Happy Spay & Neuter Awareness Month!
February is National Spay & Neuter Awareness Month, and here at HCAL, we really are happy and excited about this important initiative to build awareness on the benefits of having your pets spayed and/or neutered. In fact, we were founded on the basis of one of the biggest benefits of spaying and neutering – preventing unwanted litters. While decreasing the overwhelming number of unwanted pets in San Antonio and Hill Country areas is huge, there are several other benefits of sterilizing your furry family members. In honor of Spay & Neuter Awareness Month, we’re happy to share these important advantages for a happy and healthier pet and pet ownership experience.
Control Overpopulation & Reduce Animal Suffering
Did you know that approximately 70 million cats and dogs become homeless and struggle to survive alone on the streets across the United States every year, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)? A large portion, upwards of six million, homeless cats and dogs are eventually rescued and sheltered, but more than half end up being euthanized because there are not enough foster or adoption homes available to care for them.
Improve Pet Behavior
Spaying and neutering can also reduce or even eliminate aggressive and unwanted behavior resulting from various sex-specific hormones.
Spaying a female animal will:
- Eliminate spotting when female dogs are in heat
- Eliminate the crying when female cats are in heat
- Reduce sexual frustration and stress
Neutering a male animal will:
- Reduce or eliminate territory marking, spraying and mounting
- Reduce runaway and roaming tendencies in search of a mate
- Reduce fighting with other male dogs
- Reduce irritability and sexual frustration and stress
Raise Healthier Pets
Spaying and neutering can improve pet health and significantly reduce the potential for developing illnesses that arise from breeding, such as cancers, as well as injuries resulting from aggressive “in heat” behavior. According to the Humane Society, spaying and neutering can also extend the life of both dogs and cats, with cats potentially living more than five years longer.
Reduce Pet Care Cost
Spaying or neutering your pet can save you a lot of money by reducing pet care expenses and the cost of overall pet ownership. For starters, spay and neuter surgeries are far less expensive than caring and rehoming a litter of puppies or kittens. Surgeries can also help protect your pets from injuries and diseases that could add up to hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in veterinary bills.
This February, we invite you to join us in observing National Spay and Neuter Awareness Month by becoming educated about the benefits of the procedure and ensuring your pets reap the benefits of being spayed and/or neutered. Give us a call at (830) 249-2341 to learn more.
