“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.” – Albert Schweitzer
It has been estimated that between 4 and 12 millions dogs and cats are euthanized by US shelters every year. Take the low estimate, 4 million, that would mean that every EIGHT seconds a dog or cat is euthanized in the United States. This number is stagering considering pet overpopulation is completely 100% preventable!
Over the average life span of six years an unspayed female, her unaltered litters and their puppies could produce up to 67,700 dogs! How could it be possible to ever find enough loving homes for that many dogs. So MILLIONS of otherwise healthy great pets are euthanized each year for no reason other than homes cannot be found for them. Spay/neuter is the answer to pet overpopulation and ensuring that every pet has a family to love them forever.
Spaying or neutering your pet also helps them live longer, healthier lives. This routine procedure can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat. Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the chance of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first heat cycle. Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the chance of prostate disease. Spaying and neutering can make pets better, more affectionate companions.
There are also benefits to your community that most do not even consider. Each year the US spends billions of dollars to shelter, euthanize and dispose of unwanted pets each year. Communities spend millions of taxpayer dollars each year coping with problems that a failure to spay and neuter causes. The one-time cost of spaying or neutering is far lower than the expense involved in rounding up strays, feeding and housing abandoned animals, and euthanizing those for whom homes can’t be found. One estimate of the cost to US taxpayers every year to impound, shelter, kill, and dispose of unwanted animals is about $2 billion.
Please spay/neuter your pet and if you are considering adding one to your home, please consider adopting from a shelter or rescue group.