Did you know that 95,935 cats and 109,139 dogs entered the doors of shelters in Virginia in 2008? And of those 205,074 reported animals, 86,669 died tragically alone in the shelter?*
There is a significant pet overpopulation problem that results in thousands of animals being euthanized (killed) every day.
Each day 10,000 humans are born in the United States, while daily, 70,000 puppies and kittens enter this world. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals. As a result, every year 4,000,000-6,000,000 animals† are euthanized because there are no homes for them.
These numbers are alarming, and you may ask yourself: how can one person help? The quick answer is: SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET!
Besides helping the overpopulation problem, altering has many additional benefits:
- Improved health.Altering your canine friend will increase his life span an average of 1 to 3 years; felines: 3 to 5 years. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometria, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers.
- Better behavior. Animals altered at an early age tend to be more submissive and have a friendlier demeanor. Male dogs/cats that are neutered are much less likely to roam, mark their territory (and your belongings) with urine, and show aggression. Intact (unneutered) animals may go to great lengths to breed: escaping yards/fences/enclosures and wandering into unsafe areas.
- Decreased expense. The capture, impoundment, and eventual destruction of unwanted animals costs taxpayers and private agencies over a billion dollars each year. If your pet does become pregnant, you will have to provide additional medical care, for her and the offspring!
There are many assumptions made regarding spaying/neutering, some true, and some false. 
- My pet will become overweight. Pets add poundage to their frames for the same reasons we do… lack of exercise and too much food. Surgical alteration has absolutely no effect on body mass fluctuations, or energy levels.
- It’s better to allow them to have one litter first, or to reach maturity. Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. A feline can have her first litter at 4-5 months of age, while a canine can do so at 5-6 months of age. For this reason, many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as young as six weeks old. Learn more about pediatric spaying/neutering.
- Altering changes my pet’s personality. The only personality changes that result from spaying or neutering are the positive changes described above—no roaming, less tendency to mark territory, and less aggression. An animal’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones. Your pet will be no less like himself than humans after a sterilization surgery (i.e. vasectomy).
- I don’t want my male cat/dog to feel less like a male. Pets don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. He won’t have an emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered. He’ll still be the same masculine creature that you knew and loved after the surgery! The same rules apply for your female critter! Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality.
- It’s a good thing for our children to see the miracle of birth. In the internet & technology age, you can easily find a video of an animal or human birth to show your children. Most pets prefer to give birth in seclusion at night, which would lessen the chances of your children being able to view the birthing process. Alternatively, you could explain that birth is a miracle of life, and that preventing the birth of some pets can save the lives of others. A trip to your local animal shelter or rescue organization will help illustrate your point.
- Surgery is complicated, painful, and my pet will have a hard time recovering! Surgery can always involve a slight risk. However, spaying/neutering surgeries are routine surgeries that many veterinarians perform everyday! The anesthetics currently used are very safe, and many doctors use equipment that monitors heart and respiratory rates during surgery to ensure that their patients are doing well throughout the procedure. Pain medicine may be given immediately after the procedure to insure that your pet is kept comfortable. Recovery for males is minimal, with females needing a little more care. Many pets aren’t aware that they’ve had anything done! The earlier in your pet’s life they are altered, the easier the surgery is on them! Thus, the medical benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered far outweigh the slight risks involved. Consult your veterinarian regarding any specific concerns you may have.
- My pet is a purebred, with papers! One out of every four pets brought into an animal shelter is a “purebred”. These animals face the same fate as a mixed breed… if they are not adopted, they are euthanized! Breeding of animals should be done for the betterment of the breed, and is best left to the experts.
- I’ll find fantastic homes for all of the puppies/kittens. That would be a great outcome for those particular furry babies. However, the shelters are filled with animals that need homes. Each home you find may mean one less for each of those pets. In addition, in less than one year’s time, each of your pet’s offspring may have offspring of their own, causing the numbers of animals in need of a home to multiply! If allowed to breed, one female dog can cause the production of 67,000 puppies within 6 years!† One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years!† That would be a lot of critters that need families!
- Spaying or Neutering surgeries are only for cats or dogs. Many homes have exotic animals, or pocket pets in their homes. Rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, rats, sugar gliders, chinchillas, hedgehogs… the list of companion animals continues! All of these species benefit from altering in the same way as your cat or dog. Don’t forget about your farm animals, as well! Behavior and health advantages are widespread!
The cost of spaying/neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of your pet, the veterinarian’s fees, and other variables. Whatever the cost, this is a bargain price for all of the benefits gained! Your pet will be less likely to develop common diseases that afflict unaltered animals as they age, so the procedure could end up saving you money! In addition, it’s small relative to the cost of having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and her babies. Most importantly, it’s a very small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention of the births of more unwanted pets.
There are also programs that provide low-cost spaying/neutering for your pets! For your convenience, we have compiled a list of local services for you. In addition, the ASPCA has created a Free Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Database. If you still need assistance with spaying/neutering, or have questions, feel free to contact us at spayneuter@artanimals.org or 757-456-1354.
*Statistics provided by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Online Animal Reporting. For complete records, please visit: http://www.virginia.gov/vdacs_ar/cgi-bin/Vdacs_search.cgi .
†Statistics provided by SpayUSA. For more information regarding their estimations, please visit: http://www.spayusa.org
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