Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Help Your Pet, and Help Stop Pet Overpopulation!

Why spay or neuter your pet? Spaying or neutering…

Helps your pet live a longer, healthier life.

Neutering helps prevent testicular cancer in your male pets, if they have the surgery before they are six months old. Even if neutered later in life, males will be better behaved and less likely to roam away from home, increasing their odds of living a long, healthy life.

Spaying helps prevent breast cancer and uterine infections in female pets, and it keeps your female pet from going into heat. Spaying before her first heat will offer the greatest protection from these diseases.

Is cost-effective.

Caring for a litter of puppies or kittens is expensive, as are vet bills for a pet who roams, fights while away, and is injured and/or injures another dog or cat. View low-cost spay/neuter options.

Will not deprive your children.

Having a litter you can't care for long-term doesn't set a good example for your children. If you want to teach your child about the miracle or life or birth, there are lots of responsible options, including books and videos.

Will not make your pet fat.

Lake of exercise or overfeeding will make your pet fat, not spaying or neutering.

Fights pet overpopulation.

Our shelters are full of loving, deserving cats and dogs waiting today for a home — small, big, purebred, and mixed breed. Learn about pet adoption and find adoption resources.

When Should You Spay or Neuter Your Pet?

The greatest health benefits for your pet can come from spaying or neutering them at a young age — before 6 months for a male and before a female's first heat. You can confirm with your vet or spay/neuter provider that this is the right time to spay or neuter your pet.

Where Can You have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered?

Your local veterinarian can perform this routine surgery, or you can take advantage of a low-cost spay/neuter program or clinic.

What About Rabbits?

Rabbits should also be spayed or neutered. Rabbits reproduce quickly — breed like rabbits — and often are brought to shelters where they may be euthanized. Like dogs and cats, rabbits gain health and behavior benefits from being spayed or neutered.

More Information & Articles

Need help caring for your pet? Resources for tough economic times

by Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Having Trouble Affording Veterinary Care?

by The Humane Society of the United States

Wednesday, August 18, 2010