SPAY AND NEUTER
MYTHS AND FACTS

MYTH:  Spaying and neutering is painful.
FACT:  Veterinarians perform spay and neuter surgeries under a general anesthetic.  Animals usually return to normal activity within 24 to 72 hours.  Any discomfort experienced is minimal, and far outweighs the suffering and death caused by uncurbed breeding.  Consult your veterinarian for more information.

MYTH:  My pet will become fat and lazy.
FACT:  Lack of exercise and overfeeding is what causes an animal to become overweight.

MYTH:  It's better to have one litter first.
FACT:  Medical studies have shown that females spayed before their first heat live longer, healthier lives with drastically reduced risks of breast cancer and no risk of uterine or ovarian cancers.

MYTH:  But my pet is a purebred.
FACT:  About one out of every four animals in United States shelters is a purebred.  Purebred or mixed breed, there are just too many animals for the homes that are available.

MYTH:  Animals must be at least six months old before they can be spayed or neutered.
FACT:  Although animals have traditionally been spayed and neutered at 6 months, veterinarians are now practicing early surgery, which can be performed on animals as young as 6 weeks of age.  Veterinarians practicing the technique report that the surgery is significantly easier, quicker and therefore, cheaper to perform.

MYTH: My pet's personality will change, he'll be less protective and responsive.
FACT:  Any changes will be for the better!  Your pet will be less aggressive toward other dogs or cats and less likely to wander.  In fact, he will be more reliable and responsive because of stabilized hormones and will often be easier to train.  Male spraying (urine marking) diminishes or ceases after they are neutered.  An animal's instincts are not affected by hormones.  Animals remain protective and loyal to their guardians.

MYTH:  Males don't give birth so we don't need to neuter them.
FACT:  The old saying "it takes two to tango" is as true for animals as it is for humans.  And while a female dog or cat can only have one litter at a time, male animals can impregnate many females each day.

MYTH: I don't want my male pet to feel less of a male.
FACT:  Neutering a male will not change his basic personality.  Remember, he doesn't realize he's a male.  That's one problem that only humans must deal with.

MYTH:  My children should experience the birth process.
FACT:  The same information can be conveyed to children in a more caring way through school programming, virtual computers or films or by visiting the local zoo or science center.  Pets often have their litters in the middle of the night or in a place of their own choosing.  Because pets need privacy when giving birth, any unnecessary intrusion can cause the mother to become seriously upset.  These intrusions can result in an unwillingness to care for the offspring or in injury to the owners of the pet.

MYTH: Surgery for this procedure is expensive.
FACT:  Prices vary, but many areas have low-cost or low-income spay/neuter programs.  While the cost of surgery may seem high initially, it's a real bargain when compared with the cost of raising a litter of puppies or kittens.  Spaying and neutering also saves taxpayers dollars.  On average, it cost approximately $100 to catch, feed, house, and destroy a homeless animal - a cost that ultimately comes out of all our pockets.  The "cost" of spaying your pet is really small when you consider how much more "just one litter" could cost - financially and emotionally.

MYTH:  I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.
FACT:  It only takes a few months for most dogs or cats to reach sexual maturity.  Can you find 5 or 10 homes?  How about 1000?  Every puppy or kitten allowed to be born takes a home away from an animal already alive.  Those people who provided homes for your pet's litter(s) could instead give a home to a shelter animal.

AND THE #1 REASON PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THEIR PETS SPAYED OR NEUTERED IS. .
"I've been meaning to do that, but just can't seem to find the time". . . . .
-Chasing after your pet every time he or she escapes "looking for love" takes time.
-Caring for all those puppies or kittens is very time consuming and there will sure to
 be many sleepless nights for you.
-Finding good homes for all of the puppies or kittens afterwards takes time and good
 homes are most often never found for all of them.

REMEMBER . . . .
-Making the decision to have your pet spayed or neutered is an example of responsible
 pet ownership and will have a HUGE impact on the pet overpopulation problem!
-People who still believe their one litter of puppies or kittens will not make a
 difference are the ones contributing to the overpopulation tragedy!
-Pet overpopulations happens "just one litter" at a time.