This news item is about: Between 8 and 12 million cats and dogs will be abandoned to shelters in 2008; 5 to 9 million will be euthanized because there are not enough homes for them, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Recommendations of a task force of 22 academic, private nonprofit veterinarians and non veterinarian leaders in shelter/feral medicine from every region of the United States-published today in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association-will guide national efforts to control pet overpopulation and reduce the subsequent euthanasia of unwanted pets. The guidelines call for efficient surgical initiatives that meet or exceed veterinary medical standards of care in providing accessible, targeted sterilization of a large number of dogs and cats.