It's hard to get excited about spaying and neutering -- that doesn't sound right -- well, you know what I mean. It took America's sweetheart and devoted animal lover Doris Day to pioneer and underwrite a national one-day campaign to reduce pet overpopulation through affordable spay/neuter.

More than one million surgeries later, tomorrow is the 14th annual Spay Day USA. There won't be parades or fireworks. Although, it could be a holiday for folks who decide to call in sick and take advantage of free and low-cost spay/neuter clinics offered around the region.

There are many reasons to have your pet spayed or neutered--at least 150,000 in your own backyard. That's the number of dogs and cats who end up homeless in Washington state shelters every year, according to the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. The logic goes: Since spaying or neutering prevents animals from being born accidentally, it is an effective and humane way to save animals' lives.

Some people still don't get it. "They keep having babies, and I feel bad to give them away 'cause I feel like if I had a baby and someone gave it away, it'd be mean. So, I feel bad for my dogs." That's what Paris Hilton told Ellen DeGeneres, when describing why she has 17 dogs. I feel bad for her dogs too.

It's not just about unwanted litters, spaying and neutering can help your pet live a longer, happier life. There's evidence the surgery lowers the odds of breast cancer and uterine infections for females and prostate problems and testicular cancer in males. Animals who are spayed and neutered are three times less likely to bite and can be more easily trained. Altered animals are less likely to spray, wail or make inappropriate sexual approaches toward objects or people. (That's from the PAWS Spay Day details. I love how they put that.)

By the way, "fixing" your pet won't make him or her fat; feeding him too much and scrimping on exercise will.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is offering free spay and neuter certificates this week to anyone who cannot afford to pay for the service. To help the cause, anyone who turns in a litter of puppies or kittens to the shelter this year is eligible for a free spay or neuter for the parent pet, and the shelter will guarantee the adoption of the offspring.

If you're on the other side of the financial and procreational spectrum, consider making a donation to the city shelter's pet-population control fund, which helps pay for spaying and neutering pets owned by low-income, elderly, homeless or disabled people who might otherwise not be able to afford the cost.

The Seattle Humane Society in Bellevue will be offering low-fee spay/neuter surgeries for cats tomorrow. Low-income cat owners can have male cats neutered for $5, females for $10, plus free microchip identification. Sign up or learn more by calling 425.649.7560.

PAWS in Lynnwood will be among the organizations and veterinary clinics in Snohomish, Skagit and Island counties offering low-cost spay neuter. Here's a list -- provided by PAWS -- of low-cost clinics in the Puget Sound region.

If your pet is already "retired" from baby-making, there are other ways to participate in Spay Day.

The Humane Society of the United States is running a photo contest in honor of the day. Upload a digital photo of your pet along with a short description of how he or she has improved your life. Then ask friends and family to vote. Each time you do, you'll share the message that spaying and neutering improves pets' lives.

Meanwhile, celebrity judges ("life coach for dogs" Tamar Geller and HSUS artist-in-residence Ron Burns among them) will award prizes, such as a pet photo shoot with Amanda Jones or a GPS pet locator, to the 36 entrants they judge to have the best photos and write-ups. If your pet finishes in the top 500 pets by popular vote, there are other prizes.

Finally, if you're on the other side of the mountain in Yakima County, you can vote with your fork by participating in Dining Out for Paws and Claws to support Yakima County's only low cost spay and neuter program.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company