It’s the Only Solution to Pet Overpopulation
Simply stated, pet overpopulation means that there are more dogs and cats than available, permanent homes. In the greater Atlanta area, thousands upon thousands of dogs and cats end up in animal shelters each year and are killed for lack of space and lack of existing homes.
Many times we tend to blame the animal shelters, but pet overpopulation is a community problem. It is caused by uncontrolled breeding. And there is a simple solution – be a responsible pet guardian and make sure that all of your pets and those of family and friends are spayed or neutered.
It is Good for Your Pet
The chances are greatly reduced that your pet will get a number of serious, life threatening and expensive health problems such as uterine, breast or testicular cancer. Prostate problems are more common in unneutered males. It also eliminates pyrometra, a very severe infection of the uterus that if not treated in a timely manner can lead to death. In addition, it reduces certain troublesome behaviors such as roaming, spraying and aggression.
It is Good for You
In many US cities, sterilizing your pet is the law and animal shelters must spay or neuter an adopted pet prior to release. Your female dog will not have a menstrual cycle which is messy and can last as long as 21 days. Your female cat won’t have frequent heat cycles, causing issues such as howling, marking, and attempting to escape the house. You also won’t have an “accidental litter” of puppies or kittens that will depend upon you for their care and to find them loving, permanent homes.
Benefits of Spaying (females):
- No heat cycles, therefore males will not be attracted
- Less desire to roam
- Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle
- Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
- Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives
Benefits of Neutering (males):
- Reduces or eliminates risk of spraying and marking
- Less desire to roam, therefore less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents
- Risk of testicular cancer is eliminated, and decreases incidence of prostate disease
- Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
- Decreases aggressive behavior, including dog bites
- Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives
Top 3 Reasons to Spay and Neuter
- GA shelters are overwhelmed by the number of cats and dogs turned in to them on a daily basis. This results in the killing of over 150,000 dogs and cats in GA shelters every year. The best solution to this problem is to reduce the number of dogs and cats born each year and Planned PEThood believes affordable, accessible spay/neuter is the best way to reach that goal.
- Sterilization of your cat or dog will increase his/her chance of a longer and healthier life. Altering your canine friend will increase his life an average of 1 to 3 years, felines, 3 to 5 years. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometra, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers.
- Sterilizing your cat/dog makes him/her a better pet, reducing his/her urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats
