Spay and Neuter Facts

Every year, millions of animals are killed because there are not enough homes.  Please be part of the solution. You can help reduce the number of animals killed by spaying or neutering your pet before you add to the overpopulation problem.  Spaying refers to the removal of the reproductive organs of a female animal; neutering refers to removal of a male animal's reproductive organs.

By spaying or neutering your pet, you are providing her/him with a longer, healthier life.   Also, you will be reducing the number of unwanted pets who are condemned from birth to starvation, death, illness, or an existence without care or love.  This simple operation can prevent a lot of suffering.  Every year, millions of your tax dollars are spent taking care of unwanted, lost, or abandoned pets.  Millions more are spent to kill healthy animals who do not find homes.

What will the effects on my pet be?

Spaying a female pet:

• Eliminates the heat cycle. Dogs are in heat (estrus) for about 21 days. This can happen twice a year. Cats can be in heat 3-15 days, three or more times a year.
• Stops unwanted visitors. Males can be drawn from blocks around by the scent of a female animal in heat, even when she is kept indoors.
• Stops the bloody discharge that can stain your furniture and carpets.
• Ends crying and the frantic efforts of the animal to get outside and mate.

Neutering a male pet:

• Removes the mating drive. Once the reproductive organs (testicles) are removed, the animal stops producing sex hormones and after a short period of time no longer has the urge to mate.
• Stops spraying. Male cats tend to mark their territory with foul smelling urine and in most cases neutering will stop this.
• Reduces mounting. Males often exhibit embarrassing mounting of furniture, cushions, and occasionally peoples’ legs.
• Reduces the urge to roam. Unaltered pets often try to escape their houses and stray far from home in search of a female. During this search, they can fall victim to accidental death by poisoning or traffic. Many sustain major injuries from fighting with other males.

Spaying and neutering offers your pet the added benefit of improved health:

• Spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer.  A larger number of un-spayed pets develop breast tumors. Animals that are spayed before their first heat cycle experience few tumors.
• Spaying eliminates uterine diseases. Removal of the uterus removes the site of many diseases such as pyometra, a serious, sometimes life threatening infection, and it eliminates uterine cancer.
• Spaying will also eliminate mastitis (breast inflammation), ovarian cysts, miscarriage, and delivery complications.
• Neutering reduces the risk of older animals developing enlarged prostate glands. It lowers the risk of prostate cancer and eliminates testicular cancer. Spaying and neutering will also remove your pet's discomfort, distress, and distraction caused by the strong instinct to mate.
• Spayed or neutered pets will live longer, happier, healthier lives.  In the case of cats, spaying/neutering can double their lifespan.

Additional Information

If it sounds like a good idea but you are still not convinced, please keep reading.  There are a lot of misconceptions or myths related to spaying!

Spaying and neutering costs too much.

Spaying and neutering your pet is cheaper in the long run than caring for unwanted litters and the medical problems that can occur when an animal is not spayed or neutered.  Visit our Spay and Neuter Services page for low cost options.

She should have one litter first, to settle her down.

Having a litter won’t improve her health or permanently change the animal’s personality.  And she could be traumatized by the loss of her puppies or kittens.

I want my children to see the miracle of birth.

But will they? Many pets hide when giving birth. Even if you find good homes for the entire litter, you may be denying homes to animals that have already been born. Visit your local animal shelter to see all the stray and abandoned animals.

If I neuter my dog he will stop being protective.

Neutering an animal does not change or alter his instinct to defend his turf. In fact, he will be less likely to wander away.

Only females need to be fixed, since the litters are their owner’s responsibility.

But how do those pets get pregnant? A male pet can easily father 750 offspring in his lifetime.

Keeping animals from having litters is interfering with nature.

We have already interfered.  Domesticated dogs and cats mate more often and have larger litters than their wild ancestors, but cannot survive on their own.

Spaying or neutering makes pets fat and lazy.

No, that's caused by overfeeding and the lack of exercise. Spayed or neutered pets require fewer calories. Cut down on the meals and make time for a walk or play.

So, are you convinced yet?

The benefits of spaying or neutering your pet are enormous. Your pet will be healthier, a better companion, will live longer, and save you money. A simple operation can do all this.

We urge you to contact your local veterinarian and discuss these benefits and to schedule your pet's spay or neuter procedure.  Or take advantage of one of the low-cost spay-neuter clinics that we have listed on our Spay and Neuter Services page.

Visit your local animal shelter and talk with the staff. A walk through is a heart breaking experience. Most of the animals at the shelter are there because they are unwanted or their guardians were not responsible.

There are not enough homes in which to place these loving animals. Help stop the overpopulation problem; spay or neuter your pet!