Excuses, Myths, - Myths...And Facts
My pet will get fat and lazy. The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their
owners feed them too much and don't give them enough exercise.
It's better to have one litter first. 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.
I want my dog to be protective. 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.
I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male. 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.
It's too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered. The cost of spaying and
neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of the animal, your veterinarian's fees, and a
number of other variables. But whatever the actual price, spay or neuter surgery is a one-time
cost and relatively small when compared to all the benefits. It's also 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, not to mention the added financial and health costs if
complications develop. Most importantly, it's a very small price to pay for the health of your
pet and the prevention of more unwanted animals.
I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens. You may find homes for all, or at
least most, of your pet's litter. What you may not think about is that, in less than one year's
time, each and every one of your pet's litter may have produced its own litter, adding more
and more animals to the population. The problem of pet overpopulation is made and
perpetuated one litter at a time.