Spay and neuter: why is it important to “fix” your pet?
Spay/neuter is one of the greatest gifts you can provide your pet, your family and your community. These routine medical procedures not only reduce the number of animals who enter shelters, but they may also prevent medical and behavioral problems from developing in a cat or dog, allowing your pet to lead a longer, healthier and happier life.
Spaying or neutering is unlikely to change a pet's temperament, basic personality or levels of playfulness and general activity. However, it can reduce the incidence of some behavioral issues, especially sexual behaviors, such as mounting, howling and the urge to roam. And despite what some believe, pets show no signs of "missing" mating or breeding.
The word "spay" refers to the sterilization of female pets. The term "neuter," while more commonly used to refer to the castration of male pets, can be used to describe the sterilization of either female or male pets through the removal of reproductive organs.
Sterilization directly impacts the number of animals who are killed in our nation's shelters by reducing the number of pets entering shelters and freeing up homes for homeless pets who are already born. By getting your pet fixed, together we can Save Them All.
What Best Friends Animal Society is doing
We view spay/neuter as one of the keys to achieving our mission of ending the killing in the nation's shelters, and our work reflects that view. Here are just a few of the things Best Friends Animal Society is doing to increase the number of animals being spayed and neutered:
- Running a national marketing campaign designed to encourage people to fix their pets at four months of age. Called Fix at Four, the campaign has had celebrity support from Eric Stonestreet from "Modern Family" and Linda Hunt from "NCIS: Los Angeles."
- Operating spay/neuter clinics in L.A. and Utah that offer discounted prices. Read more about our local programs in L.A., Salt Lake City, and New York.
- Promoting trap/neuter/return (TNR) of community cats through our cat initiatives. What is TNR and why is it important? Read FAQs about TNR.
- Holding events in targeted communities to promote spaying and neutering of pit bull terriers.
- Supporting spay/neuter programming in Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Antonio, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida, via grants.
Spay/neuter to Save Them All.