Spaying or neutering your pet prevents certain types of reproductive cancers from developing. Pets that are spayed or neutered aren't as likely to wander away from home in search of a mate, reducing their risk of accidents and fight injuries. For your pet's sake, spay or neuter!



MYTH: Female pets should have one litter before they are spayed.
FACT: The best time to spay a female pet is before her first heat. This eliminates her risk of uterine and ovarian cancer and it reduces her risk of mammary cancer. Remember, pets do not miss the "experience" of birth!

MYTH: Spaying and/or neutering will change my pet's behavior - they will become fat and lazy.
FACT: There are no negative changes after spaying or neutering. If any change does occur, it will help your pet . Changes in a desire to roam to find a mate will prevent your pet from getting hit by a car or into a fight; male cats are less likely to spray and mark territory - a very good change!

MYTH: The surgery will be painful for my pet.
FACT: Due to moden medicine and anesthetics, there is no pain during the surgery. Most pets feel some minor discomfort afterwards, but by the next day, most pets are playing and eating like usual. Animals that are not spayed or neutered suffer much more from injuries due to mating fights or the pain of birth.

MYTH: The surgery is too expensive.
FACT: The one-time cost of a spay or neuter is small compared to the cost of raising litters of kittens or puppies or to the cost of medical treatment for abscesses and diseases that a pet can get from fights due to mating behavior. Reproductive cancers later in life can not only cost a lot to treat, but might cost the life of your pet! Low cost clinics are available too.

MYTH: It is wrong to deprive an animal of the natural right to mate and reproduce.
FACT: An animal that is spayed or neutered does not have the urge to mate, consequently it is not deprived of anything. The human emotions surrounding "love" should not be confused with dog and cat psychology and reproduction.

MYTH: My children need to see the miracle of birth.
FACT: Most pets need privacy during the birth process, so this is not a good viewing time. In fact, many pets will find a good hiding place so you'll miss the birth anyway. If this must be seen, why not rent one of the many well-documented videos on birth? A much better lesson for your children involves learning about the responsibility of quality pet care. Teach them that pets are a lifetime commitment and that they require our respect, love, and compassion. Providing this type of education is much more beneficial in helping your children learn the "big picture" about pets.

MYTH: Preventing animals from having litters is unnatural.
FACT: Since we have already created an "unnatural" situation by domesticating pets, we need to continue our responsibility and provide the best health care for our pets. Spaying and neutering not only helps reduce the pet overpopulation problem, it helps individual pets from getting reproductive cancers and other health problems due to mating behavior (fight injuries and contagious diseases). Protecting your pet from health problems and risky situations is very natural!

MYTH: If my pet has a litter, I can easily find homes for this by giving them away for free.
FACT: Adopting a pet is a big responsibility. People who accept pets on an impulse or as a favor for a friend may not provide that pet with quality, long-term care. Cute kittens and puppies grow up into big cats and dogs. Without proper training these pets can become destructive and undesirable. Pets left outdoors can be hit by cars or catch diseases. A pet that is ignored and left alone in the back yard is never happy. Don't assume that it will be easy to find good homes for your pets. AND- overpopulation is alreadya serious problem leaving thousands of unwanted animals to die every year. By spaying and neutering your pets, you will help to stop this cycle and ensure that every pet born is given the chance for a healthy, happy life.

MYTH: Male pets don't have babies, so you don't need to bother neutering them.
FACT: Male animals are needed to make babies, so if your male pet is wandering around, he will be adding to the pet overpopulation problem. Neutered males may not be as likely to get certain types of reproductive cancer later in life. Male pets are not human beings - they don't "mind" being neutered!



Back to the main page



This page created by Danielle Hamilton:
SEND COMMENTS HERE!!!

Updated: 1 Mar 02

P.A.W.S.
806 Honeyridge Rd
Guyton, GA 31312
(912) 352-2247
paws-ga@geocities.com