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.
FACT:
You may find homes for all of your pet's litter. But each home you find means
one less home for the dogs and cats in shelters who need good homes. Also, in
less than one year's time, each of your pet's offspring may have his or her own
litter, adding even more animals to the population. The problem of pet
overpopulation is created and perpetuated one litter at a time.
