January 29, 2015

What Can You Fix Before it Becomes a Problem? Your Pet.

February is Spay/Neuter month.
This month, make the most important decision you can make for your pet’s life. It’s a simple fix.
Spaying or neutering your pet
may not seem like a big priority, but putting it off, or deciding against it,
can lead to bigger problems than you’re bargaining on — for you, your pet, and your
community. How great are the rewards? Well, let us tell you…
1.     
Your pet’s health will benefit. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in
about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her
first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering your male companion prevents
testicular cancer, if done before six months of age.
2.     
Your pet’s behaviour — and your
sleep — will benefit!
Unspayed felines can go
into heat every three weeks during breeding season, yowling at all times of day
and night as they seek out mates. Intact males tend to roam widely, escaping
from houses and yards and risking injury in traffic and fights with other
males. They mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the
house. Many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering. Neutered
animals, on the other hand, tend to focus more attention on their human
families.
3.     
Your pocketbook will thank you. Spay/neuter is a one-time
cost. It’s a lot less than vet bills to treat your unaltered cat after it gets
into a fight with a neighbouring tom, or the ongoing cleaning bills to rid the
house of urine-marking odours.
4.     
Your community will thank you. Every year across our
country, hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are abandoned.
Too many suffer as strays; too many are euthanized. These high numbers are the
result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or
neutering. Even just one litter, and even if you can find them homes…those
are homes that could have been taken by homeless animals in need.

This month, help us spread the word. Spaying
and neutering is not just a good idea, it’s a life-saving choice. 

Sharon Miko
OHS Deputy Director