S&N: The hottest term at TAPACT
:Jacquelin Yang, for TAPACT
If you have recently welcomed a puppy or kitten into your family, it’s important to add spaying and neutering to your new pet’s veterinary calendar.
It might be tempting not to spay or neuter your pet because the idea of having your own puppies and kittens sounds cute. However, bringing new litters into the world when there are so many animals waiting at local shelters is a heartbreaking and irresponsible decision. Tragically, some families allow their dogs and cats to become pregnant, only to abandon them when they realize the costs are more than they anticipated. Spaying and neutering is a one-time cost that is far less expensive than the cost of raising a litter of kittens or puppies for just one year. By spaying or neutering your pets, you are preventing them from becoming one of thousands of homeless pets who are euthanized, neglected, or dying of disease on the streets.
Spaying and neutering pets takes a huge weight off of shelters with limited funds, which are usually volunteer-run. Animal Control receives hundreds of calls and complaints each year regarding homeless pets. At the same time, shelters struggle to find loving homes for these animals who have already suffered so much. Spaying and neutering your pet helps lessen the burden on shelters and the taxpayers who fund them.
Not only is spaying and neutering the more responsible decision, but it also has many benefits for your pet’s health and well-being! First of all, the process can help reduce discomfort and the risk of some types of cancers. For example, in female dogs and cats, spaying gets rid of their heat cycle and eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer. Your pet will not have to suffer through the discomfort, bleeding, and nervous behaviors that come with being in heat. Spaying also greatly reduces the occurrence of breast cancer in female pets. For male dogs and cats, being neutered reduces the incidence of prostate cancer.
Have you heard that spaying or neutering your pet is bad for them or makes them unhappy? Spayed and neutered animals are actually more affectionate and calm. It’s a myth that spaying or neutering a pet causes obesity. If you feed your pets healthy meals and exercise with them daily, they won’t gain weight just from spaying or neutering.
It’s time to rethink the myths that have persisted with spaying and neutering and to get informed. Spaying and neutering is a benefit to your pets and your community!
Fast Facts: Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Dogs
- Dogs who have been neutered are less likely to run away in search of a female in heat.
- Neutered dogs are more protective and loyal to their home. They’re not as distracted by breeding or fighting with other dogs over mates.
- Neutered dogs are less likely to spray or mark the home.
- Neutered male dogs live 18% longer than their intact counterparts and spayed females live 23% longer than their counterparts (Humane Society, 2014).
Fast Facts: Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Cats
- In 4 years a single cat and her kittens can be responsible for 10,736 offspring. (Pet Health Network, 2011)
- Cats who have been spayed or neutered can live up to 3-5 years longer than those who have not.
- Spayed and neutered cats are less likely to contract deadly, contagious diseases that are spread through bodily fluids, such as feline AIDS and leukemia.
References
Spay and Neuter Your Pet, Brown University Colwill Lab
World Spay Day: Why You Should Spay/Neuter
Spaying and Neutering: A Solution for Suffering | PETA
The Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Domesticated Cats and Dogs – Debating Science
