February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month!
Some animal lovers believe spaying/neutering is more harmful than beneficial, but SHS wants to ensure our concerned community members that these procedures not only help our pets but the entire animal community by reducing the number of animals in shelter living, unwanted pregnancies, and the spread of fetal diseases.
How to celebrate Spay and Neuter Awareness Month:
- Spay or neuter your pets
- Raise money for Spokane Humane Society
- Share this blog on your social media
- Tell your friends and family about Spokane Humane Society’s low-income clinic
- Volunteer at SHS
Reasons to Spay and Neuter Your Pets:
Avoid Overpopulation
- At its core, sterilization (spaying/neutering) prevents animals from successfully breeding and producing offspring. This serves to reduce the number of strays. –PetHelpful
- Overpopulation has monetary implications as well; the management of stray and unwanted animals is far from free. The capture, impoundment, and eventual destruction (euthanasia and disposal) of stray animals cost taxpayers and private humanitarian agencies over one billion dollars each year. –PetHelpful
Health Benefits
- Medical evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. – Pet Place
- The health of the mother can be in jeopardy during delivery and some new mothers can develop health problems during nursing. – Pet Place
- Spaying your pet can help prevent uterine infections, uterine cancer, and breast cancer. – Pet Place
- Neutering male pets can help prevent testicular cancer and prostate problems. – Pet Place
- Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. – ASPCA
Behavior Changes
- Aggression: Neutering prevents assertive or aggressive behavior, which decreases the number of fights, bites, and injuries. – Pet Place
- Urine marking: Neutering also reduces the likelihood of frequent urine marking. The urge to spray is extremely strong in an intact cat, but neutering solves most marking issues. – Pet Place
- Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. – ASPCA
- Your neutered male may be better behaved. – ASPCA
Learn more about the importance of spaying and neutering HERE.
SHS understands the cost of spay and neuter surgeries may be holding some families back from helping their companion animals.
“Cost is one of the primary barriers to spay/neuter surgery in many communities (Patronek et al., 1997; Ralston Purina, 2000; Frank, 2001).” – ASPCA
To help reduce this barrier, the Spokane Humane Society clinic offers vaccines and surgeries for low-income families only. Find more information HERE.
Spaying and neutering are in the best interest of all animals.
