Myth or Fact?
Myths and Facts about Spaying and Neutering
MYTH: My pet will get fat and lazy.
FACT: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don't give them enough exercise.
MYTH: It's better to have one litter first.
FACT: Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. 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 for the right time for your pet's procedure.
MYTH: 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 suites 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.
MYTH: But my pet is a purebred!
FACT: So is at least one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters.
MYTH: I want my dog to be protective.
FACT: Spaying or neutering does not affect a dog's natural instincts to protect home and family. A dog's personality is formed by genetics and environment.
MYTH: I don't want my dog or cat to feel like less of a male.
FACT: Pet's don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pate's basic personality. He does not suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
MYTH: But my dog (or cat) is so special. I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her/him.
FAT: A dog or ca 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.
MYTH: 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, your veterinarian's fees, and a number of other variables. Whatever the prices, spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost compared to all the benefits. It's a bargain compared to the cost of having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and litter, especially if complications arise. SNAP can help with the cost.
MYTH: 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 homes. In less than one year, each of your pet's offspring may have his or her own litter adding even more animals to the overpopulation. The problem of overpopulation is created and perpetuated one litter at a time.