1.)  What are spaying & neutering?

                They're ways of providing birth control for dogs and cats by removing reproductive organs.

Spaying is the procedure used for female pets and neutering is generally refers to the procedure used for male pets.

2.)  How does it help my pet?

                 Your pet can live a happier, healthier & longer life with this procedure.

3.)  How does it help other pets in my community?

                 It helps by reducing the number of dogs and cats condemned to live without homes and without love.

4.)  As a pet owner, why should I be knowlegable about spaying & neutering?

                Because the community as a whole is affected by pet-overpopulation, not just pet owners.  Millions of tax dollars are spent annually to care for lost, abandoned and unwanted pets and even more tax money is spent on destroying those animals that do not find homes.  The community's health & safety is a general concern which can be threatened by rabies, dog bites, cat scratches & car crashes. Property damage can be quite extensive when "wild" animals and "packs" roam the community.  Yards & walkways can be soiled easily with urine & feces.  Most importantly, millions of cats & dogs are killed each year as a result of not spaying & neutering your pet.

5.)  How will spaying or neutering affect my pet?

                  Spaying a female pet eliminates the heat cycle, ends crying & nervous pacing, stops the blood discharge of a dog's heat & stops un-welcome hordes of yapping or yowling "suitors" --male pets drawn to your female pet when the scent of a heat is in the air.

                   Neutering a male pet stops spraying or "marking" in male cats, stops the mating drive, reduces the urge to roam, & reduces mounting of furniture, cushions & people's legs!!

                   Altering a pet of any sex will remove the discomfort, distress & distraction of finding a mate & reproducing allowing more free time to enjoy with you!!

6.)  What are the long term benefits?

                  In females, it reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.  Many unspayed dogs develop breast tumors and almost none of them develop this condition is spayed before the first heat.  Cats show fewer cases of breast tumors, but spaying almost eliminates the risk.

                 In males, a percentage of older unneutered dogs develop enlarged prostate glands resulting in painful discomfort and a range of other problems.  If a male cat is neutered, it also reduces its risk of developing this condition and leaves them with no risk of testicular tumors.

                Other health risks that can result in not spaying/neutering your pets are ovarian cysts , pyometra, & mastitis.

7.)  What should I consider before breeding my pet?

                 -Every hour, thousands of puppies & kittens are born in the U.S.

                 -A dog abandoned in the street has a life expectancy of 1 year and cats slightly longer

                 -Between 4 and 6 million dogs and cats are destroyed in animal shelters because there are

                   no homes for them

                 -If a dog or cat has 4 offspring every year (a low number) 2 of them female....and each of these

                  females also have 4 offspring a year, 2 of them female....by the 7th year, the orginal mother

                  will have 4,372 descendants!!

**Information & Statistics extracted from a Channing Bete Company Publication titled "Spaying or Neutering your Pet"**

For More Information about Spaying & Neutering

Visit the links below:

www.spayusa.org
www.hsus.org/ace/11879

www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html
www.doghause.com/neuter.html
www.canismajor.com/dog/spayneut.html
www.cathelp-online.com/spayneuter.html

For Information on Heritage Humane Society's Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program

Contact Lynne or Tresie at 757-221-0150

We offer low cost spaying and neutering to all qualifying families in our area.  We have a mobile vet clinic that visits once a month to perform the surgeries.  If you have a pet that needs to be fixed and you don't have the money, call us today!!

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