Myths, Mistaken Notions & Excuses Used by People Who won't Spay & Neuter Their Pets
(Reprinted from The Doris Day Animal League)

We've heard just about every possible rationale for not spaying or neutering animals:

"Oh, I just couldn't do that to another guy. Besides, I want him to have a good time."

"I just couldn't take away Rover's manhood like that."

"Just one litter, for me."

"I want my children to witness the miracle of birth."

"I don't have time to deal with it."

"I don't have the money for spaying or neutering."

"I'm careful to make sure she doesn't mate when she's out."

"It's just not natural."

The Simple Truth about Spaying and Neutering
Animals don't share our sexuality. They are not motivated by sexual pleasure, but rather by an instinct to breed. Unlike humans, they don't have sex for romance, for fun, out of guilt, aggression, depression, or joy; they don't have sex because they're happy, sad, angry, high, or just plain in love. For animals, it's not that complicated or convoluted. In fact, it's quite simple: the female animal goes into estrus (heat) and the male reacts to her pheromones which triggers the instinct to breed. (Mounting or "humping," outside of actual breeding, should not be confused with sex; it's about dominance.)

Male animals are not men and don't embody the concept of "manhood," though intact male dogs do tend to be more aggressive, high strung, and hard to handle.

Altered animals of either gender make better pets. They enjoy longer, healthier lives, and are more relaxed. Unspayed females have higher incidences of mammary tumors, uterine infections, and cancer. Unneutered males, in addition to demonstrating high levels of aggression and other behavioral problems, have much higher probability of prostate cancer.

The cost of altering a dog can run from $50 to $150. If you shop around you may, no doubt, find a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in your area. Call your local SPCA and ask for a referral. If you're low on cash, ask your friends to pitch in. You'll be surprised at how responsive others will be.  Children can witness the miracle of birth in any number of ways. Videos are available at public libraries, as well as endless opportunity for engaging conversation and interaction between parents and children. There are so many other ways to educate children about the miracle of birth without enforcing a higher probability of death for more animals. Would those unthinking adults who would have their children witness the miracle of birth by allowing a litter of puppies to be born, in the same turn, have their children witness the inevitability of death by allowing their children to see the destruction of unadoptable animals who are being killed every day simply because there are too many to manage? We think not, and we don't recommend that children be privy to such heart- break. But we do think that there is something very basic that every adult and child should know:

THERE ARE MORE DOGS THAN HOMES FOR DOGS, AND BECAUSE OF THIS ABSOLUTE TRUTH, ANIMALS ARE DYING NEEDLESSLY AT THE HANDS OF HUMANS EVERY DAY. NOW, WHAT'S SO NATURAL ABOUT THAT?

Here are a few statistics on Spaying and Neutering your Pet

• "No homes for littermates" is one of the top ten reasons people relinquish their cats and dogs to shelters.²
• Over half (56%) of dog guardians and nearly two-thirds (63%) of cat guardians rank pet overpopulation as the most important pet issue.³
• The top reason both cat guardians and dog guardians give for not having their pet altered is that they simply have not bothered to do it yet.³  
• 21% of dog guardians want to breed their dog, and 13% think their dog is too young to be altered.³
• Altering doesn't adversely affect the personality of your pet. Any changes brought about by spaying/neutering are generally positive. Neutered dogs fight less and are less likely to become lost due to straying from home in search of a mate.  Spayed animals do not go into heat or need to be confined indoors to avoid pregnancy. All altered animals remain protective and loyal to their guardians.  (Doris Day Animal League)
• There is absolutely no truth to the myth that it is best to let a female pet give birth to a litter before getting her spayed.
• Early age altering of pets (6-14 weeks) has been practiced for over 25 years in North America
• Neutering the male before he is sexually mature will inhibit such territorial type behaviors like urine-marking and aggressive posturing.
• A reduction in pet overpopulation will mean a reduction in animals running loose, causing traffic hazards, quarantines, bites, fighting and yowling complaints.
• Unspayed females have higher incidences of mammary tumors, uterine infections and cancer.
• Neutered pets get along much better with each other
• Altered pets don't get fat simply as a result of sterilization, but by eating too much and exercising too little.

¹ The Humane Society of the United StatesﾗPet Overpopulation Facts (1999) ² National Council on Pet Population Study and PolicyﾗThe Top Ten Reasons for Pet Relinquishment to Shelters in the United States ³ The State of the American PetﾗA Study Among Pet Owners. Prepared by Yankelovich Partners for Ralston Purina, October 2000. ⁴ Alley Cat Allies. ⁵ Alley Cat Rescue ⁶ Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1998, Volume 1, Number 3, p. 213 ⁷ USA Today, June 23, 1998, pg. 1 ⁸ National Council on Pet Population Study and PolicyﾗShelter Statistics Survey (1997 data)

For statistics on pet overpopulation see Cold Hard Facts