Eight million to 10 million pets end up in U.S. shelters every year. Some are lost, some have been abandoned, and some are homeless.

Here\’s an easy way to avoid adding to that number — spay and neuter your cats and dogs. It\’s a procedure that can be performed as early as six to eight weeks of age.

Spaying and neutering doesn\’t just cut down on the number of unwanted pets; it has other substantial benefits for your pet. Studies show it also lowers the risk of certain cancers, Burns tells WebMD, and reduces a pet\’s risk of getting lost by decreasing the tendency to roam.