When a pregnant dog or cat enters a rescue or shelter, many organizations will choose to immediately spay her, thus ending the pregnancy.
Terminating a pet pregnancy is often referred to as "spay abortion," and it is an extremely common practice in animal welfare, yet rarely discussed for fear of backlash from people who do not understand the level of suffering that it prevents. In this article, we'll look at several components behind the decision to terminate pet pregnancy.
Pet overpopulation and shelter capacity
Most US shelters operate in crisis mode at all times; the sheer number of pets in need is more than the animal welfare system can keep up with. In 2024 alone, over 5.7 million dogs and cats entered US shelters; 740,000 of them didn't make it out alive. (1) Although some of those pets were too sick or injured to save or displayed behaviors that made them too dangerous to safely place, many of the pets who were euthanized were happy, healthy, behaviorally-sound pets who could have made excellent family companions. They lost their lives because there wasn't enough space for them, aren't enough resources in our underfunded animal welfare system, and aren't enough homes willing and able to adopt. (2)
Pets of all ages enter shelters as strays or through owner relinquishment - and this includes newborn and young puppies and kittens. Shelters and private rescues are overwhelmed every spring as "kitten season" begins, as they begin receiving hundreds of pleas for help with both kittens and puppies born outdoors, accidental litters born to owned pets, puppies and kittens who are found wandering outdoors after someone leaves them behind, and young pets who have been brought home by someone who is ultimately unable to care for them. This onslaught of puppies and kittens in need lasts through the fall - in regions with a temperate climate, it never really ends at all.
There simply are not enough homes for every pet in need, including young puppies and kittens. When shelters and rescues run out of space, pets lose their lives.
Shelters are not equipped to care for young animals or nursing moms
Giving birth or caring for young babies in a shelter environment can lead to longterm health and behavior consequences for both mom and babies.
Pregnancy can be extremely taxing for a dog or cat, especially when that pet is particularly young, old, or undernourished - all of which are common scenarios for unplanned pregnancies. (4, 5) Puppies and kittens born to mothers who have not received adequate care throughout their pregnancy are more likely to develop health and behavioral issues throughout their life. (6) There is evidence to suggest that when a mother dog or cat is particularly stressed during pregnancy or birth, her offspring may be more likely to develop anxiety in adolescence or adulthood. This anxiety is often associated with unwanted behaviors that are often cited as reasons for surrendering a pet back to a shelter.
Giving birth in a shelter environment poses immediate health risks from communicable diseases to both mother and offspring. (6, 7) Young families are at high risk of contracting deadly viruses and diseases like Parvo and Distemper, which are brought into the shelter by other young animals or adults who are carriers, but not showing symptoms. Even viruses and diseases that are typically considered mild, like Upper Respiratory Infections, can be deadly for young families. Young families must be housed away from other animals in an area that is less likely to be infected and is safe for mom and babies to move around - something that most shelters are unable to do.
A mother dog or cat who gives birth in the shelter may be less likely to properly care for and more likely to reject her offspring. In some cases, a mother dog or cat may even kill her offspring due to stress or a perceived lack of resources. There is also evidence to suggest that a mother who experiences extreme stress during pregnancy may produce offspring who are more likely to develop anxiety in adulthood. This can lead to offspring displaying undesirable and even dangerous behaviors in adulthood - which can lead to them ending up back in a shelter. (3)
Very young puppies and kittens who come into the shelter without a mother need to be bottle fed, which requires feeding the babies every 2-3 hours and special care to ensure that they stay warm, urinate, and defecate. Most shelters do not have staff who can provide around-the-clock care, and these young puppies and kittens cannot make it through the night alone. Even with proper care, many bottle babies do not make it, as the odds are against them by nature of being away from their mother.
Private rescues cannot keep up with demand
Typically, the best case scenario for a young family is a private rescue, which typically has more resources to care for pets in these situations than an open-intake shelter. Even so, rescues only have so many qualified foster homes, caregivers, or space in a facility to care for young families. They simply cannot keep up with the number of young puppies and kittens who need out of the shelter, nor can they accommodate every person who reaches out after finding young pets or having an accidental litter.
Even rescues who are solely dedicated to pregnant moms, young families, and/or bottle babies are unable to keep up with demand. Caring for a young family or bottle babies is incredibly taxing work that most people are unable to commit to, which means that foster homes and qualified caregivers are a limited resource.
Pets who enter the rescue at a young age won't all be adopted quickly, either. Many will grow up in foster care or a shelter environment, which can be detrimental to their development. This also takes up space that could be used to save the lives of other pets in need.
Terminating pet pregnancy prevents suffering
Shelters and rescues are already overwhelmed by the number of pets in need without a dog or cat giving birth in the care of the organization. When a pregnant pet comes into their care, many will choose to terminate the pregnancy.
In doing so, the organization is reserving space for pets who have already been born; pets who desperately need rescue, and who are at risk of suffering in inhumane conditions without it. They are also giving the pregnant pet a much better shot at a happy, healthy life by avoiding the risks and complications that come with pregnancy, and a much shorter path to adoption.
This doesn't mean that shelter staff or rescue volunteers enjoy making these decisions. The decision to terminate a pregnancy or euthanize any animal is never taken lightly. Shelters and rescues can only operate within the confines of the resources at their disposal, which are typically extremely limited.
Spay abortion is safe
Spay abortion is a routine procedure, performed on a daily basis in veterinary clinics across the country.
There may be some increased risk when compared to a routine spay procedure, as blood vessels increase in size throughout pregnancy and can be harder to tie off, however, precautions will be taken to prevent excessive blood loss. In most cases, the risks associated with spay abortion are smaller than the risks associated with allowing the pet to carry the pregnancy to term. (4, 6, 7)
Spay abortion prevents fetal suffering
During a spay abortion, the entire uterus - including the fetuses - is removed. The fetuses do not gain consciousness, and therefore have no ability to perceive pain, even if fetal body and respiratory movements have been observed prior to the procedure.
In the event that the uterus or amniotic sac is opened, near-term fetuses do technically have the ability to gain consciousness, however, the anesthesia issued prior to the procedure will have passed to them through the placenta, allowing for individual humane euthanasia without consciousness. (6, 8)
The controversy is human
Most arguments against spay abortion revolve around human emotions. It’s a taboo topic, especially with our current political climate and the rampant restriction of reproductive rights for humans. It’s okay to feel sad or have mixed emotions about spay abortion - but we can (and should!) celebrate the existing lives that are saved and the suffering prevented through spay abortion.
Preventing pet pregnancy before it happens
There isn't an easy answer to solving pet overpopulation, but decreasing the number of pets born each year would have a drastic effect.
Shelters and rescues have a responsibility to ensure that all animals who pass through their doors are sterilized, but that alone isn't enough. Pet overpopulation is a community issue, and solving it involves taking action within the community.
Making access to free and low-cost spay and neuter services is essential to decreasing the number of accidental litters in our communities. It's vital that this comes with relationship-building, educational resources, and additional outreach opportunities to help the people in our communities care for their pets, which in turn helps prevent adult pets from finding their way into shelters, too.
Finally, action must be taken to stop production breeding through puppy mills and other irresponsible breeding practices. Pets bred for profit often suffer from the health and behavior struggles, with inhumane, high-stress living conditions; many will, in turn, end up in a shelter.
Talk about it!
Terminating pet pregnancy is a difficult topic, but neglecting to talk about it doesn't prevent it from happening. The best way to address pet overpopulation, the factors that cause overpopulation, and the consequences of overpopulation is to talk about it!
Consider sharing this article or starting a conversation about pet overpopulation to help others better understand the realities of animal welfare.
References:
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2024 Annual Analysis, Shelter Animals Count
- 'Why do good dogs die in shelters?'
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Environmental risk factors in puppies and kittens for developing chronic disorders in adulthood: A call for research on developmental programming, Gaillard, et al.
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Pregnancy Termination, Mar Vista Animal Medical Center
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Should You Spay a Pregnant Cat?, Franny Syufy
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The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ 2016 Veterinary Medical Care Guidelines for Spay-Neuter Programs, Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Veterinary Task Force to Advance Spay-Neuter
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Spaying Pregnant Animals in a Shelter Setting, Brenda Dines, DVM
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Prevention of fetal suffering during ovariohysterectomy of pregnant animals, Sara C. White, DVM
Originally published on May 23, 2024; Revised on April 28, 2025
