Did You Know?

At the rate companion animals are being bred, whether on purpose or by accident, there will never be enough homes.

Females can become pregnant as young as 4 months old!

Rabbits can start breeding as young as 3 months old, can have a litter every month and have up to 14 bunnies in each litter.

One intact cat can produce 80,000 offspring in just 10 years with only 2 surviving kittens per litter. One intact dog can produce almost as many!

Rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and other small animals are popular companions who also suffer due to overpopulation.

Other common synonymous terms for spay/neuter are altered, fixed, & desexed.

"Purebred" animals are dumped in shelters as well as mixed breeds. Mary, the online shelter specialist for Small Paws Rescue, reports, "I search for Bichons and Bichon mixes in kill shelters twice daily. In the last year, we rescued at least 180 purebred Bichons dumped in shelters and not adopted. From talking to several shelter directors in various sections of the country, I have learned that an animal cannot be advertised as purebred unless the owners actually bring in the registration papers. This does not happen often."

In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and hernias, and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer.

In females, spaying decreases the incidence of breast cancer. The rate goes down to almost zero if the spaying is done before the first heat cycle. It eliminates the chance of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature unspayed animals (pyometra).

Spaying and neutering greatly increases the lifespan of companion animals and increases quality of life as well.

Avoid Companion Animal Theft

Do not leave animals unattended, including inside vehicles or tied outside a store.
Keep animals indoors when you are expecting repair personnel, meter readers, or guests.
Report suspicious activity to your local police.
If stolen, tattoos or microchips help quickly identify animals.
Always keep a clear, up-to-date photo of your animal, including front, back, and side for easy identification.
Animals who are spayed/neutered are less likely to stray from home.
Cats should always be kept indoors.
Dogs should be supervised and kept safely behind a locked gate.

Adopt & Save A Life!

*Inform the shelter or rescue if you want to adopt an animal with specific personality traits. A dog who is good with children or a cat who gets along with other animals is not limited to a specific breed. Different animals have different personalities. End the "preferred breed" mentality that is literally killing companion animals.

*Parents should not expect children to take on the full responsibility of caring for an animal. Although children will promise to take care of an animal, as the "novelty" wears off, it is the animal who is left to suffer. The animal will be neglected and lonely. Parents must understand that they are solely responsible for that animal if the child does not fulfill their obligations.