World Spay Day

Initiated by Doris Day and her Animal League as Spay Day USA in 1995, when the estimated euthanasia rate in overcrowded shelters was between 14 and 17 million dogs and cats each year, this annual event has grown to global proportions in 74 countries, resulting in the spay/neuter of millions of animals since its inception.  The Doris Day Animal Foundation provides annual grants for World Spay Day, now organized under the auspices of the Humane Society of the United States, to promote spays and neuters across the country to help eliminate homeless pet overpopulation.  While there is still much work to be done, we're happy to report that currently the estimated number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters has dropped to about one million annually. 

Learn more about the many benefits and why you should spay or neuter your pet.

Between 2008-2018, DDAF has granted HSUS $760,000 to spay or neuter animals in need during World Spay Day. This has allowed event organizers in 39 states and the District of Columbia to spay/neuter 14,873 cats, dogs and rabbits: