Spay/Neuter Grant Program Provides Affordable Surgeries to

PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwired - May 30, 2013) -  Adopting a puppy or kitten can make a family complete, but young pets need more than hugs and kisses to have a healthy start in life. Many pet parents don't know that if their pets aren't sterilized by the time they turn six months old, they can get pregnant and have litters of their own.

To reduce the number of homeless puppies and kittens born into unplanned litters, PetSmart Charities ^® , the country's largest funder of spay/neuter efforts, is launching "Did You Know?" -- a public awareness campaign and grant program that will provide more than $520,000 to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for 10,000 puppies and kittens in 25 states.

From June 1-30, the grants will support 51 non-profit spay/neuter clinics nationwide to provide $20 spay and neuter surgeries for puppies and kittens under six months old. PetSmart Charities will also provide clinics with marketing materials and funding to advertise and promote the campaigns in their communities.

"Getting your puppy or kitten spayed or neutered is not only safe, but beneficial. It can reduce a pet's risk of certain cancers and infections and it eliminates future unplanned litters," said Aaron Asmus, program manager, PetSmart Charities, Inc. "We hope that by providing pet parents with affordable and convenient options in their communities, it will help them make the right choice for their pet."

Did You Know? Early spay/neuter is safe for puppies and kittens.

• According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, spaying and neutering is safe for puppies and kittens as young as eight to 10 weeks old.
• Spaying a female cat before her first heat cycle is more beneficial than waiting until a heat cycle has occurred.
• Early spaying and neutering is known to improve pets' health by reducing the risk of certain reproductive cancers and infections.
• Data from Banfield Pet Hospital's State of Pet Health 2013 Report reveals that sterilized pets can live longer than pets that haven't been spayed or neutered.

How to Find a Participating Clinic PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA ^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ^® ) have created a free, searchable database to help pet parents find affordable, high-quality spay/neuter services in their community.

Pet parents who wish to participate must mention the "Did You Know?" promotion when they call to schedule their appointment.

Follow PetSmart Charities' pet-saving endeavors through Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/PetSmartCharities ) and Twitter ( www.twitter.com/PetSmartChariTs ).

ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES® PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart stores and our signature adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter programs that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, legally independent from PetSmart, Inc.