Why Spay or Neuter? THERE ARE MILLIONS of dogs put to sleep every YEAR because there are not enough homes for them. No one seems to know the exact number, but the estimates are between 4 and 7 Million per year in the United States alone. That’s right, 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 EVERY YEAR! Go to your local shelter sometime and take a look at all of the nice dogs (and cats) that are on a one way trip to death. What you see there is repeated over and over and over in your city, county, state and country. We don’t need more puppies and kitties than we have loving homes.

Frequently Asked Questions   Spaying the female dog   Will spaying my dog affect her health?   YES! And all for the better!   Spaying a female dog before her first season tremendously lowers her risk of several diseases. She will NOT get pyometria, which is a very serious uterine infection. Pyometria usually involves emergency surgery to save the dog’s life! And it is not always successful; many female dogs die every year from this disease. Her risk of mammary tumors is tremendously reduced. Her risk of having an unwanted litter of puppies is eliminated.   A spayed female does not go into “season” twice a year. A female is season MUST be confined for three weeks. It is messy and the females are usually not very comfortable. A spayed female will not have a “false pregnancy”.   Will spaying affect her personality?   Spaying the female has no effect on her personality. If she is a sweet and loving dog before the spay, she will be the same sweet loving dog after the spay. If she does not like certain things before the spay, she still won’t like them after.   Will she get fat because she is spayed?   A spayed female will get fat if you over feed and under exercise her; spaying DOES NOT make her fat!   I want to breed my dog to get back the money I paid for her.   Please don’t breed your girl in the hopes of making money! The only people who make money breeding dogs are the puppy mills! I have been breeding dogs for show for many years and I have not, nor will I ever, make a profit! Having a litter of puppies is expensive and time consuming. If you are not ready to be responsible for EVERY PUPPY you breed for THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, don’t breed!   I want my children to experience the “Miracle of Birth”   Take your children to the shelter when you drop off the litter of puppies that you had and can not find homes for. Get a tour of the kennels, cages and Euthanasia rooms, because what you are really doing is letting your children experience the “Miracle of Death”, and teaching them that life is disposable. Is that the lesson you want them to learn? Think about it.   I can’t afford to have my dog spayed   There are several programs that provide low-cost spay and neuter services if you really can not afford it. Contact the Humane Society www.HSUS.org in your area or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals www.ASPCA.org and your local Veterinarian for information on low-cost spay and neuter programs in your area.

Neutering the Male Dog   If your dog is a pet and companion and you are not showing in conformation dog shows, NEUTER YOUR DOG. Consult with your Veterinarian as to when the best time is to do this procedure. A neutered male is less likely to be dog aggressive and display marking behaviors.  He is not going to try to escape because he knows a female is in season in the area. He will not father unwanted puppies.   How will neutering affect his health?   There are several diseases that a neutered male can not get, testicular cancer being foremost. Neutering dramatically lowers the risk of prostate cancer in dogs. Both of these diseases are expensive to treat and do not always have a positive outcome.   How will neutering affect his personality?   Neutering the male dog does have effects on the personality. He will generally be less dominant. He will often be less territorial. He will generally be more accepting of other dogs. If your dog is aggressive, consult with your Veterinarian immediately! Neutering will not eliminate “bad behavior”, especially if it is an older dog. It is better to get the dog neutered early before some of the sex-linked behaviors appear. Your neutered dog will still be your friend and pet. He will have a better chance at longer, healthier life.   I can’t afford to get my dog neutered   Use the resources mentioned in the SPAY section above.   Be A Responsible Pet Owner. Spay and Neuter your Pets!

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