The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet In Manitoba all animal shelters operate at maximum numbers which is proof positive that we are not in danger of a "pet shortage". In our province, tens of thousands of cats and dogs are competing for an estimated 3,500 homes each year! Each year healthy animals are euthanized simply because there are not enough good homes available. Many people feel that if they find homes for each of their pet's offspring they are not adding to the numbers of homeless pets. In reality, they have merely eliminated potential homes for other puppies and kittens. Spaying and neutering at six months of age will vastly decrease the numbers euthanized each year. There are many health benefits gained by spaying or neutering. The risk of ovarian, mammary, testicular and prostate cancer will greatly be reduced. You will also prevent life-threatening uterine infections from occurring. Sterilization will make your pet less likely to roam. See 'Caring' P.# Con't from P.# By keeping them at home you reduce the risk of accidents like being hit by a car, accidental poisonings, and wounds caused by fighting with other animals. You therefore save on costly medical bills. At the same time you reduce animal suffering due to injury. Sterilization also reduces the risk of contracting deadly viruses by limiting contact with strays. This is especially noteworthy with cats. The Feline Immunodeficiency virus, Feline Leukemia virus and Panleukopenia can be deadly to your cat. Parvo virus and distemper can be deadly to your dog! How does spaying or neutering affect behaviour? One of the best side effects is that if done before sexual maturity is reached, territorial spraying and marking is prevented. Male cats DO NOT make good pets unless neutered. By the time the un-neutered tom cat reached a year of age there is a very good chance he will be spraying in your home. Many males are euthanized (or tossed out) for this reason. It is so preventable! Spaying your cat will eliminate noisy "heats" which will occur every two to three weeks during mating season. It will eliminate messy "heats" in dogs which attract male dogs from miles around. Aggression in dogs and cats will greatly be reduced and, of course, mating induced aggression will be totally eliminated. Contrary to the still popular "old wives tale" there is absolutely no benefit to allowing your pet to go through a heat period. Please consider all the benefits of spaying and neutering and think twice before allowing your cat or dog to breed. The SPCA receives many calls from people asking that we take their litter of puppies or kittens because they can't find homes for them. However, our resources are limited and it is their responsibility to find homes themselves. The only way to stop animal abuse is by spaying or neutering. What are you waiting for!
