Benefits of Spaying (females):
- No heat cycles, therefore males will not be attracted
- Less desire to roam
- Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle
- Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
- Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives
Benefits of Neutering (males):
- Reduces or eliminates risk of spraying and marking
- Less desire to roam, therefore less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents
- Risk of testicular cancer is eliminated, and decreases incidence of prostate disease
- Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
- Decreases aggressive behavior, including dog bites
- Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives
Top 5 Reasons for Spaying or Neutering
- It helps to reduce companion animal overpopulation. Most countries have a surplus of companion animals and are forced to euthanize or disregard their great suffering. The surplus is in the millions in the United States. Cats are 45 times as prolific, and dogs 15 times as prolific, as humans. They do not need our help to expand their numbers; they need our help to reduce their numbers until there are good homes for them all.
- Sterilization of your cat or dog will increase his/her chance of a longer and healthier life. Altering your canine friend will increase his life an average of 1 to 3 years, felines, 3 to 5 years. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometria, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers.
- Sterilizing your cat/dog makes him/her a better pet, reducing his/her urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.
- Your community will also benefit. Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern in many places. Stray animals can easily become a public nuisance, soiling parks and streets, ruining shrubbery, frightening children and elderly people, creating noise and other disturbances, causing automobile accidents, and sometimes even killing livestock or other pets.
- The capture, impoundment and eventual destruction of unwanted animals costs taxpayers and private humanitarian agencies over a billion dollars each year. As a potential source of rabies and other less serious diseases, they can be a public health hazard.
You have many options for spaying or neutering:
Private Veterinary Offices
These are the traditional offices one would bring their animal(s) to for medical care, much like a primary care physician’s office is for people. The veterinarians that participate in our certificate program graciously extend a discount from their regular rate to the public because they want to help solve the pet overpopulation problem by offering a more affordable option for the spay/neuter surgery to clients.
Spay & Neuter Clinics (Stationary and Mobile)
Low cost spay neuter clinics specialize in spay/neuter surgery (& vaccines administered at time of surgery) only. The clinic can offer favorable pricing as they generally do a high volume of dogs/cats in a day and are very experienced in the surgical procedures making S/N Clinics a great option for most clients.
Voucher Programs
Voucher programs usually assist qualified, low income pet owners fix their dogs/cats by subsidizing (paying a portion of the cost) of spay/neuter for their pets. Once qualified, clients are typically charged a copay or reduced cost for the surgery based on the type and sex of the animal being sterilized. The client is usually provided a list of providers working with the voucher program making it convenient for most pet owners.
Referral Programs
Referral programs like SpayUSA exist to match up callers seeking affordable spay/neuter with a program or clinic in their area of the country. Some referral programs do offer certificates or vouchers as well.