Which is why it can be heart wrenching seeing those commercials with all the sad and lonely dogs or cats. The harsh truth is, it's a reality. Many animals that are just like our own family pets are left abandoned at full shelters or have lived a sad lives stuck in tiny cages. According to the ASPCA,  "approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year" and of those 6.5 million, "approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized". Which is why spaying and neutering most of our dogs and cats can lead to the solution of this sad problem. For example, by neutering a dog, it will be assured that the dog will not be able to reproduce and birth more puppies in this world that already has too many. This will give a chance to those already born dogs rather than hoping a backyard breeder will sell yet another litter of puppies. Overall, requiring pets to be spayed or neutered in applicable cases will greatly decrease the number of lonely pets in crowded shelters and letting our trusted companions lead a more happy, fulfilling life.