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The Truth about Spaying or Neutering Your Pets
First, the terminology:
Spaying – the procedure used to remove the reproductive
organs of a female animal.
Neutering – the procedure used to sterilize a male
animal.
We receive calls daily from individuals who want us to pick
up dogs or puppies, cats or kittens, that have been
abandoned or dumped on their property. By the time these
poor animals are dumped, they are often sick, infected with
mange, or suffering from other maladies. Many of these are
beyond the point of saving, and sadly, have to be put to
sleep. All this suffering could have been avoided by simply
spaying or neutering.
At Compassion First, we understand that some people have
negative impressions, even fears, about spaying or neutering
their pets. Through education, we hope to alleviate these
concerns, which are almost always unfounded. It's true that
spaying and neutering makes our job easier, but that's
certainly not the primary reason behind our support. We
support it because it's the only practical way to reduce the
number of unwanted animals.
Let's examine some of more common reasons given for not
spaying or neutering...
“We want her to have one litter, it will settle her down
and make her a better pet.” Fact: Having a litter will
not improve her health or personality, but can
easily cause her medical problems down the road. Spaying a
female before her first heat cycle can virtually eliminate
the possibility of breast tumors, ovarian cysts, and many
common and serious diseases such as pyometra and cancer.
“I want my children to be able to see the miracle of
birth.” While this may sound like a noble, heartwarming
idea, in most cases the female will do her best to give
birth alone. But even if the children do witness the birth,
what then? Cute and cuddly puppies and kittens don’t stay
small for long, and a staggering percentage are abandoned as
soon as they grow out of the cute-and-cuddly stage. Finding
good, responsible homes is tough. And if you are successful
in placing some or all of the babies, if the new owners hold
on to this same desire for their children to witness birth,
the cycle continues. Mathematical reality is that there are
too many animals and too few homes. There are literally
millions of animals in shelters all over the United States
waiting for a home. Many of these animals will run out of
time and ultimately be put to sleep. So you see, for every
animal produced, some animal already born will probably die.
“I
don’t want to neuter my male, I wouldn’t want it done to
me.” This is where a healthy dose of common sense
perspective should come into play. We're talking about a dog
or cat, not a man. A man can make his own decisions about
birth control. An animal cannot. They will follow their
natural instincts and breed as often as possible. And a
neutered male can actually make a better family pet. They
are less likely to roam, thus reducing the risk of fights,
injury, or aggravation to neighbors. Neutering shortly after
the testicles drop is best. Early neutering, before hormone
production accelerates, virtually eliminates a male’s need
to mark his territory and the need to mount everything in
site. Older animals can also benefit from neutering, which
may reduce or even eliminate the risk of enlarged prostate
glands, prostate cancer and testicular tumors.
“If
I spay my females, then I don’t have to neuter my males.” This
is a wrong way of thinking. The old saying, “it takes two to
tango”, certainly applies here. While spaying your females
is responsible, failure to neuter your males is still a lack
of responsibility. A male pet can easily father hundreds of
offspring in his lifetime, thus continuing the cycle.
“Spaying or neutering makes your pet fat and lazy.” This
is simply an “old wives' tale" without foundation. While
it’s true that pets sometimes gain weight after being
altered, it's because spayed or neutered pets require fewer
calories. By simply reducing their food intake or feeding
them a lower calorie food, and making time for walks or
playtime, your pet will be able to maintain their pre-spay
or neuter weight. Your pet will be healthier. (And the extra
exercise won’t hurt you, either!)
“Spaying
and neutering is just too expensive.” Not true! Spaying
or neutering is much cheaper in the long run than
taking care of puppies or kittens, whether wanted or
unwanted. Many local veterinarians participate in a low cost
spay or neuter program in conjunction with the Tupelo-Lee
Humane Society. A spay or neuter certificate can be
purchased from the shelter at a cost of $5.00. This
certificate will garner you a substantial discount with the
veterinarian, and the $5.00 charged for the certificate will
help take care of the animals already in the shelter. It’s a
win/win for everybody!
There are also two other local organizations offering low
cost spay or neuter. Spay, Inc, of Tupelo, MS, and Wags,
Inc, of Amory, MS. We will soon offer a link to both these
organizations, along with a list of local veterinarians who
participate in the discount program and their fees. |
