Here are some startling facts:

  • A single 6-year-old female dog can produce 67,000 puppies!
  • A single 7-year-old female cat can produce 420,000 kittens!
  • Every day, 70,000 puppies and kittens are born, while only 10,000 people are born** -– simple math will tell us that there simply aren’t enough homes for all of these animals.

Gestation periods for cats & dogs are very short, approximately 63 days and another pregnancy can result almost immediately.

Did You Know?

Every year, millions of animals are euthanized* in shelters due to a lack of available homes.
Purebreds account for 30% of all the animals in shelters. “Papers” don’t automatically mean that an animal should be bred.
Breeding your pet so that your children can see the miracle birth is simply irresponsible – visit any shelter to see the tragic results.
For every home you find for your kitten or puppy bred at home, a shelter animal may lose its life.

Animal overpopulation is at a crisis level in our country.

WHAT IS SPAYING AND NEUTERING:
Spaying and neutering are safe surgical operations that prevent animals from reproducing. Spaying is the removal of a female animal’s ovaries and uterus; neutering is the removal of a male’s testicles.  There are so many reasons to have your pet spayed or neutered.

EXCUSES FOR NOT SPAYING OR NEUTERING PETS:

  • I can’t afford it. If you are unable to provide proper medical care for your pet, which includes the responsiblity of spaying or neutering, you might want to reconsider your role as a pet owner.
  • My pet will become fat and lazy. Pets that become fat after spaying and neutering are a direct result of lack of exercise and over-feeding.
  • It is not right to take away my dog’s “manhood”. Come on now fellas, are we really talking about your dog? It has been proven that neutered dogs live longer, happier, and healthier lives. It has also been proven to decrease or eliminate the chances of developing a number of different cancers! We’re sure you are confident and informed enough to realize that a neutered dog is no reflection on your own manhood.
  • What if it changes my pet’s personality? Any change to your pet’s personality is for the better. Spayed and neutered pets are less aggressive toward other animals, less likely to mark their territory with urination, and focus their attention on their human families instead of searching out a mate for breeding.
  • I want my children to witness the miracle of birth. Pets want and need privacy when giving birth, so having an audience present for the birthing can seriously upset the mother, and the intrusion can result in the mother rejecting the newborns. If this occurs, the chance of the babies surviving are close to zero. If you truly want your children to witness the miracle of birth, you could always give them a baby brother or sister, or rent a video.
  • Isn’t the anesthetic given during the procedure risky? Anesthetics these days are very safe for pets, even older ones, and the risk to your animal, as with humans, is very small.

REASONS TO HAVE YOUR PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED:

  1. Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life – spaying helps prevent uterine and mammary cancers, which is fatal in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats! Spaying BEFORE THE FIRST HEAT offers the best protection. Chances of developing these cancers increases with every heat.
  2. Your male pet will live a longer healthier life – Neutering your pet eliminates the chance of developing testicular cancer. The risk of anal and perineal cancers are also reduced by neutering.
  3. Your spayed female won’t go into heat – Female cats can go into heat for 4-5 days every three weeks during breeding season. To advertise that they are looking for mates, they will yowl incessantly and will often urinate inappropriately, and sometimes also have a bloody discharge. Heats are also uncomfortable and unpleasant for your female.
  4. Early spaying and neutering of your cat will eliminate spraying – Getting your cat spayed or neutered before their first heat will eliminate them spraying.
  5. Eliminates the chances of developing a uterine infection called pyometra – Female dogs and cats can develop an infection called a pyometra, which is life threatening and can often require emergency surgery to remove the infected uterus. Spaying eliminates this risk.
  6. Your pet will be better behaved – Spaying and neutering only improves your pet’s personality. They will be happier and better companions because they are not preoccupied with the urge to find a mate. Early neutering can also counteract many aggression issues, as well as marking territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house.
  7. It is highly cost effective – The cost of the surgery to have your pet spayed or neutered is much less than having to care for a litter. There can be significant costs incurred as well if your un-neutered tom escapes and gets into fights with neighborhood strays, and then comes home with injuries that need to be vet treated.
  8. Your pet does not need to have a litter for your children to learn about the miracle of birth – Allowing your pet to become pregnant and have babies that you have no intention of keeping is NOT a good lesson for your children, especially when our shelters are full of unwanted animals. There are more responsible ways to teach your children about the miracle of birth – buy a book or rent a video.
  9. Spaying and neutering helps fight pet overpopulation – Every year, millions of cats, dogs, and bunnies are euthanized or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying and neutering.
  10. Shelters and rescue groups are full – For every home born dog or cat you have to find homes for, a shelter or rescue animal loses their chance at a home. Shelter animals could face euthanasia as a result.

Wow, that is a pretty persuasive argument don’t you think? Please get your pet spayed or neutered. Your spayed or neutered pet shows that you are putting your pet’s welfare first and foremost, and you are doing your part to help fight pet overpopulation.

* SPCA Swift Current is a no-kill facility. We do not euthanize animals solely for space – only in rare cases of severe medical issues or aggression.

*These numbers refer to the US. Numbers for Canada were not found, though are likely comparable.
This article republished by kind permission of Greater Victoria’s Animal Crusaders.  www.animalcrusaders.ca