There's a lot of misinformation about spaying and neutering, why it's so important and where you can find low-cost programs to help defer the expense.
Spaying and neutering should be considered a regular part of pet parenting and adoption.
Many shelters require your new pet to be spayed or neutered and have this done before you even pick them up.
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Spay and neuter
It's all a part of pet maintenance.
 
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However, if you acquire a pet from another source, that responsibility will probably lie with you. And while some people think the procedure is painful for the animal, that's not the case.
Animals are sedated. Today's techniques are less invasive and recovery time lasts only a few days.
You may have to go to great lengths to keep a playful pet's activity to a minimum.
Some people think it's better to let your dog or cat have one litter before having them spayed or neutered, or want their kids to experience the miracle of life.
Well, here's a thought: a pair of unneutered dogs or cats and their offspring, in just a few years, can produce thousands more potentially homeless pets. Furthermore, local libraries stock plenty of videos that show and explain in great detail the miracle of birth.
Some say, "I'll wait until they get a little older." The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends neutering your pets before they reach six months.
After having females spayed, they're less likely to develop painful mammary tumors, uterine infections and other diseases.
Neutering males before six months can help prevent testicular cancer, prostate disease and bad behaviors that become uncontrollable stop once they start.
Another excuse people give is that the procedure is expensive.
The cost of caring for a litter exceeds the cost of vet care for a new mother and all her babies, and ad placements to find homes for all the offspring.
Friends of Animals offers a low-cost program for neutering and spaying.
Call your local shelter or vet and ask if they participate in the Friends of Animals program.
Thousands of cats are euthanized or abandoned, so spaying and neutering your pets is one of the most humane things you can do for them.
