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| Spay & Neuter |
| Why Should I Have My Pet Spayed (Female) or Neutered (Male)? |
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In other words, it packs a powerful punch in the fight
against pet overpopulation!!
Over half of the pets that entered a Pinal
County shelter were euthanized last year. Spaying and neutering is the most
effective way to control pet homelessness in our community.
If you are
not spaying or neutering your pet(s) and allowing them to breed for any reason,
you are contributing to PET OVERPOPULATION!
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| The next 6 reasons are: |
- Your female dog or cat will live a longer,
healthier life.
Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent breast
cancer and pyometra, a dangerous infection of the uterus. Breast cancer can
be fatal in about 50 percent of female dogs and in 90 percent of female
cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from
these diseases. - Your spayed female won't go into heat.
While cycles can vary greatly, female cats can go into heat four to five
days every three weeks during breeding season. Dogs can go into heat every 6
months. -
Your male animal companion will live a longer, healthier life, too.
Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male dog or cat prevents
testicular cancer, if done before six months of age.
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Your neutered male won't need to roam away from home...
An
intact male in search of a mate will do just about anything to find one
including digging his way under or jumping over the fence. And once he's
free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other males.
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...and he will be much better behaved.
Neutered cats and
dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand,
unneutered dogs and cats may mark their territory by spraying
strong-smelling urine all over the house. A neutered dog protects his home
and family just as well as an unneutered dog - and many aggression problems
can be avoided by early neutering.
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Spaying or neutering is highly cost-effective.
The cost
of your pet's spay or neuter surgery is a lot less than the cost of having
and caring for a litter. Find a low-cost option on our
Spay/Neuter Resources
page.
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| ...and the Myths? |
- Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet
fat.
Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to
pack on the extra pounds, not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim
as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake. -
Your pet doesn't need to have a litter for your children to witness
the miracle of birth.
Letting your pet produce offspring you
have no intention of keeping teaches your children irresponsibility. There
are countless books, videos and Humane Education classes available to teach
your children about birth in a responsible manner.
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| Portions of the above text have been adapted from: |
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| To find a low-cost spay/neuter clinic or service: |
Visit our Spay/Neuter Resources page!
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