Being a pet owner comes with many responsibilities, but chief among them is having the animal spayed or neutered.

Pet overpopulation has been a problem for decades, and responsible ownership is the only thing that will help curb that trend.

Animal shelters nationwide are stuffed to their capacities with unwanted, orphaned or abused animals.

The problem got so bad locally that the Central Alabama Animal Shelter had no choice but take an unprecedented measure and give cats away for free in June.

Forty were adopted.

There are plenty of animals looking for a good home, and more do not need to born to stray dogs or cats or to families that don’t want to or can’t provide for a litter of puppies or kittens.

This only furthers the cycle and leaves more and more innocent animals homeless, couped up in shelters, or even worse, euthanized.

When searching for a pet, do not forget about the animal shelter. Every county has one, and they are all full of potentially loving pets looking for a good home and good owners.

Law requires adopted animals be spayed or neutered and the CAAS has partnered with four area veterinary clinics to make the procedure affordable for the owner.

Veterinarians and animal shelters, which, at the end of the day, need to make a profit are putting financial gain aside for the better of the animal commuity they serve.

Owners should keep the pets’ best interests in mind as well.