Spaying and Neutering, It’s More Important Than You Think

I read the local paper this morning as I drank my coffee. While going through the pet classifieds I noticed just about every second ad announced “Kittens Free to good home.” or “mixed breed puppies free to good home.” This greatly disturbs me because it means that Canadians just don’t understand why spaying or neutering an animal is important. It also means that they are not having their animals sterilized.

As a dog trainer I meet many people who have just gotten new puppies. They come to me to help them train their dogs. I am a big spay/neuter advocate, so I tell every new client that their dog should be fixed at 6 – 8 months. Most people are good about it and take the advice, but every once in a while someone will argue. I have been told that they “Can’t fix her until after she has had a litter, or she won’t be protective.” This is a myth, spaying and neutering does not change a dogs personality. As a matter of fact it is better to have a female dog spayed before she even has her first heat, it prevents the possibility of reproductive organ and mammary cancers. It is actually healthier for your dog to be fixed. Likewise, having your male dog neutered prevents the possibility of prostrate cancers.

Spaying or neutering your pet goes a long way towards controlling the pet over-population problem. Let’s face it if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. Pet owners that do not spay/neuter their pets are a BIG part of the problem.

Many people believe that their pet’s puppies or kittens would never become homeless shelter animals. But the reality is that every time the dog finds his way under the fence to visit the neighbor’s female dog, or the indoor/outdoor cat comes back home pregnant again, the result is a litter of dogs or cats. Even if they are placed into homes, it is still possible for them to end up in shelters once they become “hard to handle,” or for them to reproduce further and for the next generation of puppies or kittens to wind up homeless.

I have eight dogs and six cats, only two of my animals have yet to be spayed or neutered, and they are scheduled to have their operations within the next four weeks. I make sure of this for two very simple but very sound reasons;

1.) I want my pets to be in the best of health so that they are with me for as long as possible.

2.) It is the socially responsible thing to do in order to prevent more unwanted animals.

You owe it to your pets to have them spayed or neutered. After all are there not enough homeless animals on our planet already?

Until Tomorrow Remember,

BE THE CHANGE

Janette