Why Spay/Neuter?
The 2012 City of Gillette Animal Control Report states that more than 1,000 animals were euthanized in the local animal shelter, down from nearly 1,300 in 2011. Many times, the animals in shelters are the offspring of family pets.
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According to the ASPCA, a fertile cat can have two litters a year, with around four to six kittens in each litter and the average dog has one litter a year, producing an average of four to six puppies per litter.
Fur Kids Foundation wants to educate pet owners on the healthy benefits of spaying or neutering their pets, which could also help reduce the number of animals that are euthanized in our local shelter. |
While spaying and neutering is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, the procedures also help to keep cherished family pets healthy. Spaying your female cat or dog helps prevent uterine infections and cancers, as well as breast cancer. Neutering a male pet helps prevents testicular cancer as well as helps to improve some behavior issues such as reducing their probability for roaming or fighting, and urine-marking in inappropriate places.
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Q&A
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What is spaying and neutering?
The words “spay” and “neuter” refer to the surgical sterilization of female and male pets by removing reproductive organs. Will this procedure make my pet fat? Just like people, pets become overweight from improper nutrition or lack of exercise. Good diet and exercise can help keep your pet healthy. Will my pet’s personality change? Spaying or neutering is unlikely to change temperament, basic personality or levels of playfulness and general activity. However, it can have a positive effect as some behavioral issues — especially sexual behaviors such as mounting, howling and the urge to roam — are reduced following surgery. Pets show no signs of “missing” mating or breeding. Why should I fix my male? Males are every bit as much a part of the problem as females. Plus, male pets are more likely to run away in search of a mate, which puts them at a much higher risk of disease and injury. Will my male pet feel emasculated? This is a human feeling — not one that your dog or cat experiences. They may, however, be less likely to exhibit sexual-related behaviors such as marking and howling. |
Do I need to wait for my pet to go into her first heat?
There is no medical research that proves it’s healthier to wait until your dog or cat has gone into heat. In fact, spaying them before their first heat greatly reduces the risk of mammary cancers and reproductive-related diseases. And if done properly, spaying and neutering at any age can eliminate or reduce the development of reproductive organ tumors. How old is too old to spay or neuter my pet? Dogs and cats can be fixed at any time during their life span. Your veterinarian can address any concerns there might be about performing the procedure on an older pet. How is spaying and neutering your pet good for the community? Stray animals pose a real problem in many parts of the country. They can prey on wildlife, cause car accidents, damage the local fauna and frighten children. Spaying and neutering packs a powerful punch in reducing the number of animals on the streets. For more information about spaying and neutering, visit: |
