Spay/Neuter Your Pet
Some people hesitate to spay or neuter their pets. They give a variety of reasons, but a single unaltered cat or dog can produce up to 16,000 descendents in just seven years.
Spay/neuter surgery also has humane benefits. It saves lives by preventing unwanted litters and homeless animals.
Spay/neuter services are provided through local veterinarians and the RC Pets Animal Care & Adoption Center. Rancho Cucamonga residents can receive assistance by calling POPCO at (877) 447–6726. POPCO offers vouchers of $50 for dogs and $25 for cats that offset spay and neuter services on a first–come, first–served basis.
It’s a myth that cats and dogs should have one litter before spaying:
Motherhood does not make for a better pet; having a litter doesn’t necessarily result in a calmer dog or cat.
Early spay/neuter surgery ensures that a dog or cat won’t reproduce and younger animals recovery more quickly, have less pain, and have fewer complications from surgery.
There are a number of compelling reasons to spay or neuter your pet:
- Even if you find homes for your pet’s litter, you are still contributing to the problem. Every home you found could have gone to a shelter animal.
- Spay/neuter surgery has health and behavior benefits. It removes reproductive organs that often cause dogs and cats to have medical problems in later life including mammary tumors, uterine cancer, complications from pregnancy, prostate problems and testicular cancer.
- Contrary to popular belief, altering does not spoil your pet’s personality. Nor does it make your pet fat and lazy.
- Altered dogs and cats are more relaxed pets, because they are not driven to mate, and they are less inclined to defend territory. They are less apt to fight with other animals. They are not as likely to roam, so there’s less chance they will get lost, injured or killed.
- Neutered dogs are less apt to urinate in the house.
- Altered cats are less inclined to spray.
