MYTH:
My pet will get fat and lazy.
FACT:
The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because
their owners feed them too much and don't give them
enough exercise.
MYTH:
It's better to have one litter first.
FACT:
Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact,
the evidence shows that females spayed before their
first heat are typically healthier. Many veterinarians
now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks
of age. Check with your veterinarian about the appropriate
time for these procedures.
MYTH:
My children should experience the miracle of birth.
FACT:
Even if children are able to see a pet give birth—which
is unlikely, since it usually occurs at night and in
seclusion—the lesson they will really learn is
that animals can be created and discarded as it suits
adults. Instead, it should be explained to children
that the real miracle is life and that preventing the
birth of some pets can save the lives of others.
MYTH:
But my pet is a purebred.
FACT:
So is at least one out of every four pets brought to
animal shelters around the country. There are just too
many dogs and cats—mixed breed and purebred.
MYTH:
I want my dog to be protective.
FACT:
Spaying or neutering does not affect a dog's natural
instinct to protect home and family. A dog's personality
is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex
hormones.
MYTH:
I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less
of a male.
FACT:
Pets don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego.
Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality.
He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or
identity crisis when neutered.
MYTH:
But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or
kitten) just like her.
FACT:
A dog or cat may be a great pet, but that doesn't mean
her offspring will be a carbon copy. Professional animal
breeders who follow generations of bloodlines can't
guarantee they will get just what they want out of a
particular litter. A pet owner's chances are even slimmer.
In fact, an entire litter of puppies or kittens might
receive all of a pet's (and her mate's) worst characteristics.
MYTH:
It's too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.
FACT:
The cost of spaying or neutering depends on the sex,
size, and age of the pet, your veterinarian's fees,
and a number of other variables. But whatever the actual
price, spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost—a
relatively small cost when compared to all the benefits.
It's a bargain compared to the cost of having a litter
and ensuring the health of the mother and litter; two
months of pregnancy and another two months until the
litter is weaned can add up to significant veterinary
bills and food costs if complications develop. 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.
MYTH:
I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.
