(Radio Iowa) – A national study finds millions of pets that were adopted during the pandemic weren’t spayed or neutered, which is causing severe overcrowding at animal shelters and a sharp rise in euthanasia. Josh Fiala, who oversees the spay/neuter program at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says those important surgeries -did- continue throughout the COVID years at the state’s largest non-profit shelter, though veterinarians are becoming scarce.

Many animal clinics had to suspend doing spaying and neutering during the pandemic to focus on more urgent procedures. Fiala says it’s fortunate the A-R-L was able to maintain its schedule during the past two years as he says spaying and neutering of pets is vital.

There are many expenses when adopting a pet, and having an animal spayed or neutered isn’t cheap. Plus, costs vary depending on the size and type of animal.

The A-R-L of Iowa enables people to apply for financial help with those costs. Just this year, he says more than 15-hundred pet owners have applied for that assistance.

On the web at https://www.arl-iowa.org/