PREVENT A LITTER, FIX YOUR CRITTER!!!
Spaying is a common term used to describe the ovariohysterectomy of a female animal. Neutering is a general term used to describe the castration of a male. Females are spayed by having their reproductive organs removed and males are neutered by removing their testicles. The surgical procedure, performed by a veterinarian, renders the animal incapable of reproducing. In both cases the operation is performed while the pet is under anesthesia. Spaying or neutering your pet is a fairly uncomplicated and safe procedure and the most common surgery performed by veterinarians across the globe. Both procedures can be performed as early as six weeks of age. Your veterinarian can fully explain spay and neuter procedures to you and discuss with you the best age at which to sterilize your pet.
Altering your pet helps to control the population of the unwanted animals in the world. Between four million and six million pets are euthanized every year because they are homeless. That means between 11,000 and 16,000 pets are euthanized every day which means an animal in a shelter is killed every 1.5 seconds. These alarming statistics present a good enough reason, all by themselves, for preventing more unwanted animal births. Simply put, the widespread failure to spay or neuter your animals will add to the increase of homelessness, misery, cruelty, and death.
Even if you don’t own an animal, we’re all affected by animal overpopulation. Millions of tax dollars are spent annually to capture lost, abandoned, and unwanted pets. Much of that money is spent to euthanize these animals when homes cannot be found. Shelters and rescues are overburdened with animals and do their best to place animals in loving homes, but the number of homeless animals far exceeds the number of available homes. This leaves many loving and healthy one choice and that is to be euthanized. Only spaying and neutering help can end the overpopulation problem.
“Fixing” your pet is, in fact, beneficial to them. Spaying eliminates the constant crying and nervous pacing that is a sign that a cat is in heat. Castration stops the mating drive in males, reducing the urge to roam, which in turn, reduces the risk of fights, injury, accidents, and contracting diseases. Also, if you have more than one pet in your household, they will get along better if they are neutered. It helps them live longer, healthier lives, because it diminishes the risk of heath problems such as breast cancer, and prevents uterine infections and uterine and testicular cancer. It stops male cats and dogs from spraying or “marking their territory” around the house or in the yard. Spaying and neutering will make your pets better and more affectionate companions. Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered. Spaying and neutering can also make pets less likely to bite.
Spay or neuter surgery carries a one-time cost that is relatively small when one considers its benefits. It's a small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention of more unwanted animals. The cost of caring for a pet, including providing veterinary care, should be considered before acquiring an animal. The costs of having a litter are often more than the cost of neutering. You will be faced with finding homes or keeping the offspring yourself or placing more animals into your local shelter. The cost of the well-being of not just your companion animal but of future generations should be considered.
