‘The only cure for euthanasia’: pet spay and neuter facts – Gadsden Times

By Benjamin NunnallyTimes Staff Writer

More than 1,400 animals arrived at animal shelters in Etowah County through June and July, raising this question: Why dont more people spay and neuter their pets?

The problem is much larger than a little humane society trying to spay and neuter pets, said Christi Brown, director of the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center, a shelter that serves Gadsden and Attalla.

The Humane Society estimates between six million and eight million animals come into shelters in the United States every year. About half that many, 2.7 million, are euthanized each year.

Etowah County Animal Shelter Director Jamie Thompson said leaving animals unaltered not spayed or neutered is a direct cause of that population boom.

People dont realize that when youve got a dog outside and the neighbor has a female dog in heat, that male dog is going to do his best to jump the fence and get to that female dog, said Thompson.

Brown said that while her shelter has hosted a program for a year that allows families to spay and neuter their pets at reduced cost, the effort has barely made a dent in the animal overpopulation problem. The reluctance to take pets in for the procedures, she said, is at least in part caused by myths surrounding spaying and neutering.

The following items address a few of those concerns:

The operation is safe

Jolie Entrekin, a licensed veterinary technician with Gadsden Animal Clinic, said spaying and neutering is a safe procedure. Theres always a risk with anesthesia, but its just about your only risk, she said. Owners of animals with major health concerns like a bad heart or seizures would want to discuss the operation with their vet first.

Long-term health benefits tend to outweigh the risks

A study by the University of California in 2013 found that spayed or neutered Golden Retrievers tended to experience higher rates of hip dysplasia and other disease risks than non-altered animals. Though particular breeds do have some particulars about when they should be treated, according to Entrekin, the health benefits over time outweigh breed-specific risks. Instances of breast cancer are reduced for female dogs, and pyometra a uterine infection that affects about one in four dogs is eliminated completely.

Dont wait for the first litter

Some pet owners believe their female animals should give birth at least once before spaying, for better health. The American Veterinary Medical Association says even waiting for the first heat cycle may not be best, let alone waiting for a litter of new animals. Theres also the issue of those new puppies or kittens to deal with, including feeding, housing and finding a home, if they cant stay with their mother.

Theres no too early in most cases

Spaying and neutering will change the hormonal balance of animals, so concerns about their development are natural, but veterinarians will be able to tell pet owners when the procedure is safe for their animals breed, sex, age, weight and other factors. Entrekin said pediatric spay and neuters are safe, with proper guidance from the experts.

Spaying and neutering dont change pet personalities

Some behaviors like aggressiveness, roaming and wandering, mounting and territory-marking are usually reduced after the operation, but personalities dont change. According to the Humane Society, animals learn more about how to act from their environment, and desirable traits, like protectiveness, are instinctive, and not gained from hormones.

It costs less than you think

Entrekin said the procedure runs between $70 and $200, depending on the clinic or shelter, with her clinic running toward the lower end of that scale in an effort to help the overpopulation issue. Its basically the only cure for euthanasia, she said. Organizations like Alabama Spay/Neuter offer help finding lower-cost procedures and finding financial aid. Visit alspay.org for more information.

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'The only cure for euthanasia': pet spay and neuter facts - Gadsden Times