Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet; Reduce Dog & Cat Overpopulation, Longer Lifespans of Pets & More

Most pet owners want to do everything in their power to ensure their beloved pet has everything it needs to live a long, healthy life. One of the things you can do to ensure this for your animal is to spay or neuter them. The month of February is National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, and the Humane Society of Forsyth County is here to talk about why it is so important to spay or neuter your pets.

Solution to Reducing Pet Overpopulation

Did you know that there are over 6 million homeless animals entering animal shelters on a yearly basis? That number is staggering. What this number tells us is that there are more pets than there are owners available to care for them. Consider this, the average family unit consists of 4 and to even make a dent every family member living in your home would need to care for at least five animals. That’s 20 animals per household for a family of 4. This number rises exponentially for each additional family member. The good news is you can be part of the solution to reducing pet overpopulation by spaying or neutering your pet. Many of the animals entering open admission animal controls end up being euthanized because there simply isn’t anyone that can care for them.

Spay or Neuter for Your Pet’s Health

When it comes to the health of their animals, pet owners want to do everything in their power to help their pets live a long, healthy life. When your pet is dealing with health issues, it can end up costing you thousands of dollars in vet bills. Studies have shown that when an animal is spayed or neutered, they will live a longer life than one that is not. Female dogs live 23% longer while male dogs live 18% longer than those animals that remain intact. Spaying and neutering has been shown to lower the risk of cancers when the reproductive organs are removed.

Spaying or Neutering Helps Solve Behavior Issues

It is very natural for dogs to want to mark their territory with their urine. While male dogs are more notorious for doing this, female dogs are known to do it as well. One of the best ways to keep this from becoming a bad habit is to have the animal spayed or neutered. This instinct is even stronger in a cat that is still intact. Your cat needs to be spayed or neutered between 4 to 6 months of age to curb this behavior before it becomes established. The longer you wait to spay and neuter your cats or dogs, the less chance the procedure will have the effect that you are looking for.

Low Cost Spaying & Neutering in Cumming, Georgia

The Humane Society of Forsyth County encourages all pet owners to have their pet spayed or neutered not only for the health of your pet, but to avoid unwanted litters. As an organization we are committed to providing low cost vaccines and spay and neuter services for pet owners in Forsyth County and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule your pre-surgical appointment and to learn more about the benefits of spaying and neutering your pet.

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