People For Animals

Why Spay/Neuter?

A dog and cat together — spaying and neutering saves lives

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Even though several factors contribute to pet overpopulation, PFA's first priority is to reduce birth rates by providing assistance to pet owners needing help getting the spay/neuter surgery done. Since 15 dogs and 45 cats are born for every human born, we cannot overcome the problem by rescuing them one at a time. Spaying and neutering saves lives.

Top 3 Reasons to Spay and Neuter

1

Longer, healthier lives. Altering your canine friend will increase his life an average of 1 to 3 years; felines, 3 to 5 years. It helps reduce companion animal overpopulation and gives every pet a better chance at a full life.

2

Reduced cancer risk. Altered animals have very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometra, and uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancers.

3

Better, safer behavior. Sterilizing your cat or dog makes them a better pet, reducing the urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered.

Spay/Neuter Facts

The Numbers Are Staggering

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 American Veterinary Medical Association

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.

— The American Veterinary Medical Association

Why Should You Have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered?

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 their chance of a longer and healthier life.

Benefits of Spaying

  1. No heat cycles, therefore males will not be attracted
  2. Less desire to roam
  3. Risk of mammary gland tumors, ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated, especially if done before the first heat cycle
  4. Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
  5. Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives

Benefits of Neutering

  1. Reduces or eliminates risk of spraying and marking
  2. Less desire to roam, therefore less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents
  3. Risk of testicular cancer is eliminated, and decreases incidence of prostate disease
  4. Reduces number of unwanted cats/kittens/dogs/puppies
  5. Decreases aggressive behavior, including dog bites
  6. Helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives

Additional Benefits for Your Community

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.

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.

Ready to get your pet spayed or neutered? PFA can help with financial assistance.

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