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Spaying or neutering your pet is an important decision for pet owners. As animal lovers who value our pets, it is important to understand the impact of this decision.
It happens everywhere
In every community, in every state, there are homeless animals. In the U.S. as a whole, there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. About half of these animals are adopted, and tragically, the other half are euthanized. These are healthy, sweet pets who would have made great companions.
The number of homeless animals varies by state—in some states there are as many as 300,000 homeless animals euthanized in animal shelters every year. These are not the offspring of homeless "street" animals—these are the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets and even purebreds.
Yes, your pet's offspring could be shelter animals
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.
Many people are surprised to learn that nationwide more than 3 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.
Not just for dogs and cats
When being conscientious about the pet overpopulation, don't forget to spay or neuter your pet rabbit. Rabbits reproduce faster than dogs or cats and often end up in shelters where they must be euthanized. Spaying or neutering rabbits can reduce hormone-driven behavior such as lunging, mounting, spraying and boxing. Spaying females can prevent ovarian, mammary and uterine cancers, which can be prevalent in mature females.
Millions of pet deaths each year are a needless tragedy. By spaying and neutering your pet, you can be an important part of the solution. Contact your veterinarian today and be sure to let your family and friends know that they should do the same.
Female dogs and cats are spayed by removing their reproductive organs,
and male dogs and cats are neutered by removing their testicles. In both
cases the operation is performed while the pet is under anesthesia. Depending
on your pet's age, size, and health, he or she will stay at your veterinarian's
office for a few hours or a few days. Depending upon the procedure, your
pet may need stitches removed after a few days. Your veterinarian can
fully explain spay and neuter procedures to you and discuss with you the
best age at which to sterilize your pet.
Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number
of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.
Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and
greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your
pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.
Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of
prostate disease.
Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.
Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle. Estrus lasts an average of six to 12 days, often twice a year, in dogs and an average of six to seven days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals.
Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered.
Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to bite.
Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.
Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks.
Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals. Humane societies and shelters have to kill approximately four million cats and dogs each year, although many of them are healthy and adoptable, simply because there are not enough good homes
Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs.
Some stray animals also scare away or kill birds and wildlife.
Spay or neuter surgery carries a one-time cost that is relatively small when one considers its benefits. It's a small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention of more unwanted animals.
6-8 million (HSUS estimate)
Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)
Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year:
3-4 million (HSUS estimate)
Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year:
Between 600,000 and 750,000 -- 30% of dogs and 2-5% of cats entering
shelters (HSUS estimate)
Number of animal shelters in the United States:
Between 4,000 and 6,000 (HSUS estimate)
Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred:
25% (HSUS estimate)
Average number of litters a fertile cat can produce in one year: 3
Average number of kittens in a feline litter: 4-6
Average number of litters a fertile dog can produce in one year: 2
Average number of puppies in a canine litter: 6-10
Unless otherwise indicated, statistics provided by
The National Council on Pet Population, Study and Policy.
Updated July 7, 2008
Courtesy of Humane Society of the United States
If you believe in what we do, there are 2 simple things you can do to help us stop euthanasia and pet over-population. Your donation helps us provide low-cost spay and neuter services and saves lives of homeless pets.
In this order of importance:
-
Find just one other female cat or dog in the Cut Bank and be instrumental in seeing that she gets spayed.
This can be your's, your neighbor's, your relatives, a strangers ....just find one and get it done. - Pay for just one other animal to be spayed for someone less fortunate than yourself.
Please do one and/or both if you can.
Thanks,
Cut Bank Animal Shelter
113 East Main Street
Cut Bank MT 59427-2918
406-391-2273
Please put in the memo line: Spay It
Forward Medical Donation Fund.
Cut Bank Animal Shelter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions
to CBAS are tax-deductible.
We'll send you are receipt and add your name to our Spay It Forward section
of our thank you page of the website. Donations do not have to be large.
In this order of importance:
-
Find just one other male cat or dog in the Cut Bank and be instrumental in seeing that he gets neutered.
This can be your's, your neighbor's, your relatives, a strangers ....just find one and get it done. - Pay for just one other animal to be neutered for someone less fortunate than yourself.
Please do one and/or both if you can.
Thanks,
Cut Bank Animal Shelter
113 East Main Street
Cut Bank MT 59427-2918
406-391-2273
Please put in the memo line: Neuter
It Forward Medical Donation Fund.
Cut Bank Animal Shelter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions
to CBAS are tax-deductible.
We'll send you are receipt and add your name to our Spay It Forward section
of our thank you page of the website. Donations do not have to be large.