Georgia Humane actively promotes spaying and neutering of pets. In addition to the health benefits it provides, it is also our main hope for reducing the needless shelter deaths of millions of animals a year.
Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet:
▪Thousands of healthy adoptable pets are killed ("euthanized") every day.
▪Some 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day in the U.S.
▪Between four million and six million pets are euthanized every year because they are homeless.
▪That means between 11,000 and 16,000 pets are killed every day simply because they are homeless.
▪An animal in a shelter is killed every 1.5 seconds.Only one animal in 10 born in the U.S. gets a good home that lasts a lifetime.
▪Altering your pet (spaying or neutering) is better for your pets health!
Spaying/Neutering Frequently Asked Questions:
- Won't animal shelters take care of the surplus animals? No. Shelters do their best to place animals in loving homes, but the number of homeless animals far exceeds the number of willing adopters. This leaves many loving and healthy animals in our community that must be euthanized as the only humane solution to this tragic dilemma. Only spaying and neutering can end the overpopulation problem.
- When can this procedure be done? Both spaying and neutering can be safely performed as early as 8 weeks of age. Georgia Humane is a strong advocate for pediatric spay/neuter since it is both healthy for pets and effectively reduces pet overpopulation.
- Why should I have my pet neutered or spayed? Two main reasons: It's good for your pets, it's good for people. Animal shelters, both public and private, are faced with an incredible burden: What to do with dogs and cats that come into their shelters? Close to 4 million animals are euthanized at shelters each year, not because of health or behavior issues, but simply due to the fact that there is not enough shelter space or money to keep them around until they can be adopted. Having your pet spayed or neutered ensures that you will not be adding to this tremendous burden.
- What are the health benefits of having my pet altered? You can help your dog or cat live a happier, healthier, longer life. In males, it reduced teh desire to roam and fight. In cats it decreases the chances of him spraying and in dogs the humping and urine marking behavior is less likely to occur. Neutering also lessons the risk of anal tumors, prostrate disease, and testicular tumors. In female animals, it elimantes the chances of uterine infection, reduces behavior problem, greatly reduces the chances of developing breast tumors, hormonal disorders, and cystic overies. Spaying eliminates the constant crying and nervous pacing of a female cat in heat. Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle.
- What if I cannot afford the cost? Before bringing a pet into your home, you should think about the cost of annual care. Luckily, there are many groups here in Georgia that offer low-cost (or even free!) spay/neuter services. Did you know that the cost of having your pet altered is far less than the cost of raising a litter of puppies or kittens? The cost of feeding, worming and first vaccinations for a litter can be upwards of $200 to $300. You must also consider that there could be complications with the birth that require hospitalization or surgery. You will also be faced with finding good homes for the offspring yourself or placing more animals into your local shelter. Remember that only 1 in 10 animals get a home that last a life time, and so the chances are strong that your pets offspring will end up in a shelter.
- What about letting my animal have just one litter? The millions of puppies/kittens/dogs/cats killed in our shelters would beg you to reconsider if they still had a voice. While you can say you will only give your pets offspring to loving homes, you have no way to ensure that they do not end up in shelters. Plus, every puppy or kitten your pet produces takes away from a puppy or kitten in a shelter that people would adopt. If you hope to continue the line of a breed you love, please know that over 25% of animals in shelters are purebred!
- Isn't it wrong to deprive an animal of the natural right to reproduce? No, it’s wrong to allow these animals to reproduce millions of unwanted offspring that are eventually killed because there aren’t enough responsible homes. As noted earlier, the health benefits provide our pets a longer and healthier lives if they are spayed or neutered.
- Shouldn't children experience the miracle of birth? No. A more important lesson to teach your children would be responsible pet ownership and concern for life by explaining why their pet should not have babies. If you want to experience having puppies or kittens, why not become a foster home for animals in need? The only way we can stop dogs and cats from being killed is if all of us take responsible and do what is right.
- Doesn't neutering alter an animal's personality? No. Personality changes that may result from neutering are for the better. Not being distracted by the instinctual need to find a mate helps your pet stop roaming and decreases aggressive tendencies.
