MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT PET SURGICAL STERILIZATION

MYTH:  Won't neutering make my pet(s) fat and lazy?

FACT:  Animals get fat and lazy if they are fed too much and / or exercised too little.  After surgical steriliztion, it may be necessary to decrease the amount of food your cat or dog was use to eating.   Food requirements vary among pets.  Factors affecting how much food your cat or dog needs includes age, environmental temperature, activity level, and metabolism.   If you have a concern about the food intake or exercise of your pet, please consult your vetrinarian.

MYTH:  Since I find good homes for all the litters, it's OK to let my pet give birth.

FACT: Because of the tremendous overpopulation of dogs and cats in our community, each time you give someone a puppy or kitten, a potential home islost for one of the untold numbers of animals in shelters who must then be killed, or one of the unfortunate animals abandoned in the streets by irresponsible owners - animals who will most probably die miserable deaths. In addition, there is rarely a guarantee that the puppy or kitten you give away will not be allowed to breed further, adding to the number of dogs and cats that will be put to death each year, or become strays.  Do your part, SPAY or NEUTER your pet!

MYTH:  Isn't the surgery painful and dangerous?

FACT: For both males and females the surgery is performed under anesthesia and is painless.  As with all surgery, precautions must be taken, but animals usually recuperate completely within a few days.

MYTH:  Shouldn't she have a litter before she's spayed?

FACT: The more heat cycles a pet has gone through, the more susceptible she is to serious diseases.  There are NO medical advantages in permitting your pet to have a litter.  One advantage of neutering a female is that it eliminates the possibility that she will ever have pyometra, a disease of the uterus.   When neutering your pet, the veterinarian, removes the uterus as well as the overies. Another medical advantage: Neutering a female reduces the chances of mammary tumers.   In addition, a cat or dog that experiences motherhood does not automaticly develop a better temperament.  Often, just the opposite occurs!

MYTH:  Shouldn't my children be able to witness the miracle of birth?

FACT: The price in suffering of permitting the birth of a litter so that your children can witness this miracle, is too high.  Thousands of puppies and kittens are born every hour in the United States.  Most are unwanted.  many die on the streets under the wheel of a car.  Many others are taken to animal shelters.  The average shelter can find homes for only 10-50% of the animals taken in.  The rest are killed.  Although some shelters are no-kill, many are not and they must dispose of surplus animals born because the public has failed to control the pet population. Teach your children responsibility by explaining why their pet should not have babies.

MYTH:  Surgery costs too much!

FACT:  NOT ANY MORE!   The surgery is only performed once.  Divided over the pet's lifetime, the cost is extremely small.   With LOW COST SPAY / NEUTER PROGRAMS available, compare the cost of surgery with things that cost about the same, but don't last a lifetime! One Automobile tire, a hair permanent, an auto tune-up, or a dinner for two a restaurant. The surgery can be considered an investment in the life of your cat or dog since it prevents unwanted heat cycles, litters, and serious diseases.   To find LOW COST SPAY / NEUTER PROGRAMS in your area click here.