What can you do to stop the suffering?
Spay and neuter your pet! In addition to saving lives, spaying and neutering
can also drastically improve your pet's health and life expectancy. The idea
that pets become fat or lazy when they are spayed or neutered is a myth.
Sterilized pets lead healthier, happier and longer lives . Spaying a female
eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer and greatly reduces
the risk of breast cancer. Neutering a male reduces the risk of both prostate
enlargement and prostate cancer. Neutering also will make your pet more affectionate
and less likely to roam, get in fights, or become lost.
Communities spend millions of dollars to control and eliminate
unwanted animals
Irresponsible breeding contributes to the
problem of dog bites and attacks. Animal shelters are overburdened
with surplus animals. Family companions are paying the price
each day.
Spaying or neutering increases your pet's chances for a longer,
healthier life.
Spaying your pet before her first estrous cycle (that is, before she reaches
sexual maturity) greatly reduces her chances of developing breast cancer and
completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine
infection, which are common occurrences in unaltered females.
Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular tumors
and may prevent prostate problems
Neutering also decreases
the possibility of perianal tumors and hernias, which are commonly
observed in older, unaltered dogs. Because neutered cats are
less likely to roam, the threat of abscesses caused by bites
and diseases transmitted by fighting are greatly reduced.
An altered dog or cat is a better pet for
your family
Males neutered early in life are less aggressive toward other males and are
not distracted by females in heat. Therefore, a neutered male will be less
tempted to leave your property and cross that dangerous highway searching
for a mate. Neutered males also are less likely to mark every one of your
(or your neighbor's) expensive shrubs with his urine as well as inside the
house.
No family wants to cope with an unwanted pregnancy
Spaying your female pet eliminates the problem of stray males
camping in your yard and decreases her desire to roam and breed. Spaying
prevents your pet from giving birth to unwanted puppies or
kittens.
Spaying results in a cleaner female dog and home
Because female dogs pass bloody fluid for about ten days, twice a year, as
a part of their estrous cycle, constant care must be taken to avoid carpet
stains in homes with such animals. Spaying your dog eliminates this problem.
You are helping to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation
problem
Each year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized (killed) at shelters
across the country. Although pet behavioral problems are the main reasons animals
are given to shelters, many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by
free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets spayed or neutered, the fewer dogs
and cats will have to be destroyed. Delaware Humane Association does not euthanized;
however, hundreds of dogs and cats are turned away each year because there
is simply not enough room at the shelter to accommodate them. |
