| It is very important to spay or neuter your pet | | | | cancer as he or she gets older. There are cancer |
| for many, mean reasons. Some may be obvious, | | | | treatments for animals, but just like with humans |
| but some not so obvious. | | | | they are not guaranteed, and they are very, |
| Some people might get a cat or dog - pure bred | | | | very expensive. The risk of developing kidney and |
| or mixed breed - and think about breeding their | | | | bladder infections is also reduced, as are uterine |
| pet for money, or other reasons. Even when dog | | | | and pelvic infections for female pets. These are |
| or cat breeding is done "correctly," it is very | | | | also not cheap to treat. |
| costly, time consuming and emotionally draining. | | | | Dogs are less likely to stray from home if he or |
| Whether breeding is done on purpose or by | | | | she is altered. When female dogs are in heat, |
| accident, a very large percentage of pregnant | | | | they seek out male dogs. It is instinctive and if |
| female dogs/cats and their puppies/kittens end up | | | | your female dog is to get loose, she will most |
| at kill shelters or suffer terrible consequences on | | | | likely be gone for days, if she returns at all. If she |
| the streets. 9 to 10 million animals are killed in | | | | does come back, you will most certainly have a |
| shelters every year due to irresponsible breeding | | | | pregnant dog to deal with. Male dogs who aren't |
| and "accidental" breeding - people not spaying and | | | | neutered tend to be more aggressive and |
| neutering their pets. Whether you have a very | | | | temperamental - regardless of the breed or age. |
| expensive pure bred dog/cat or a mixed breed, | | | | Dogs that are altered are easier to house train. |
| there is never a reason to breed him or her. | | | | And who wouldn't want that? Neutered males are |
| If you are concerned with the cost of a spay or | | | | less likely to mark the furniture or anything else in |
| neuter, do not be. It is not that expensive to | | | | the house and female dogs will not be leaving the |
| begin with, and the possible consequences of | | | | "mess" from being in heat - smell included - all |
| having an un-altered pet will be far more | | | | over your house for a minimum of 10 days, since |
| expensive than a simple spay or neuter surgery | | | | she is spayed. |
| ever would. Certain areas in the United States | | | | Lastly, and most importantly, you will help control |
| actually offer free spay and neuter surgeries - so | | | | the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the |
| do some research to find out if you are in one of | | | | world who die every year in shelters, or by other |
| those lucky areas. There are also programs | | | | means. An animal is euthanized every 3 seconds |
| through rescue organizations that offer deeply | | | | of every day. That is a sad, disturbing fact that |
| discounted spays and neuters if there isn't a free | | | | stems from people not spaying or neutering their |
| option available in your area. | | | | pets. By being responsible and altering your pet, |
| Another reason to spay or neuter your cat or | | | | you will be doing your part to end animal |
| dog is for good health reasons. Spaying and | | | | homelessness. |
| neutering greatly reduces your pet's risk of | | | | |