Spay and Neuter your Pets
Every year 6 to 8 million animals are placed into a shelter; only half of those animals find their forever home. The other 3 to 4 million animals are prematurely euthanized. That’s right; 3 million healthy adoptable pets are euthanized every year. These animals come from a variety of backgrounds from street animals to owner surrender. How can we help these animals find their forever home? Is there a solution to this problem? Over population is the number one problem and we can help. One of many solutions is to spay and neuter your pets. By preventing unwanted litters you are giving homeless animals a second chance to live a better life.
Spaying and neutering not only reduces over population; it can also help improve your pet’s health. It has been medically proven that spaying and neutering your pet at an early age can increase your pet’s lifespan, by preventing certain types of cancers. According to a Pet Health Report by Banfield Pet Hospital neutered male dogs live up to 18% longer and spayed females live up to 23% longer than unaltered pets.
In addition to health benefits, spaying and neutering your pet has behavioral benefits. Neutering male dogs at 8 weeks can help eliminate their need to mark their territory. It will also help with aggressive behaviors as well as prevent them from leaving your home to roam for female dogs in heat. A fence cannot prevent your dog from getting out when they sense that a female is in heat. Dogs can be amazing escape artists. It will also eliminate the unwanted male dog into your backyard. One of the many benefits for spaying female pets is that it will eliminate them going into heat which can leave a mess. Female cats can go in heat for 3 to 4 days every 3 weeks during breeding season.
Pet owners are often hesitant to have their pet spayed or neutered due to the financial burden that it may cause. The average cost can range from $250 to $400 for a dog and $135 to $250 for a cat. In many cases your local humane society will spay or neuter for a fraction of the cost! In the long run it is more cost effective to have your pet spayed or neutered at an early age and prior to them getting pregnant. The benefits of adopting your pet from a local shelter is that your pet will already be sterilized. If your pet has not been altered and costs are a concern, there are several local low cost spay and neuter programs that are available. For more information contact your local veterinarian clinic for names and numbers of the low cost spay and neuter programs.
Humane Drum is a nonprofit that uses donations to provide dogs and cats in crisis with food, shelter, vaccinations and surgery, including spay and neuter. To make a donation so we can continue to provide education, resources and second chances to animals that have been neglected and abused please visit us here or on our fundraising drive.