Spay or Neuter Your Pet!
Spaying or neutering your cat or dog can go a long way to ending
the problem of pet overpopulation. And, it has some practical
benefits for you and your pet.
Neutered pets are usually calmer, less likely to get into fights,
or “mark” their territory on your favorite chair.
And, their chances of uterine, mammary, or testicular cancer are
eliminated.
Did you know:
• There is no absolutely no benefit and plenty of dangers
in allowing your pet to be “bred once” before he or
she is spayed or neutered. If you want to let your kids see the
miracle of life, buy a video or take them to a farm that raises
livestock.
• “Juvenile spaying and neutering”, which is
surgery performed when the animal is 6 to 8 weeks old, has not
been found to cause any future health problems for the pet. Surgery
is actually easier on a young animal because they heal faster.
• Breeding your pet is a bad way to earn money. You’ll
make little or no profit if you do it right by providing the necessary
veterinary care and nutritional needs for a pregnant or nursing
female and her puppies. Dedicated hobby breeders – most
of whom are involved with dog or cat shows, or dog sports –
spend years studying bloodlines, and they pay thousands of dollars
to have their animals certified as healthy and genetically sound.
These breeders provide plenty of puppies and kitten for those
who seek a purebred dog or cat.
• The spay/neuter surgery doesn’t have to be expensive.
There are a number of organizations that provide financial help,
or low-cost services, to those who can’t afford the full
cost of the surgery.
Spay-Neuter
Services of Indiana posts the following statement about the
cost of spay/neuter surgeries on its website:
Anyone who can afford to provide decent care for the life
of a pet (10 to 15 years) can also afford a spay or neuter operation.
The cost of the spay or neuter surgery is a one-time expense good
for the life of the animal.
