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Spaying & Neutering
Some Common Myths and Misunderstandings of Spaying and Neutering
"Spaying or neutering will change my pet’s personality."
~The only behavior changes will be positive ones. Spayed or neutered animals make better companions and are more affectionate. Males are less likely to roam or get in fights. Male cats tend to stop spraying if neutered young.
"She needs to have just one litter."
~Motherhood will not make your pet healthier or happier. In fact, early spaying greatly reduced the incidence of mammary cancer, and eliminates infections of the uterus and ovaries. Females CAN be spayed if in heat or pregnant. Please don't let more surplus puppies or kittens be born!
"My pet will become fat and lazy."
~Lack of exercise and overfeeding cause obesity. Make time for walks and play, and ask your veterinarian about reducing calories.
"I'll find homes for all the puppies or kittens."
~Finding good homes for kittens and puppies is not easy. Many animals are discarded once they start to grow. And many will produce surplus babies of their own. The pet overpopulation crisis is perpetuated one litter at a time.
"But my pet is a purebred."
~Having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and babies is expensive, not to mention the significant financial and health costs if complications develop. Your pet is a companion, not a financial investment or status symbol. Besides, one out of four animals turned in to animal shelters is a purebred.
"I want my children to see the miracle of birth."
~Are you willing to explain to your children the tragedy of death caused by allowing yet another surplus litter to be born? What's more, animals often go off by themselves to give birth.
"I want my dog to be protective."
~Spaying and neutering does not affect a dog's natural instinct to protect home and family.
"The animal shelter will take care of them."
~How? There are far more dogs and cats than available homes. Only one or two out of ten are adopted. Animals shelters across the nation are forced to kill an estimated 15 million dogs and cats (most of them young and healthy) every year; 15,000 are killed in Tulare County alone.
"I don't need to neuter my maleBhe's not the one having litters."
~Immaculate conception doesn't explain dog and cat pregnancies. Male pets can father many offspring, which makes you equally responsible for pet overpopulation.
"Preventing dogs and cats from having babies is unnatural."
~Domesticated animals are no longer ruled by the "laws of nature." They have far more litters than in the wild. Spaying and neutering is the only way to end the cruel and unnatural overpopulation problem.
"I don't want my male pet to feel deprived or less masculine."
~Don't confuse human sexuality with a dog or cat's hormonal instincts. Neutering won't cause any negative emotional reaction or identity crisis. In addition, it greatly reduces the risk of prostate and testicular diseases.
"It's too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered."
~The surgery is a one-time cost and a small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention of more homeless animals.
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