By Eunice Wang
Medill Reports

The last day of February is World Spay Day, a campaign created by the Humane Society International. To highlight the importance of spaying and neutering pets, The Anti-Cruelty Society, an animal rescue service in downtown Chicago, has been providing a low-cost clinic to the public.

Spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats have helped lead to a significant decline in the number of animals coming into the city shelters, according to David Dinger, the Vice President of Operations at The Anti-Cruelty Society.

Dinger says Chicago has now largely solved the overpopulation problem in dogs; but cats remain a lingering problem because they tend to have more litters per year, and they tend to roam more freely outside than people allow their dogs to do.

Throughout February, pet owners who prefer to spay or neuter their pets in private veterinary hospitals can also receive a reimbursement from the Cook County Spay and Neuter Program.