By Melanie Waite, GCHS Spay/Neuter Clinic Manager.
World spay day is the first and only international day of action to promote the spaying or neutering of cats and dogs. It was originally created as Spay Day USA by the Doris Day Animal League in 1995 and is now a program of The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.
World Spay day takes place on February 23, 2016. Gulf Coast Humane Society will be participating by bringing awareness to the importance of spaying and neutering, and offering $25.00 off a canine spay and $15.00 off a feline spay.
The decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one for owners. It can be the single best decision you can make for the long term welfare of your pet. Getting your pet spayed or neutered can reduce the number of homeless animals killed, improve your pet’s health, reduce unruly behavior and save on the cost of pet care.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, nearly three million cats and dogs are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year. That means one homeless pet is euthanized about every 12 seconds. Spaying and neutering saves pets’ lives while lessening the burden on the animal shelters.
Spaying and neutering also increases the chance for a longer and healthier life. Spayed females live 23% longer and neutered males live 18% longer than unsterilized pets. Cats and dogs that are spayed before their first heat cycle have little to no chance of developing pyometra (infection of the uterus), mammary tumors, uterine cancer and other cancers of the reproductive system. One major benefit to neutering your pets is that it virtually eliminates the risk of prostate issues, including infection and prostatic hyperplasia (an enlargement of the prostate that creates difficulty defecating) It also prevents the spread of venereal tumors (a STD), perineal hernias, and protects against testicular cancer.
Spaying and neutering early stops many unwanted behaviors from even starting in both cats and dogs. Spaying eliminates the constant howling and nervous pacing of a female cat in heat. Female cats can go into heat as early as 4 month and can have as many as 10 a year lasting up to 2 weeks. Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle. Female dogs can also become aggressive during their heat cycle, which can pose a risk to other animals. Neutering of male cats and dogs can prevent undesirable sexual behaviors, such as urine marking, humping, male aggression and the urge to roam. Taking away the desire to breed at an early age does not take away your pet’s beloved personality. A fixed pet will simply be more content to stay at home and out of danger, living a longer healthier life.
When you factor in the long term costs potentially incurred by a non-altered pet, the savings afforded by spay/neuter are clear, especially when you utilize a high quality low cost spay/neuter clinic. Caring for a pet with reproductive cancer or pyometra can easily run you thousands of dollars, possibly include an emergency surgery and even death. Unaltered pets can be more destructive or high strung around other animals causing some serious fights. Trips to your veterinary or an emergency room start to add up. Renewing your pet’s license is more expensive too. Lee County requires people with unaltered pets to pay a higher license fees.
Spay and Neuter is part of responsible pet ownership. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.
World spay day is the first and only international day of action to promote the spaying or neutering of cats and dogs. It was originally created as Spay Day USA by the Doris Day Animal League in 1995 and is now a program of The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.
World Spay day takes place on February 23, 2016. Gulf Coast Humane Society will be participating by bringing awareness to the importance of spaying and neutering, and offering $25.00 off a canine spay and $15.00 off a feline spay.
The decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one for owners. It can be the single best decision you can make for the long term welfare of your pet. Getting your pet spayed or neutered can reduce the number of homeless animals killed, improve your pet’s health, reduce unruly behavior and save on the cost of pet care.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, nearly three million cats and dogs are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year. That means one homeless pet is euthanized about every 12 seconds. Spaying and neutering saves pets’ lives while lessening the burden on the animal shelters.
Spaying and neutering also increases the chance for a longer and healthier life. Spayed females live 23% longer and neutered males live 18% longer than unsterilized pets. Cats and dogs that are spayed before their first heat cycle have little to no chance of developing pyometra (infection of the uterus), mammary tumors, uterine cancer and other cancers of the reproductive system. One major benefit to neutering your pets is that it virtually eliminates the risk of prostate issues, including infection and prostatic hyperplasia (an enlargement of the prostate that creates difficulty defecating) It also prevents the spread of venereal tumors (a STD), perineal hernias, and protects against testicular cancer.
Spaying and neutering early stops many unwanted behaviors from even starting in both cats and dogs. Spaying eliminates the constant howling and nervous pacing of a female cat in heat. Female cats can go into heat as early as 4 month and can have as many as 10 a year lasting up to 2 weeks. Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle. Female dogs can also become aggressive during their heat cycle, which can pose a risk to other animals. Neutering of male cats and dogs can prevent undesirable sexual behaviors, such as urine marking, humping, male aggression and the urge to roam. Taking away the desire to breed at an early age does not take away your pet’s beloved personality. A fixed pet will simply be more content to stay at home and out of danger, living a longer healthier life.
When you factor in the long term costs potentially incurred by a non-altered pet, the savings afforded by spay/neuter are clear, especially when you utilize a high quality low cost spay/neuter clinic. Caring for a pet with reproductive cancer or pyometra can easily run you thousands of dollars, possibly include an emergency surgery and even death. Unaltered pets can be more destructive or high strung around other animals causing some serious fights. Trips to your veterinary or an emergency room start to add up. Renewing your pet’s license is more expensive too. Lee County requires people with unaltered pets to pay a higher license fees.
Spay and Neuter is part of responsible pet ownership. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.
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