Are your dogs spayed or neutered?
Did you know this?
-In 6 years, 1 female dog and its offspring can be the source of 67,000 puppies.
-70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the USA alone. Compared to only 10,000 human births, its clear that there will never be enough homes for all these pets.
-Almost 8 million pets are euthanized each year because there are no homes for them.
Why you should spay/neuter:
+Spaying your pet before her first estrous cycle (that is, before she reaches sexual maturity) greatly reduces her chances of developing breast cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in unaltered females.
+Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular tumors and may prevent prostate problems. Neutering also decreases the possibility of perianal tumors and hernias, which are commonly observed in older, unaltered dogs. Because neutered cats are less likely to roam, the threat of abscesses caused by bites and diseases transmitted by fighting are greatly reduced.
+Males neutered early in life are less aggressive toward other males and are not distracted by females in heat. Therefore, a neutered male will be less tempted to leave your property and cross that dangerous highway searching for a mate. Neutered males also are less likely to mark every one of your (or your neighbor's) expensive shrubs with his urine as well as inside the house.
+Spaying your female pet eliminates the problem of stray males camping in your yard and decreases her desire to roam and breed.
+Spaying prevents your pet from giving birth to unwanted puppies or kittens.
+Because female dogs pass bloody fluid for about ten days, twice a year, as a part of their estrous cycle, constant care must be taken to avoid carpet stains in homes with such animals. Spaying your dog eliminates this problem.
+Each year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized (killed) at shelters across the country. Although pet behavioral problems are the main reasons animals are given to shelters, many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets spayed or neutered, the fewer dogs and cats will have to be destroyed. Delaware Humane Association does not euthanized; however, hundreds of dogs and cats are turned away each year because there is simply not enough room at the shelter to accommodate them.
+Animal control agencies in nearly every community cost the taxpayers (us) millions of dollars every year. They do a good job but it's just not enough. With many millions of homeless animals, we are seeing an annual rise in dog bites and attacks, torn open garbage containers, feces in public and private areas, and angry, frightened citizens who do not understand the misery of these unwanted pets. Additionally, homeless animals disturb the ecological balance by scaring away or killing birds and wildlife.
10 common excuses
1. My pet will get fat and lazy.
Neutering or spaying may diminish your pet's overall activity level, natural tendency to wander, and hormonal balances, which may influence appetite. Pets that become fat and lazy after being altered usually are overfed and do not get enough exercise.
2. We want another pet just like Rover and Fluffy.
Breeding two purebred animals rarely results in offspring that are exactly like one of the parents. With mixed breeds, it is virtually impossible to have offspring that are exactly like one of the parents.
3. My pet's personality will change.
Any change will be for the better. After being altered, your pet will be less aggressive toward other dogs or cats, have a better personality, and will be less likely to wander. Spraying (urine marking), which is often done by dogs and cats to mark their territory, diminishes or ceases after pets are altered.
4. We can sell puppies or kittens and make money.
Even well-known breeders are fortunate if they break even on raising purebred litters. The cost of raising such a litter -- which includes stud fees, vaccinations and other health care costs, and feeding a quality food -- consumes most of the "profit." Well-known breeders raise breeds that they like. These breeders also try to improve the standard of the breeds they raise.
5. My children should witness our pet giving birth.
Pets often have their litters in the middle of the night or in a place of their own choosing. Because pets need privacy when giving birth, any unnecessary intrusion can cause the mother to become seriously upset. These intrusions can result in an unwillingness to care for the offspring or in injury to the owners or to the pet.
6. I am concerned about my pet undergoing anesthesia.
Placing a pet under anesthesia is a very common concern of owners. Although there is always a slight risk involved, the anesthetics currently used by veterinarians are very safe. Many veterinarians use equipment that monitors heart and respiratory rates during surgery to ensure that their patients are doing well under anesthesia. Thus, the medical benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered far outweigh the slight risk involved with undergoing anesthesia. Consult your veterinarian if your are concerned about this aspect of the procedure.
7. I want my dog to be protective. If I neuter him, he won't be.
All dogs are naturally protective of their territory. A dog's breed and how it's raised are much more important in determining a dog's "protective" behavior than its hormones.
8. I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.
Neutering a male pet will not change his basic personality. Remember, he doesn't realize he is a male. That's one problem that only humans have to deal with. Neutering won't "traumatize" your pet. If you're really concerned about a difference in his appearance, there is a product on the market which provides your dog or cat with artificial testicles. Ask your vet for more information.
9. It's too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.
Depending on the sex, size, and age of your pet and what your veterinarian charges, the cost of altering is a bargain when compared to the costs of not altering. Stud fees, a special diet, and health testing are very expensive. We know you want to be a responsible breeder so you will need to make sure Fluffy has all the proper care she needs and that this breeding will be carefully planned. But the expense doesn't stop there. If Fluffy isn't a very good mother, then you will have to feed the babies once every two to four hours for the first four weeks of their lives as well, for which a special formula is needed. Unfortunately, pregnancy is not risk-free for Fluffy or her babies and either one or both could die. The "cost" of spaying your pet is really tiny when you consider how much more "just one litter" could cost--financially and emotionally. Also, if you truely are having financial troubles, low cost spay/neuter clinics are out there.
10. I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.
Are you willing to find homes for each and every one of the grand-puppies or kittens? It only takes a few months (six to eight in most cases) for most dogs or cats to reach sexual maturity. How about the great-grand-puppies and kittens? Remember that one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies and that one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in six to seven years! Can you find 5 or 10 homes? How about 1,000? Pet overpopulation happens "just one litter" at a time.
Links
Why Neuter Rover?
When to Spay
The reality of breeding dogs
So you want to use your dog as a stud?
Breeding your dog FAQ
Funny story on Neutering/Neuticles
