Just One Litter

Facts about Spaying and Neutering your Pet

SOMETIMES THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING…

THEN THERE’S A PROBLEM.
In the case of dogs and cats, the problem is pet overpopulation. Each year, between eight and twelve million dogs and cats, puppies, and kittens end up at animal shelters around the country. Some are lost, some are abandoned, some are unwanted, most are the result of irresponsible pet ownership. Sadly, millions of them must be euthanized because there are not enough homes for them all.

Consider these facts:
In six years, one female dog and her offspring can be the source of 67,000 puppies. In just seven years, one female cat and her young can produce 420,000 kittens. There is theoretically no limit to the number of offspring dogs and cats can produce. Every day, tens and thousands of kittens are born. Compare this to the amount of human births each day, and you can see that there can never be enough homes for all these pets.

WHAT DOES PET OVERPOPULATION HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
Just about everything. It’s hard to imagine that letting your pet have one, or even two litters causes a problem, especially if you find homes for most of your pet’s puppies or kittens. However, the fact is that “just one litter” does cause over population. In less than a year, all of the little ones in your pet’s litter could be having litters of their own. Every day, thousands of healthy puppies and kittens are euthanized; and each one of those thousands came from “just one litter”.

PET OVERPOPULATION IS A PROBLEM YOU CAN HELP SOLVE
Fortunately, there is a solution to pet over population: routine surgical procedures called spaying and neutering will sterilize your pet. Being a responsible pet owner means choosing spay or neuter surgery for your pet; it means making a choice that saves lives. Talk to your Veterinarian about spaying and neutering. Prevent a litter and be a part of the solution to the tragedy of overpopulation.

PREVENT A LITTER: IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR PET
Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives. Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat. Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle. Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

PREVENT A LITTER: IT’S GOOD FOR THE OWNER
Spaying and neutering makes pets better, more affectionate companions. Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory. Spaying a dog or cat eliminates their heat cycle. Estrus lasts an average of six to twelve days and often occurs twice a year in dogs. For cats, it lasts an average of six to seven days and occurs three or more times a year. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals. Spaying and neutering makes pets less likely to bite. Un-sterilized animals often exhibit more behavioral and temperamental problems than those who have been spayed or neutered. Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.

This information was used by OAARS with written permission from Humane Society. Please check their website www.hsus.org for more information on pet care.

OAARS advises that you contact Kadena Vet Clinic to schedule an appointment for your puppy or kitty as soon as they arrive home. Appointments can be difficult to schedule during moving season.

OAARS is accepting donations to have 15 dogs, who are presently being sheltered at Sweet Home, spayed and neutered. If you would like to contribute to make this happen, please: Contact OAARS.