Millions of households have pets, and billions of dollars are spent yearly on pet supplies, pet toys and food. But as a nation, we should take a hard, sobering look at a different annual statistic: the millions of dogs and cats given up to shelters.   Every cat or dog who dies as a result of pet overpopulation—whether humanely in a shelter or by injury, disease, or neglect—is an animal who, more often than not, would have made a wonderful companion, if given the chance. Tremendous as the problem of pet overpopulation is, it can be solved if each of us takes just one small step, starting with not allowing our animals to breed. Here's information clearing up some of the myths of spaying & neutering, and about why spaying and neutering is the first step to a solution.

Good Medicine - Did you know that a spayed or neutered animal will live a longer, healthier life?

Spayed= a female cat or dog who has had both ovaries and uterus surgically removed, and is not capable of producing offspring.
Neutered= a male cat or dog who has had both testicles surgically removed, and is not capable of producing offspring. (Also known as castration).

Spaying a female or neutering a male are veterinary procedures performed under general anesthesia. Both surgeries require only a few hours of hospitalization.

Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering a male cat or dog before six months of age prevents testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (a very serious uterine infection) and mammary cancer. Treatment of pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and spaying. For an older, seriously ill animal, anesthesia and surgery are complicated and costly. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.

Peace of Mind - Did you know that a spayed or neutered animal is better behaved?

Males: Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unsterilized males roam in search of a mate, risking injury in traffic and in fights with other males. They mark their territory by spraying strong smelling urine. Don’t confuse aggressiveness with protectiveness—a neutered dog protects his home and family just as well as an unneutered dog,and many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering.
Females: While their cycles vary greatly, most female cats exhibit the following signs when in heat. For four or five days every three weeks during breeding season, they yowl and urinate more frequently—advertising for mates. Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive for another week or so. Often, they attract unneutered males—some from great distances—who spray urine around the females’ homes.

Responsible Care - Join in the fight against pet overpopulation.

 -Debunking dangerous myths about spaying and neutering

Myth: My female cat or dog should have a litter before she is spayed.
Fact: The sooner you spay your female, the better her health will be in the future. The longer a female goes unspayed, the greater the likelihood of developing mammary tumors or uterine infections. In fact, a femalespayed before her first heat(six to nine months of age) has one-seventh the risk of developing mammary cancer as does an intact female.

Myth: Spaying or neutering will alter my pet’s personality.
Fact: Regardless of the age when spayed or neutered, your pet will remain a caring,loving and protective companion. Any slight changes will be positive. Neutering will reduce the need to breed, which has a calming effect on many animals. Both neutered male canines and felines tend to stop roaming and fighting, and they also lose the desire to mark their territory with urine.

Myth: Companion animals will become fat and lazy if they are neutered.
Fact: Absolutely not! Lack of exercise and overfeeding make pets fat and lazy—not neutering. Your pet will not gain weight if you provide exercise and monitor food intake. Also, sterilized pets tend to live an average of two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.

Myth: Sterilization is a dangerous and painful surgery for my pet.
Fact: Spaying and neutering are the most common surgeries performed on animals. With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a couple of days. Spaying is a major surgery, because it involves surgically entering the abdomen.  There are inherent risks with any anesthesia or surgical procedure, and talking over your fears and concerns with your veterinarian should help you understand any special risks that your pet may have.

Myth: Letting my pet have a litter will allow my children to witness the miracle of birth.
Fact: Countless books and videos are available to teach your children about birth in a responsible manner. Letting your pet produce offspring that you have no intention of keeping is teaching your children irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the truth behind this dangerous myth.