| Pet overpopulation is a big problem all over the | | | | the age of eight months. Most females go into |
| country. Every day there are several puppies and | | | | heat at around nine months to one year old. If |
| kittens that end up in shelters that are former | | | | you have a purebred animal or an interesting mix |
| strays or unwanted. Not spaying or neutering an | | | | that you really want to breed, then it is |
| animal can only lead to low pet health and | | | | appropriate to delay spaying, however, once the |
| overpopulation. Nowhere is a better example of | | | | breeding has concluded, it is best to get your |
| this than at local animal shelters. | | | | female fixed. Have the responsibility to have |
| For example, counties across the state and | | | | found homes for the puppies you want to |
| across the nation euthanize three to four million | | | | produce. But all the blame is not to be place on |
| animals a year, because of poor pet health or lack | | | | the females. Male animals are just as guilty. Male |
| of adoptive homes. It is amazing how quickly pets | | | | owners are less likely than female pet owners to |
| can multiply. Female dogs can have two litters a | | | | spay and neuter their animals. They use the |
| year and on average have six to ten puppies per | | | | excuse that they are less manly. Truth is, if they |
| litter. Female cats on the other hand can have | | | | are neutered before puberty they will never |
| three litters a year and usually produce four to six | | | | know the difference. Over 90 percent of the |
| kittens at a time. Being conservative, a female | | | | dogfights, hit by cars, and gunshot wounds vets |
| animal producing four females only once a year | | | | see in their offices are unneutered males. Also, |
| and each female has four females each year for | | | | male dogs have higher incidents of prostate issues |
| seven years there would be over 250,000 female | | | | than human males do. The only way to |
| animals. This would not take into account the total | | | | effectively control populations is to reduce the |
| males produced. So, after just seven years one | | | | intact roaming males as well. |
| animal was responsible for producing over 500,000 | | | | So in closing, let's all be responsible, use your local |
| total offspring! Unfortunately, this is a | | | | veterinarians to help reduce pet overpopulation |
| conservative number considering that only one | | | | and monitor you pet's health. For people who are |
| breeding population is being counted for a year. | | | | dealing with money issues there are many |
| Enough with statistics, the point on overpopulation | | | | wonderful programs that can assist you in animal |
| has been made, now it is up to animal owners to | | | | population control. There are local agencies that |
| do something about it. Now, what can we, as a | | | | offer low cost and reduced spaying and neutering |
| community by and large, do to be part of the | | | | for animals, as well as national agencies that are |
| solution? First off, we need to be responsible for | | | | here to help animal lovers. Many vets will work |
| the pets and pet health we consider ours. | | | | out billing plans too, so there are no excuses! Get |
| Consider spaying and neutering your pets before | | | | your animal spayed or neutered! |