Often referred to as fixing your pet, this topic has been debated for many years. Yet somehow most people still don’t know all the facts. As an animal rescue, we have seen firsthand the negative effects of not having an animal fixed and we try to advocate for this cause as often as possible.

Having your animals spayed or neutered has many benefits, not only for the animal but also for the owner and the community. The community is affected by this issue in several ways; the most obvious being reducing the number of strays in any community. If all animals were fixed, the number of unwanted puppies and kittens would decrease substantially. In turn, that would reduce the number of animals at shelters and the amount of tax payers dollars spent on the cost of running shelters annually. Did you know that it costs tax payers around $2 billion annually to fund animal shelters in rounding up, housing, euthanizing and disposing of euthanized animals?

Now consider how much good that money could do if we as a community could help to decrease the number of strays. As an owner of a fixed pet, the benefits are also substantial. Once the reproductive system is removed, those pesky hormones that cause unwanted behavior in your pet will be gone too. In cats and dogs, the unwanted behavioral patterns these hormones affect are roaming, spraying/urine marking and aggression. It may also affect or decrease howling in dogs. Studies have shown that unaltered animals tend to be more aggressive and due to roaming are more likely to get run over.

Just like humans, animals respond to their hormones but dogs and cats do not have the means to control these hormones; therefore having them fixed is the safest option. We have heard every excuse for why someone opted to not have their pet spayed or neutered. These excuses range from “I couldn’t bear putting her through that pain” to “I can’t afford it”.

The truth is having your animal fixed could potentially save them from a lot of pain in the future and the cost of the procedure does not compare to the cost of veterinary bills for the health risks they might face. Spaying/neutering reduces the risk of mammary gland cancer in female dogs and cats and reduces the risk of testicular cancer in male dogs and cats. It also reduces the risk of uterine infections. All of these are serious medical conditions and could incur thousands of dollars in veterinary bills should they occur; not to mention the pain and suffering your pet might go through if any of these medical conditions should arise.

The procedure is one of the most common surgeries performed by veterinarians and risks involved are minor compared to the risks of not spaying and neutering. Yes, your beloved pet will go through some discomfort and pain after the surgery, but you could end up saving Fluffy from so much worse in the future. If you still have any doubts regarding this issue, please take a few minutes to research and read up on the issue.

Ignorance is bliss but knowledge is key…

Article by Zerelda Daniels