Why spay or neuter your pet?

Prevent pet overpopulation
Thousands of unwanted pets are put to sleep each year throughout our country. A single female cat can reproduce over 50 kittens in her lifetime. If each kittens then has 50 kittens of it's own, the numbers are staggering. Do your part to end pet overpopulation!

Health benefits
Females

• Mammary cancer: Early spaying significantly reduces the risk of developing mammary cancer in dogs and cats. A dog spayed before her first heat has 0.05% risk of developing mammary gland tumors. The risk increases to 8% if she is spayed after her first heat, to 26% risk if spayed after her second heat and so on (Moore, Ogilvie.) Similar studies have been done with cats that show the risk of developing mammary gland tumors is directly related to the age of spaying. It is recommended to spay your pet at 6 months of age.
  
  
• Pyometra: Spaying also nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, (infection of the uterus).
  
  
• Ovarian cancer: Ovarian cancer can be prevented by spaying your cat or dog.

Males

• Cancer: Neutering your dog or cat prevents the development of testicular cancer as well as reducing the risk of developing other tumors.
  
  
• Prostatitis: Infection of the prostate is also less likely in a neutered pet.

Control unwanted behavior

• Marking/spraying: Early neutering helps prevent territorial urine marking or urine spraying in your home.
  
  
• Roaming: Unneutered and unspayed dogs and cats are more likely to roam, increasing their chance of injury (cat/dog fights, car accidents) as well as straying far from home and becoming an unwanted dog or cat in a shelter.
  
  
• Estrus: A dog or cat in heat (or estrus) often involves spotting (dogs), vocalization (cats) and unwanted suitors loitering around your house.

Decision to breed

Before anyone decides to breed their pet, they need to seriously consider all of the above information, especially pet overpopulation. Medical and behavioral issues are critical in evaluating "good" breeding stock as well. These are potential homes that could go to unwanted animals at a shelter. A potential "breeder" should also realize the time and financial commitment involved. It is the "breeder's" responsibility to ensure that all puppies and kittens have good homes with owners that can care for them.