Why Spay / Neuter Your Pet

#1 My One Cat Or Dog Having a Litter Can’t Make Difference.

Sure, you might find homes for all of the puppies/kittens in your pet’s litter, but each home you find is one less available for a shelter pet that is facing euthanasia. Plus, if any of your pet’s offspring also have their own litter or litters, that is that many more pets adding to the pet population and looking for homes.

This can quickly add up to hundreds if not thousands, of pets you could save by spaying/neutering your one pet.

#2 I keep my dog/cat indoors. Do I have to get them spayed/neutered?

Yes. First, it’s more often than not the law. Second, if your dog or cat ever gets out they can get pregnant or impregnate another dog/cat before you find them. True story — A friend of mine had a small dog who accidentally got out. She was so happy to find her that she didn’t even think about the possibility she was pregnant. Not only that, but she found out too late to abort even though it was evident she was impregnated by a much larger dog. Unfortunately, her dog didn’t make it through labor due to the size of the puppies.

#3 I have a male so I’m not worried about pregnancy.

It takes two to tango. Help control the pet population.

#4 My pet’s personality will change.

This one is not wrong if your dog is post-puberty, but their personality will change for the better. Males will be less aggressive, females won’t howl, cry, and pace nervously in heat, and both genders won’t feel the need to roam looking for a mate.

It is also not wrong if your dog is pre-puberty, Some say cats’ personalities don’t fully develop they are about one year old, and dogs between one and two years old. If your pet’s personality changes after spaying/neutering at an early age, it most likely was going to change without surgery.

#5 It costs a lot.

False. Many animal shelters offer or know where to access free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics, plus it would cost a lot more to care for what could be several litters of puppies or kittens.

#6 My pet will get fat and lazy.

Just like before your pet’s spay/neuter, the best way to keep them in good health is through a good diet and plenty of exercise. Feed them the right portion of high quality food and play and train with them often.

#7 Getting spayed/neutered will make my pet sad they can’t have offspring.

Pets don’t have an emotional attachment to having offspring or a sense of gender outside of the instincts caused by their gender’s hormones. Typically these instincts cause unwanted behavior so you’re only helping by reducing their desire to roam, hump, yowl, etc.

#8 I love my dog and want more just like them.

Unless you clone your dog, its offspring will not be identical to them. Plus, there are too many environmental factors that helped mold your dog into the amazing pet they are today. Who’s to say you could recreate that experience? Also, there are so many other amazing and deserving pets looking for a home at your local shelter.

#9 My female dog/cat should have one heat cycle or one litter before being spayed.

Dogs that are spayed are 10 times less likely to get certain types of cancer than those that are not spayed. Though you can wait until their first heat cycle, each cycle increases the likelihood they will develop cancer later in life.

Having just one litter can lead to hundreds, if not thousands, of unwanted puppies/kittens. Save lives, don’t make lives.