Neuter your Pet: Why wait?

Please Consider the Facts:

FACT: Altering increases a pets chance for a longer, healthier life.

Spaying before your pet reaches sexual maturity greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer later in life, and eliminates the threat of uterine & ovarian cancers and uterine infection. Altered cats live 3 to 4 years longer than unaltered cats.

Neutering male dogs or cats prevents testicular tumors and may prevent prostate problems. Because neutered cats are less likely to roam, they are less likely to contract diseases transmitted by fighting.

FACT: Altered dogs/cats are better family pets.

Males are less likely to be distracted by females in heat, and more likely to stay within the safety of your property. They are often easier to house-train, and less likely to bite and scratch.

FACT: Spaying eliminates unwanted pregnancies.

Simply put, altering females prevents the birth of unwanted puppies or kittens. Finding homes is time-consuming and expensive, and often unsuccessful.

FACT: Fixing your pet alleviates overpopulation, and the needless killing of unwanted animals.

Millions of unwanted, homeless dogs and cats are killed at shelters annually. If more pets are neutered, fewer offspring will be born, and ultimately destroyed.

THE MYTHS: Reasons People DON’T Neuter

MYTH: Just one litter, then I’ll spay her…

This is exactly why overpopulation is a problem. Postponing surgery offers NO health benefits to your pet. In fact, allowing your pet to experience motherhood increases her risk of mammary cancer later in life this means a shorter life for your pet and greater expense for you! Consider the cruel circumstances that befall 4 out of 5 of the babies starvation, death from disease or accidents.

MYTH: I want my children to witness the miracle of birth.

Rent a video. Books, videos and websites can explain or demonstrate the miracle of birth without adding to the pet over-population problem. A birth may take a few hours but the offspring and their care will last 10 to 15 years!

MYTH: It will make my dog lazy and fat.

Untrue. Animals become fat and lazy because they eat too much and don’t get enough exercise just like people.

MYTH: My male pet will lose his manhood.

Your pet won’t be missing anything! Reproduction in animals is a biological urge that disappears, without regret, once the pet is neutered. A neutered male is less likely to roam, get hit by a car, fight with other males, get lost, behave aggressively, or climb on unsuspecting visitors in your home. And on average, neutered pets live longer.

MYTH: I plan on making money breeding my purebred dog or cat.

It’s not that simple. You will be responsible for ALL COSTS for mom and the litter including vet bills, shots, vitamins, tests, food, stud fees, palpation to verify pregnancy, whelping pen, x-rays, de-worming, dewclaw removal, ear/tail cropping, advertising fees, litter registration fees, and pregnancy complications. Your leisure time will be spent cleaning up messes and cultivating prospective buyers (who may never show!). And, you must refund money for any puppy or kitten with an incurable medical problem. Breeding is not about making money. It is about improving the breed, and it’s hard work!

MYTH: My pet is so cute…I want another just like her.

There is no shortage of cute or unique or talented cats and dogs. Just visit your local shelter. Would you want the offspring of your adorable pet to be among those euthanized and cremated annually??

MYTH: I will find homes for the kittens and puppies.

Newspapers are filled with ads offering free animals. It will be difficult to find homes for yours. Are you ready to have them killed when you can’t find homes?