Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. Unneutered males roam in search of a mate risking injury in traffic or fighting with other males. They also mark territory by spraying strong- smelling urine on surfices. Male dogs may embarrass you by mounting furniture and human legs when stimulated.
For four or five days, every three weeks, most female cats exhibit the following signs when in heat. They yowl and urinate more frequently- sometimes all over the house- advertising for mates. They can often attract unneutered males who spray urine around the female's home. Female dogs also attract unneutered males from great distances. Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, but can still concieve for another week or two after.
FACT:A spayed or neutered animal will live a longer, healthier life.
Neutering a male cat or dog by six months of age prevents testicular cancer, prostate disease, and hernias.
Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (a pus- filled uterus) and breast cancer; having this done before their first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
You can prevent the suffering and death of millions of animals.
One cat or dog who has babies and whose babies have babies can be responsible for the birth of 50 to 200 kittens or puppies in one year!
Almost everyone loves puppies and kittens, but some people loose interest when these animals grow up. As a result, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. Rarely surviving for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, freezing or being hit by cars.
MYTH:A female cat or dog should have a litter before she is spayed.
The sooner you spay your female, the better her health will be in the future. In fact, a female that is spayed before sexual maturity (6- 9mths of age) has one seventh the risk of an intact female of developing mammary cancer.
MYTH:Children should witness the "miracle of birth."
Countless books and videos are available to teach your children about birth in a responsible manner. Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of keeping is teaching your children irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the truth behind this dangerous myth.
(ASPCA)
