ADOPTION SAVES A LIFE – SPAY/NEUTER SAVES LIVES!

SPAY/NEUTER CAN REDUCE/ELIMINATE UNDESIRABLE PET BEHAVIORS

Once your female dog or cat is spayed, she will no longer go through heat cycles.  Many female animals in heat will show aggression to other females, and cats in heat will typically “yowl” and urinate frequently.

Neutering your male pet will reduce his breeding instinct and behaviors that go along with it – spraying or marking territory (or your belongings), aggressive behavior, and the drive to escape from your home and roam.

Animals altered at an early age tend to be more submissive and have a friendlier demeanor.

SPAY/NEUTER IS HEALTHIER FOR YOUR PET

Spaying your female pet eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of mammary gland tumors. Neutering your male pet eliminates the possibility of testicular and prostate cancers.

Most cats and dogs are able to reproduce by 6 months of age. Many veterinarians will spay or neuter an animal as young as two months of age, but as with any surgery, you should consult with your veterinarian to see if your puppy or kitten is old enough and healthy enough to be spayed or neutered.

Spay/neuter can increase a dog’s life by 1-3 years, and 3-5 years for cats. Animals who have been spayed or neutered have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometra, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers.

DON’T BELIEVE THE RUMORS!!!!!
Myths surrounding spay/neuter include:

• My pet will become overweight. The spay/neuter procedure has absolutely no effect on body mass fluctuations or energy levels.
• It’s better to allow them to have one litter first, or to reach maturity. Medical evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. A feline can have her first litter at 4-5 months of age, while a canine can do so at 5-6 months of age.
• Altering changes my pet’s personality. An animal’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones. Your pet will be no less like himself than humans after a sterilization surgery (i.e., vasectomy).
• I don’t want my male cat/dog to feel less like a male. Pets don’t have any concept of sexual identity or ego.
• It’s a good thing for our children to see the miracle of birth. Most pets prefer to give birth in seclusion at night, which would lessen the chances of your children being able to view the birthing process. You can easily find a video of an animal or human birth to show your children.
• Surgery is complicated, painful, and my pet will have a hard time recovering! Surgery can always involve a slight risk. However, spay/neuter surgeries are routine procedures that veterinarians perform everyday. The anesthetics currently used are very safe, and many doctors use equipment that monitors heart and respiratory rates to ensure that their patients are doing well throughout the procedure. Pain medicine may be given immediately after the procedure to insure that your pet is kept comfortable. Recovery for males is minimal, with females needing a little more care. The earlier in your pet’s life they are altered, the easier the surgery is on them!
• My pet is a purebred, with papers! One out of every four pets brought into an animal shelter is a “purebred”.  Breeding of animals should be done for the betterment of the breed and is best left to the experts.
• I’ll find fantastic homes for all of the puppies/kittens. Shelters are full of great animals needing homes. Each home you find may mean one less for each of those pets.

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