It was a daily reminder from the late, great Bob Barker during his 35-year run as host of "The Price is Right" - "Help control the pet population, have your pet spayed or neutered."

And a phrase that served as an inspiration to millions of animal lovers like Linda Robinson, owner of Operation Pets, a spay and neuter clinic in Lackawanna that is celebrating 15 years in business.

Robinson credits Barker in part for drawing attention to the issue.

"And I think we owe him a great debt of gratitude for making people aware of how important spay neuter really is," said Robinson.

She says hers was one of the first clinics in the state, but thanks to Barker, there are several more across the state.

Operation Pets has performed more than 120,000 surgeries since opening, and continues to see an uptick, thanks to its high-volume approach of helping control the population.

"By doing 35-40 surgeries a day, every day, to make a difference," said Robinson.

SPCA of Erie County's Gina Lattuca says they have also seen an uptick in the number of spay and neuter operations over the years. She too grew up watching Barker, listening to his message that reached generations of pet owners.

"As a kid you really don't understand those issues until somebody like Bob Barker, who you love, who's like a member of your family puts it out there,” Lattuca said. “And all of a sudden you start learning and that's when those seeds are planted.”

The SPCA also works to prevent animal cruelty with an investigation unit on site.

"Does it make an impact, yeah,” Lattuca said. “We live in an era where pop culture is very important right now and people are influenced by people that they worship on TV, on social media on radio.”

Current "The Price is Right" host Drew Carey is carrying on Bob's message, something Robinson is grateful for, as she encourages other pet owners or those who take them in to do their part.

"And really benefit the overall communities,” Robinson said. “We are reducing that population through the spay and neutering of your pets and those homeless pets actually.”

She says there are mobile clinics performing spay and neuter surgeries across the state, all in an effort to help keep animal shelters from being overcrowded.

She says it's also important for clinics to keep the procedure affordable for pet owners.