Pet Sense (Archives)
The Worst Reasons for NOT Spaying or Neutering a Pet
“Just one litter and then we’ll have Fido spayed”.
There are millions of homeless kittens, puppies, dogs, and cats. It’s an overwhelming problem that continues to get bigger one animal at a time. ONE LITTER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
“My children should witness the miracle of birth”.
Children should be taught about pet overpopulation and NOT encourage them to contribute to the problem. There are other ways for parents to explain about the wonders of birth without creating more unwanted animals.
“For health reasons, female cats and dogs should have at least one litter”.
Allowing a dog or cat to go into their first heat actually increases their risk of mammary cancer later on in life.
“There are always good homes for our puppies”.
Please realize that every litter born from your pet costs shelter animals their lives.
“There should be more Fidos running around...he is so cute”!
Animals shelters and rescues are filled (many to capacity) with cute and cuddly dogs and cats that are waiting for someone to adopt them.
“Spaying or neutering Fido will just make him fat and lazy”.
Animals that have been spayed or neutered do not require as much food (their metabolism slows down), so simply cut back. Overfeeding and under-excercising are the main reason pets get a little heavier and become lazy.
“I want to breed Fluffy because she is a purebred and we can make some money”!
Did you know that approximately 30% of animals in shelters are purebreds? Many people don’t realize the cost of raising a litter. There are many costs from stud fees, physical exams, vaccines, and food. Plus, the vet costs in case there are any problems or risks with the pregnancy (x-rays and ultrasounds to confirm Fluffy is pregnant, and possibly a c-section if there are any problems while she is in labor).
“It costs too much”.
All Creatures offers a spay and neuter assistance program for low income pet owners. This program was developed to encourage the reduction of the pet over-population in out community. Interested parties may obtain an application from All Creatures (your personal financial information will be requested and utilized to determine eligibility).
It’s estimated that 5 MILLION HEALTHY dogs and cats are euthanized every year because they do not have a home. Please don’t be part of the problem! Don’t allow your cat or dog to go unneutered or unspayed. All pets should be spayed or neutered by 4 months of age (and can be safely done as young as 8 weeks of age). Don’t get a puppy/dog or kitten/cat unless you are ready to make an appointment for their surgery. Spaying/Neutering is a same day, routine surgery...so please call and schedule your appointment today!
Quick Stats:
* Euthanasia is the #1 cause of death in HEALTHY cats and dogs!
*Number of litters a female dog can produce in a year = 2
*Number of puppies per litter = 6-12 (med to large breeds); 4-8 (smaller breeds)
*Age at which a female puppy can produce its first litter = 7-9 months
*Number of litters a female cat can produce in a year = 3
*Number of kittens per litter = 4-6
*Age at which a female kitten can produce its first litter = 4-7 months
*Theoretically, one female cat and one male cat and their offspring can result in 420,000 kittens in 7 years. Realistically, over 12 years one unspayed female with all her unspayed female offspring can reasonably be expected to be responsible for over 3200 kittens if there is no human intervention.
*There are approximately 45 cats and 18 dogs born for every person born. Less than 1 in 10 find a permanent home. The rest are typically euthanized because nobody wants them. Make sure you are not contributing to the problem...HAVE YOUR PET SPAYED/NEUTERED!
Everything Pets Expo is coming to Cincinnati! Everything Pets is a consumer-focused show where pet owners can come to discover the latest products, services and trends in the booming pet industry. The show will host more than 250 exhibitors, including pet stores and boutiques, groomers, trainers, pet sitters, veterinarians, rescue and shelter organizations, breeders, recreational facilities, artists and more. The three-day event will be held Friday thru Sunday, April 11th-13, 2008 at the Duke Energy Center.
