Pet overpopulation is a huge problem across the country. Every day there are several puppies and kittens that end up in shelters that are old strays or unwanted. Not spaying or neutering an animal can only lead to poor pet health and overcrowding. Nowhere is there a better example of this than at local animal shelters.
For example, counties across the state and across the country euthanize between three and four million animals a year, due to poor pet health or lack of foster homes. It’s amazing how quickly pets can multiply. Female dogs can have two litters a year and, on average, six to ten puppies per litter. Female cats, on the other hand, can have three litters a year and generally produce four to six kittens at a time. Conservatively, a female that produces four females only once a year and each female has four females each year for seven years, there would be more than 250,000 females. This would not take into account the total number of males produced. So after just seven years, one animal was responsible for producing over 500,000 young in total! Unfortunately, this is a conservative number considering that only one breeding population is counted for one year.
Enough of the statistics, the emphasis has been on overpopulation, now it is up to animal owners to do something about it. Now, what can we, as a community in general, do to be part of the solution? First of all, we must be responsible for pets and the health of the pets that we consider our own. Consider spaying and neutering your pets before eight months. Most females go into heat between nine months and one year of age. If you have a purebred animal or an interesting mix that you really want to breed then it is appropriate to delay spaying, however once the breeding has concluded it is best to groom your female. You are responsible for finding a home for the puppies you wish to produce. But not all the fault lies with the women. Male animals are equally guilty. Male owners are less likely to spay and neuter their animals than women. They use the excuse that they are less manly. The truth is, if they are neutered before puberty, they will never know the difference. More than 90 percent of the dog fights, car hits and gunshot wounds that veterinarians see in their offices are uncastrated men. Also, male dogs have a higher incidence of prostate problems than human males. The only way to effectively control populations is to reduce intact roaming males as well.
So in closing, let’s be responsible, let’s use your local vets to help reduce pet overpopulation and monitor your pet’s health. For people dealing with money problems, there are many wonderful programs that can help you control the animal population. There are local agencies that offer low-cost and reduced spay and neuter of animals, as well as national agencies that are here to help animal lovers. Many vets will come up with billing plans too, so there are no excuses! Have your animal spayed or neutered!