WHY SPAY/NEUTER

BENEFITS YOU

• Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of serious health problems that can be difficult or expensive to treat.
• Spaying and neutering can make pets better companions.
• Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark their territory with pungent urine.
• Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle. Estrus lasts an average of six to 12 days, often twice a year in dogs and an average of six to seven days, three or more times a year, in cats. Cats in heat can cry incessantly, and dogs and cats in heat may appear nervous and may attract unwanted males.
• Neutering can make pets less likely to roam, run away, or get into fights.
• Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those that have been spayed or neutered.
• Neutering may make dogs less likely to bite.

BENEFITS YOUR PET

• Spaying and neutering helps cats and dogs live longer, healthier lives.
• Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, especially when your pet is spayed before her first heat.
• Spaying can prevent various reproductive tract disorders
• Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of benign prostate disease.

BENEFITS YOUR COMMUNITY

• An estimated 8-10 million animals are taken in by animal shelters each year
• An estimated 4-5 million animals are euthanized in shelters each year
• The stray/feral cat population is estimated to be in the tens of millions
• Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals.
• Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals.
• Stray pets and homeless animals may get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs.