Associated Press - September 30, 2008 12:14 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) - PetSmart Charities is providing $13.8 million for eight spay/neuter clinics in the city and county of Los Angeles.

The organization says the 5-year plan is expected to result in the sterilization of 500,000 pets.

Beginning Wednesday, most dogs and cats in the city of Los Angeles will have to be spayed or neutered by the time they are four months old. Los Angeles County already requires most dogs to be neutered and microchipped.

Two nonprofit organizations, Clinico and FixNation, will administer the funding and provide low-cost services to pet owners.

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