Altered
States: Reasons Sites For Not Sterilizing Pets and the Rebutting Facts
REASON: It�s better to have one litter
first.
FACT: Medical evidence indicates just
the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their
first heat are typically healthier. Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs
and cats as young as eight weeks of age. Check with your veterinarian about
the appropriate time for these procedures.
REASON: My children should experience
the miracle of birth.
FACT: Even if children are able to see a
pet give birth � which is unlikely, since it usually occurs at night and
in seclusion � the lesson they will really learn is that animals can be
created and discarded as it suits adults. Instead, it should be explained to
children that the real miracle is life and that preventing the birth of some
pets can save the lives of others.
REASON: But my pet is a purebred.
FACT: So is at least one out of every
four pets brought to animal shelters around the country. There are just too
many dogs and cats � mixed breed and purebred.
REASON: I don�t want my male dog or
cat to feel like less of a male.
FACT: Pets don�t have any concept of
sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet�s basic
personality. He doesn�t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity
crisis when neutered.
REASON: But my dog (or cat) is so
special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her.
FACT: A dog or cat may be a great pet,
but that doesn�t mean her offspring will be a carbon copy. Professional
animal breeders who follow generations of bloodlines can�t guarantee they
will get just what they want out of a particular litter. A pet owner�s
chances are even slimmer. In fact, an entire litter of puppies or kittens
might receive all of a pet�s (and her mate�s) worst characteristics.
REASON: It�s too expensive to have my
pet spayed or neutered.
FACT: The cost of spaying or neutering
depends on the sex, size, and age of the pet, vet�s fees, and a number of
other variables (see pg. 34-35). But whatever the price, the surgery is a
one-time cost � a relatively
small cost when compared to all the benefits. It�s a bargain compared to
the cost of ensuring the health of a mother and her litter; two months of
pregnancy and another two months until the litter is weaned can add up to
significant veterinary bills and food costs if complications develop.
Moreover, it�s a very small price to pay for the health of your pet and
the prevention of the births of more unwanted pets.
REASON: I�ll find good homes for all
the puppies and kittens.
FACT: You may find homes for all of your
pet�s litter. But each home you find means one less home for the dogs and
cats in shelters who need good homes. Also, in less than one year�s time,
each of your pet�s offspring may have his or her own litter, adding even
more animals to the population. The problem of pet overpopulation is created
and perpetuated one litter at a time.
It�s
Good for Your Pet!
