The Importance of Spaying and Neutering your Pet

This time of year, shelters and foster homes are completely overwhelmed with trying to care for dogs and cats. They literally have no more space! What does this mean? It means that over 800 dogs and cats or puppies and kittens will be euthanized every hour of every day. If you don't spay and neuter your pets, this is 100% your fault. No bones about it.

People like me who care for ferals, rescue homeless animals that are stranded or even foster animals have lives, careers, families and our own pets. We use our own time and money to help these homeless animals because if we don't, who will? For every feral cat that is walking around pregnant or every dog that goes into heat, there is an irresponsible human to blame. Not having the money is no excuse. There are spay/neuter clinics in every major city that will sterilize your pet for free. There are low-cost vet clinics everywhere.

For every person that leaves a box of kittens in front of an animal shelter or gives away a litter of puppies in front of Wal-Mart, you are contributing to the problem. If those of us in the animal welfare community could have you sterilized, believe me, we would. As irresponsible breeds irresponsible. Only 1 of every 10 dogs ever finds a loving and permanent home. Only 1 of every 12 cats ever finds a loving and permanent home. There are homeless animals everywhere and this issue is beyond out of control. Many of these animals will literally starve or freeze to death this winter. This is a sad fact that most of society chooses not to know.

If you breed animals and sell them, you are contributing to the death of shelter animals who are waiting to be adopted. So, the best thing people can do is only adopt from shelters (do NOT purchase from breeders) and please spay and neuter your pets. There is no excuse in not doing this, at least none that anyone will find acceptable. Sweet, loving and deserving animals who are waiting to be adopted are euthanized by the thousands. Their only crime was being born. If you will make it your personal policy to be responsible for your pets and educate your own friends and family on this issue, the entire animal population will benefit greatly.

Many members of society burden others because of their own lack of responsibility. No animal or person should have to suffer because of this. It all starts with you. If you are adult enough to pay taxes or buy alcohol, you should be adult enough to spay and neuter your pet.

-TE Sutton