With spring comes flowers, sunshine and baseball.

And puppies.

And kittens.

The time has come to have animals spayed or neutered, Centre County animal health officials say.

Shirley Verhaeg, president of PAWS -- Promotion of Animal Welfare and Safety -- a local animal welfare organization, volunteers her time to try and aid financially-unable people to have their animals spayed or neutered.

"If people would have their animals spayed or neutered, it would prevent so many strays," Verhaeg said.

Rich Caprio of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals agreed. "Every animal has to be spayed or neutered to prevent overpopulation," he said. "If more animals were spayed or neutered 10 years ago we would not have the current overpopulation."

Founded in 1980, PAWS helps families who must get rid of their pets to find homes for the animals instead of sending them to a SPCA shelter. It also financially aids others who want to keep their animals but cannot afford to have them spayed or neutered.

When families call to find a home for their pet, PAWS volunteers explain that their service cannot guarantee placement of the animals, Verhaeg said.

"Everyone has to make an effort," she said. "Many times after the people call, we give them suggestions about how to find a home for their pet and more than half of the time they find a home themselves."

"We are not an animal rescue service, but if someone finds a stray, we try to find a home for it," Verhaeg said. Many people wanting pets call frequently, she added, and if one is adopted through PAWS, the organization asks for a donation which goes toward helping other animals.

Caprio said the SPCA holds strays for 48 hours and decides if they are adoptable.

"The most adoptable are younger animals," Caprio said, "and all adopted animals must be spayed or neutered which requires a $25 deposit and we ask for a $10 donation for the animal."

Local pet store prices for cats run from $10 to $25 and dogs run between $150 and $300.

Verhaeg said an application must be filled out because limited funds force prioritizing for the needy. The funds are acquired by PAWS through donations.

The prices in the area to have a female cat spayed run from about $49 to $55; a female dog runs $50 to $118. Male cat neutering runs $28 to $35, and male dog neutering costs from $58 to $118.