GG’s Foundation is passionate about Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. It takes place during the entire month of February, culminating in Spay Day USA on February 25th.
So, what is Spay & Neuter Awareness Month and Spay Day USA?
Spay Day USA helps decrease the population of stray dogs and cats throughout the United States. Overall, spaying/neutering helps reduce the number of unwanted animals.
This day was created by the Doris Day Animal League in 1994 to bring attention to the pet overpopulation problem in the U.S. The holiday also encourages animal population control by neutering pets.
Here are three reasons why Spaying/Neutering your pets is important:
1. Saving innocent lives
According to The Humane Society of the United States, “More than 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized annually in shelters. The euthanasia statistic is shocking, and the animals that are left homeless are not born from the “street,” but from family pets who weren’t spayed/neutered. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100 percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.”
2. Impacts on you and your furry friend
By spaying/neutering your pet, you are creating a healthier, longer life for them. A USA Today article notes that pets that live in the states with the highest rates of spaying/neutering also live the longest.
The impacts on unaltered pets are more significant than one would believe. Some of the risks include:
- Urge to roam around
- Chances of getting into fights with other animals
- Danger of getting struck by cars
- Certain Cancers
- Fatal uterine infections
- Dogs are more prone to urine-marking (lifting their leg)
- Cats have a stronger urge to spray
3. Sweet and Simple
It’s best to get your pet spayed/neutered within four months of age. Spay/neuter allow help prevent health and breeding problems down the road. Although some may think it’s expensive to spay/neuter, the costs outweigh the expenses later in life when the health and breeding problems arise.
For more information on spaying/neutering animals, take a look at some of these resources: