Why spay & neuter?

First, obviously, to avoid any unwanted litter. There are enough animals on this planet, no need to fill the shelters. You cannot control their future, so they may end up behind bars or worse, being euthanized because nobody wants them. Some have been loved and cherished until a mishap changed their fate dramatically. Also, don’t believe your pet should be bred at least once, it’s a total misconception! Females won’t be frustrated being deprived of their motherly “instinct”, and a male’s personality won’t change if you neuter him before he could mate! And please, don’t do it as a hobby or to make ends meet. You never know what the destiny of the precious puppies you bring to this world will look like, no matter how cautiously you choose their new family. Be responsible for dog’s sake!

Second, it avoids many health issues. Infections like pyometras (uterine infections) and mammary tumors (that may lead to cancer) in females, not to mention gettig rid ot the heat cycles and the unwanted stress related to it. In males, it prevents prostate and testicular cancer. By getting rid of these hormones, cats and dogs live a longer and healthier life! And don’t be scared of the procedure, there are of course risks like any surgery, but they are rare. Make sure the vet performs a thorough exam beforehand (a blood test is a must for seniors) to make sure your pet is healthy enough to undergo an anesthesia and well, the surgery itself. Of all the fragile and senior dogs we’ve had spayed and neutered, we never had any issues. Plus, they will only get fat because of lack of exercise and bad food (we had obese dogs that were not fixed)!

Third, it reduces potential behavioral problems. Hormones play ticks on the brain of sensitive dogs, and in fact, even the most balanced ones. They may get aggressive due to the frustration of being unable to mate and get into fights (or event direct the anger toward you), try any shtick to escape and potentially have an accident while roaming the streets or get lost, mark their territory or hump your leg or anything they can reach, which can be quite embarrassing, make walks a nightmare because your female is in heat and attracts potential lovers or your male smells a lady miles away… They also have trouble concentrating and thus, will not respond to you at all. The before and after was night and day for so many dogs we welcomed that were not fixed. Some were uncontrollable, obsessed or just uneasy. After the surgery, it was finally possible for them to relax, concentrate, be much more balanced and enjoy life to the fullest.

Gurky was the worst with his deranged brain, each outing was a pain in the neck, losing his mind over anything and worried all the time. He sometimes looked mike a madman, his head spinning around and foam coming out of his mouth, possessed by some kinky demon, scaring everyone crossing our path (and giving me a stern look in passing), about to kick any butt that was on his tracks (that also included provocative objects standing on the streets, threatening strollers coming at us, deceptive dogs dressed up as rambunctious small kids, yup, told you he was losing it!)… Once he was neutered, he eventually calmed down, didn’t see as many threats on his walks and was able to listen to me (before his brain was just too distracted to say the least). Alleluia! He definitely felt much better (me too by the way) and more himself, still a little disturbed but much more manageable.

Bonnie was found in streets and once I was able to untangle the mystery (both of her muddle of furry knots and past history), I was told she had been rehomed several times, mostly because she kept escaping. Was it more because she was unspayed or because she never felt at home? Either way, she never tried to flee when she moved with us. She arrived in a poor shape, went into heat once she started to feel better, so we had to wait a little before she could get spayed. In all that time, she never showed any desire to leave the house.

Hope this all convinces you, because spaying and neutering does save lives!