Kansas City, Mo. ? Animal rescue groups and shelters that traditionally have worked independently now are banding together to curb the city’s population of homeless cats and dogs.

The new group, which includes the Pet Connection, Wayside Waifs, Animal Haven and the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, is called No More Homeless Pets in Kansas City. Its mission is to promote spaying and neutering.

“We realize that this (new organization) is a step that has to be taken to make a difference in this community,” said Jonna Sherman, the coalition’s acting president.

“No matter how many rescue groups there are, we can’t adopt our way out of pet overpopulation. We have to go to the root of the problem, which is spaying and neutering.”

Melody Kelso, a coalition member, said the formation of the group shows Kansas City slowly is catching up with other communities with similar collaborative efforts under way.

“This is a way to help more animals more effectively,” Kelso said. “There are a lot of resources in our community, but by not working together we often miss a lot of chances for good.”

One estimate indicates that in the Kansas City metropolitan area, about 65,000 pets each year are euthanized. The Humane Society of the United States says that nationally, 6 million to 8 million cats and dogs enter shelters and 3 million to 4 million are euthanized each year.

In its first major effort, the group plans to subsidize about 200 low-cost or free sterilizations this week as part of what it calls “Cinco de Meow — and Dogs Too!”

The event falls during a time when many litters of puppies and kittens — often unwanted — are born.

If No More Homeless Pets in Kansas City can spay or neuter 200 animals, Sherman said that is potentially 1,000 or more animal births that would be prevented.

In seven years, she said, one cat and her offspring theoretically could produce 420,000 cats.

“This is a huge problem, and without the community taking responsibility, nothing will be solved,” Kelso said. “Our community is so irresponsible we’ve overwhelmed the shelters. We need to bring the pet population back to a reasonable level.”