Below is a list of common questions we receive regarding spaying and neutering. If your question is not answered here, please email us at [email protected].
Q: Why Should I Spay or Neuter My Pet?
A: Spaying and neutering your pet is currently the most effective birth control method for cats and dogs. By "fixing" your pet, you can help them live a happier, healthier and longer life while not contributing to the homeless pet population.
Q: But Don’t Animal Shelters Take Care Of Surplus Animals?
A: No. Shelters do their best to place animals in loving homes. Despite their efforts, many healthy and adoptable animals in our state are still susceptible to euthanasia.
Q: My One Cat Or Dog Can’t Make That Much Of A Difference, Can It?
A: It's true that you may find homes for your pet's entire litter. But each home you find means one less home for homeless animals in shelters facing euthanasia due to lack of an adopter. Furthermore, in less than one year's time, each of your pet's offspring may have his or her own litter, ading even more animals to the population. Then, their offspring can have offspring and so on and so on. By fixing your one pet you can help save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.
Q: So What Are The Benefits of Spaying?
A: There are numerous benefits to spaying.
A: There is no medical evidence to substantiate any benefits to allowing a dog or cat to have a litter before spaying. In fact, spaying female dogs and cats before their first heat is much easier on your pet. Smaller pets have less body fat, meaning less tissue trauma and less bleeding. Smaller pets need less anesthesia, meaning they will wake faster, and in most cases, are able to come home the same day. By spaying as early as possible, you are being responsible by not adding to the homeless pet population.
Q: Isn't having a litter a great way for my children to experience the miracle of birth?
A: You can still do that without allowing your pet to have a litter. There are thousands of rescue and shelter organizations trying to help animals that have been abandoned, many of which are pregnant. Volunteer to foster a pregnant dog or cat. You will be helping the rescue, as well as the animals, all while giving your children the chance to see a litter being born and raised.
Q: So What Are The Benefits Neutering?
A: Neutering also has several benefits.
Q: But Won’t My Neutered Male Feel Less Manly?
A: Your pet has no concept of sexual identity and ego. His biology and behavior developed in the wild to produce as many offspring as possible so his species could survive. In our modern world, this many offspring would only add to the total of unwanted pets that are unnecessarily killed in shelters.
Q: My Pet Is Purebred. Shouldn’t I Breed At Least Once?
A: Many purebred pets end up in shelters, just like mixed breeds. The Humane Society of the United States estimates as many as 25% of shelter dogs are purebred. Additionally, breeding, in almost all cases, requires a special permit, is costly, is time consuming and does not create a clone of your pet.
Q: When Can I Spay or Neuter My Pet?
A: Both procedures can be performed as early as eight weeks of age. If you haven't spayed or neutered your older pet, it's never too late to discuss the procedure with your veterinarian. Extra precautions may need to be taken with older pets. In either case, check with your local veterinarian or clinic to set up an appointment.
Q: The Procedure Costs Too Much, How Can I Afford It?
A: The cost of caring for a pet, including providing veterinary care, should always be considered before acquiring a pet. Pets rescued from the shelter will already be spayed/neutered. If you would like to provide a good home for a pet, but cannot pay for the procedure, check out our low-cost spay/neuter programs. The bottom line: The cost of having a litter far exceeds the cost of a spay/neter procedure.
Q: I Don’t Even Own A Pet. How Is This My Problem?
A: All of us are affected by homeless pets. Millions of tax dollars are spent annually to round up lost, abandoned, and unwanted pets. Much of that money is spent to destroy these animals when homes cannot be found. Human health is threatened by thedanger of transmittable diseases such as rabies, as well as animal bites and attacks. Property may be damaged and livestock killed when pets roam in search of food. It is only when all of us assume the responsibility for the homeless pet population that we will see any decrease.
Q: How can I help?
A: Pawsitive Alliance runs spay/neuter programs throughout the state to help dogs and cats in need. However, we receive more requests to assist with spay an dneuter than there is current funding to support. You can help by donating to our spay/neuter programs.
What your donation will go towards:
$25 - micro-chipping and vaccinations for one animal, or spay/neuter of one cat.
$50 - spay/neuter 2 cats
$100 - spay/neuter 2 dogs or 4 cats
$500 - sponsor a cat clinic day
$1,000 - sponsor a dog clinic day
A: Spaying and neutering your pet is currently the most effective birth control method for cats and dogs. By "fixing" your pet, you can help them live a happier, healthier and longer life while not contributing to the homeless pet population.
Q: But Don’t Animal Shelters Take Care Of Surplus Animals?
A: No. Shelters do their best to place animals in loving homes. Despite their efforts, many healthy and adoptable animals in our state are still susceptible to euthanasia.
Q: My One Cat Or Dog Can’t Make That Much Of A Difference, Can It?
A: It's true that you may find homes for your pet's entire litter. But each home you find means one less home for homeless animals in shelters facing euthanasia due to lack of an adopter. Furthermore, in less than one year's time, each of your pet's offspring may have his or her own litter, ading even more animals to the population. Then, their offspring can have offspring and so on and so on. By fixing your one pet you can help save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.
Q: So What Are The Benefits of Spaying?
A: There are numerous benefits to spaying.
- Prevents pregnancy. Spaying eliminates the possibility of your pet having a litter and, combined with neutering, is the only effective method of birth control for cats and dogs.
- Prevents your pet from going into heat. Heat is the term used to describe the season when female pets are sexually receptive. Not only does a heat happen twice yearly for dogs, and even more for cats, onset can happen as early as four months of age.
- Provides behavorial advantages. Spaying addresses problems such as pregnancy due to an unwanted male visitor and undesirable behaviors, such as constant yowling, crying and nervous pacing, since your pet will not be seeking a mate.
- Provides health benefits. Spaying your pet nearly eliminates breast cancer and totally prevents uterine infections and cancer.
- It Saves Lives, Time and Money. Dogs can have up to two litters per year while cats can have as many as five. Spaying can save pet's lives while saving you time and money. One spay is more economical than taking care of several litters or kittens or puppies.
A: There is no medical evidence to substantiate any benefits to allowing a dog or cat to have a litter before spaying. In fact, spaying female dogs and cats before their first heat is much easier on your pet. Smaller pets have less body fat, meaning less tissue trauma and less bleeding. Smaller pets need less anesthesia, meaning they will wake faster, and in most cases, are able to come home the same day. By spaying as early as possible, you are being responsible by not adding to the homeless pet population.
Q: Isn't having a litter a great way for my children to experience the miracle of birth?
A: You can still do that without allowing your pet to have a litter. There are thousands of rescue and shelter organizations trying to help animals that have been abandoned, many of which are pregnant. Volunteer to foster a pregnant dog or cat. You will be helping the rescue, as well as the animals, all while giving your children the chance to see a litter being born and raised.
Q: So What Are The Benefits Neutering?
A: Neutering also has several benefits.
- Eliminates Successful Breeding. Neutering eliminates the possibility of your male impregnating a female pet. Spaying and neutering are the only effective method of birth control for cats and dogs.
- Stops the mating drive. Your male pet will have a reduced urge to roam in search of a female for matig. This also reduces the possibility of fights, injury, poisoning, accidents and contracting diseases
- Provides Behavioral advantages. Neutering your pet will eliminate hormone-influenced behaviors. Your pet will have decreased aggression and fewer urges to mount furniture, other pets, or people, as well as a decreased desire to roam. Since your pet's number one priority will no longer be looking for a mate, they will have increased concentration and a longer attention span, making them a better companion.
- Provides health benefits. Neutering eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
- It saves lives, time and money. Just like spaying, neutering can save pet's lives, while saving you time and money. One neuter surgery is more economical than taking care of several litters of kittens or puppies.
Q: But Won’t My Neutered Male Feel Less Manly?
A: Your pet has no concept of sexual identity and ego. His biology and behavior developed in the wild to produce as many offspring as possible so his species could survive. In our modern world, this many offspring would only add to the total of unwanted pets that are unnecessarily killed in shelters.
Q: My Pet Is Purebred. Shouldn’t I Breed At Least Once?
A: Many purebred pets end up in shelters, just like mixed breeds. The Humane Society of the United States estimates as many as 25% of shelter dogs are purebred. Additionally, breeding, in almost all cases, requires a special permit, is costly, is time consuming and does not create a clone of your pet.
Q: When Can I Spay or Neuter My Pet?
A: Both procedures can be performed as early as eight weeks of age. If you haven't spayed or neutered your older pet, it's never too late to discuss the procedure with your veterinarian. Extra precautions may need to be taken with older pets. In either case, check with your local veterinarian or clinic to set up an appointment.
Q: The Procedure Costs Too Much, How Can I Afford It?
A: The cost of caring for a pet, including providing veterinary care, should always be considered before acquiring a pet. Pets rescued from the shelter will already be spayed/neutered. If you would like to provide a good home for a pet, but cannot pay for the procedure, check out our low-cost spay/neuter programs. The bottom line: The cost of having a litter far exceeds the cost of a spay/neter procedure.
Q: I Don’t Even Own A Pet. How Is This My Problem?
A: All of us are affected by homeless pets. Millions of tax dollars are spent annually to round up lost, abandoned, and unwanted pets. Much of that money is spent to destroy these animals when homes cannot be found. Human health is threatened by thedanger of transmittable diseases such as rabies, as well as animal bites and attacks. Property may be damaged and livestock killed when pets roam in search of food. It is only when all of us assume the responsibility for the homeless pet population that we will see any decrease.
Q: How can I help?
A: Pawsitive Alliance runs spay/neuter programs throughout the state to help dogs and cats in need. However, we receive more requests to assist with spay an dneuter than there is current funding to support. You can help by donating to our spay/neuter programs.
What your donation will go towards:
$25 - micro-chipping and vaccinations for one animal, or spay/neuter of one cat.
$50 - spay/neuter 2 cats
$100 - spay/neuter 2 dogs or 4 cats
$500 - sponsor a cat clinic day
$1,000 - sponsor a dog clinic day
or donate via PayPal
