WHY SPAY AND NEUTER?

AT REAL TIME RESCUE, WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN PET OWNERS KNOW BETTER, THEY CAN DO BETTER. EDUCATION, ACCESS TO CARE, AND PREVENTION ARE THE FOUNDATION OF LASTING, SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN ANIMAL WELFARE.

THE URGENCY OF OUR MISSION IS UNDERSCORED BY SOBERING NATIONAL AND LOCAL DATA:

National Crisis Indicators

  • Homeless animals outnumber homeless people 5 to 1.

  • Roughly 70 million cats are homeless in the United States.

  • Only 10% of dogs born will find a permanent home.

  • Approximately 3.9 million dogs are abandoned or surrendered to shelters each year.

  • 74.1% of lost dogs with proper identification can be reunited with their owners.

  • Only 25–30% of dogs in shelters are purebreds, dispelling common misconceptions.

  • 14.1% of dogs are surrendered due to housing issues—the leading cause for canines.

  • 22.6% of cats are surrendered because owners have too many animals.

  • 10.1% of animals are surrendered due to the owner’s death.

  • 7.8% are surrendered due to aggressive behavior.

  • 7.2% are surrendered because of financial hardship.

These statistics reveal that many animals enter shelters not because they are unloved—but because families lack support, stability, or affordable resources.

The Los Angeles Emergency (2024–2025 Data)

The situation in Los Angeles has reached critical levels:

  • In 2024, more than 15,800 animals—approximately 43 every single day—were euthanized within the Los Angeles city shelter system due to severe overcrowding and limited resources.

  • Broader regional reports suggest the number may exceed 72,000 animals euthanizedacross the wider area, driven by high intake and staffing shortages.

  • Euthanasia for dogs increased 72% in the first nine months of 2024, with over 1,224 dogs and 1,517 cats euthanized in city shelters during that period alone.

  • LA City shelters, designed to house 775 dogs, routinely exceed capacity—forcing consideration of space-based euthanasia.

  • In late 2024, LA County shelters in Lancaster and Palmdale were euthanizing nearly 200 dogs per month combined, compounded by overcrowding and distemper outbreaks.

These are not abstract numbers. They represent lives lost—many of which could have been prevented through early intervention, accessible spay and neuter programs, vaccination, community outreach, and owner support.

Founder and Board President Seana Cormack, alongside Board Vice President Summer Parker, have dedicated countless hours to rescuing dogs from overcrowded shelters and placing them into loving foster homes. While rescue work remains vital, we are committed to addressing the root cause of this crisis: overpopulation and preventable surrender.

One of Real Time Rescue’s most critical initiatives is providing free and very low-cost spay and neuter surgeries and vaccinations to underserved communities. Prevention is not only more humane—it is more sustainable. Spay and neuter reduces unwanted litters, decreases shelter intake, improves long-term health outcomes, and stabilizes behavior. Vaccinations and education prevent disease outbreaks that further strain already overwhelmed facilities.

If we are to turn this crisis around—both in Los Angeles and nationwide—we must move beyond reaction and invest in prevention.

AT REAL TIME RESCUE, WE ARE NOT ONLY SAVING LIVES TODAY. WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE FEWER LIVES ARE AT RISK TOMORROW.