Top Ten Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

(Used with permission of PetFix NorthEast Ohio)

10. Lower veterinary bills!
Altered pets are less prone to a variety of diseases. Spayed females have a lower risk of breast cancer (90% fatal in cats. 50% fatal in dogs) and life-threatening uterine infections. Neutered males have no risk of testicular disease and a lower risk of prostate diseases.

9. A sweeter smelling house!
Neutered males and spayed females have fewer tendencies to mark their territory or attract the opposite sex by spraying. That means no yellow stains on your white couch and a lot less air freshener.

8. Reduced stress for you and your pets!
Your spayed female cat won't writhe and yowl her way through ten months of heat cycles. Your neutered dog will be less likely to embarrass you by riding your boss's leg during that important dinner meeting. You won't have to worry about keeping all those annoyingly amorous males away from your equally amorous females. Your pets will stay contented at home instead of trying to outsmart you to get out and find a little action.

7. Fewer visits from the Dog Warden or angry neighbors - and less heartbreak too!
Altered pets have fewer tendencies to roam and are therefore less likely to annoy your neighbors, get hit by cars or fall prey to wild animals.

6. Fewer dog and cat fights - and maybe even better relationships with people!
Fights between unaltered pets can be serious, causing deep wounds and transmitting deadly diseases. Neutered males tend to be less aggressive to both animals and people, particularly if altered at an early age.

5. More lovin' for you!
Pets who aren't fretting about their sex lives become more focused on the humans in their lives.

4. No unwanted litters!
Female cats can breed three times a year and have an average of four kittens per litter. Dogs can breed twice a year with litters of 6 - 10 puppies. Do you really have that many friends?

3. No early surprises!
Female cats can breed as early as 4 months; dogs as early as 6 months! To avoid those "accidental" litters, talk with your veterinarian about pediatric spay/neuter (8 - 16 weeks of age).

2. More homes for the homeless!
6-8 million dogs and cats are waiting in shelters across the country. Every home found for one of your pet's offspring takes a home away from an animal waiting in a shelter.

1. You'll prevent the major cause for death and suffering in cats and dogs!
For every human born today in the United States, 45 cats and 15 dogs will be born. Over six million will end up in shelters. (30 % pure bred - 55% unaltered). About half will be euthanized because there simply aren't enough homes. In addition, countless homeless animals, who never make it into shelters, will scratch out a meager existence on the streets - often becoming threats to public health and safety. This makes pet overpopulation the major cause of death and suffering for companion animals.