While many individuals are becoming advocates for adopting pets from shelters rather than buying them from stores, there is still an issue of overcrowding in many areas. Unless there is a big demand for furry pals in the area, many of these animals have to be put down.

In an effort to stop this from happening, the Michelson Prize & Grants program, which is part of the Found Animals Foundation, recently approved more than $11.5 million in grants for scientists to sterilize dogs and cats in a process that does not require surgery. After that, the group will give $25 million to the first researchers who come up with a program that works.

"We're proud to have surpassed $10 million in funding for a non-surgical sterilant and want scientists to to know we're still accepting grant proposals amidst this time of government budget cuts," Found Animals Foundation director Aimee Gilbreath noted.

Administrators at the organization believe that this will greatly reduce the number of animals that must be killed each year because of shelter overpopulation.

In 2011 alone, the Found Animal Foundation provided the money for 18 research projects to find a non-surgical solution for spaying and neutering procedures.