There are too many photos and descriptions of shelter animals that need
homes! How can I pick just six for this week's pet page?
Chad Beatty, the publisher of Saratoga Today said, "I can't believe there are so many homeless animals!" I could only nod my head in agreement and mutter, "yes, doesn't it break your heart?" But now I must decide. I want to include them all, but that would fill page after page. So I am left each week with the difficult choice of picking only six animals to highlight. What can be done to reduce the numbers of unwanted pets? The answer is to convince pet owners to spay or neuter their animals.
There are many reasons to spay or neuter companion pets. First, it helps to reduce pet overpopulation and that will reduce the need for drastic measures like euthanasia. There are simply too many dogs and cats that need families and homes. The surplus of cats is particularly troublesome because cats are 45 times more prolific than humans. I guess the ancient Egyptians knew what they were talking about when they made the cat a fertility symbol. Dogs aren't much better, being 15 times more prolific than humans. The result is too many cats and dogs for the number of humans who can care for them. Dogs and cats do not need help from humans to reproduce, but they do need our help to control their numbers until there are good homes for all of them.
Second, sterilizing your pet can give him or her longer and healthier life. Canines that are altered live on average 1 to 3 years longer than an unaltered dog. For felines it is 3 to 5 years longer. Animals that have been spayed or neutered have a low to no risk for many types of tumors and cancers. Altered pets are less likely to roam, less likely to be hit by a car, and less likely to be injured or killed during a fight with a another animal. For example, bites or scratches from cats fighting over territory or a mate can lead to the spread of Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Third, according to Spay/USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating pet owners about the benefits of altering their pets, the capture, impoundment and eventual destruction of unwanted animals costs taxpayers and humanitarian organizations over a billion dollars a year. All this could become unnecessary if responsible pet owners have their animals spayed or neutered. So why do some people choose not to alter their pets?
There are some myths that make people hesitate. It is said that animals will get fat because they have been spayed or neutered. This is not true. Pets get fat because they are fed too much and exercised too little. Another myth is that female cats and dogs should have one litter before they are altered. This is not true either. And finally, it is a myth that sterilization will adversely affect their personalities. Again this is not true. There is no evidence to confirm any of these myths. The truth is a neutered pet makes a better pet--one that will not spray on your furniture or bleed on your carpets.
What does it cost to have a pet altered? Fees vary from one veterinarian to another, but if you are struggling economically, there are places where you can apply for help with the cost of spaying/neutering. For example, if you are on public assistance, contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Animal Population Control Program at (518) 457-3502 or visit their website at www.agmkt.state.ny.us/ai/apc.html. There are other sources for low-cost spay/neuter programs. APF Veterinarians in Scotia has a program with some financial assistance for lower income families, but they must apply for aid in advance. Call for more information at (518) 248-0355 or (518) 365-6516. The Cat Care Coalition of Albany also offers low cost sterilization for the pets of individuals with limited funds. Friends of Animals are yet another source for low cost spay/neuters. For more information, visit info@friendsofanimals.org or contact them at 1-800-321-7387. A call to your local ASPCA may give you other ideas as well.
Step up and help with the problem of pet overpopulation. Have your pets spayed or neutered because it is good for them, it is good for you and it is good for our community.
For further information on the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, call (518) 885-4113 or visit www.saratogacountyny.gov. For more information on the Friends of the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, contact Sandy Zanone at (518) 583-1080. Also, if you have questions about your pets, pet adoption or other related topics, send them to jsweet@skidmore.edu. If we do not have the answers, we will contact people who do!
There are many reasons to spay or neuter companion pets. First, it helps to reduce pet overpopulation and that will reduce the need for drastic measures like euthanasia. There are simply too many dogs and cats that need families and homes. The surplus of cats is particularly troublesome because cats are 45 times more prolific than humans. I guess the ancient Egyptians knew what they were talking about when they made the cat a fertility symbol. Dogs aren't much better, being 15 times more prolific than humans. The result is too many cats and dogs for the number of humans who can care for them. Dogs and cats do not need help from humans to reproduce, but they do need our help to control their numbers until there are good homes for all of them.
Second, sterilizing your pet can give him or her longer and healthier life. Canines that are altered live on average 1 to 3 years longer than an unaltered dog. For felines it is 3 to 5 years longer. Animals that have been spayed or neutered have a low to no risk for many types of tumors and cancers. Altered pets are less likely to roam, less likely to be hit by a car, and less likely to be injured or killed during a fight with a another animal. For example, bites or scratches from cats fighting over territory or a mate can lead to the spread of Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Third, according to Spay/USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating pet owners about the benefits of altering their pets, the capture, impoundment and eventual destruction of unwanted animals costs taxpayers and humanitarian organizations over a billion dollars a year. All this could become unnecessary if responsible pet owners have their animals spayed or neutered. So why do some people choose not to alter their pets?
There are some myths that make people hesitate. It is said that animals will get fat because they have been spayed or neutered. This is not true. Pets get fat because they are fed too much and exercised too little. Another myth is that female cats and dogs should have one litter before they are altered. This is not true either. And finally, it is a myth that sterilization will adversely affect their personalities. Again this is not true. There is no evidence to confirm any of these myths. The truth is a neutered pet makes a better pet--one that will not spray on your furniture or bleed on your carpets.
What does it cost to have a pet altered? Fees vary from one veterinarian to another, but if you are struggling economically, there are places where you can apply for help with the cost of spaying/neutering. For example, if you are on public assistance, contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Animal Population Control Program at (518) 457-3502 or visit their website at www.agmkt.state.ny.us/ai/apc.html. There are other sources for low-cost spay/neuter programs. APF Veterinarians in Scotia has a program with some financial assistance for lower income families, but they must apply for aid in advance. Call for more information at (518) 248-0355 or (518) 365-6516. The Cat Care Coalition of Albany also offers low cost sterilization for the pets of individuals with limited funds. Friends of Animals are yet another source for low cost spay/neuters. For more information, visit info@friendsofanimals.org or contact them at 1-800-321-7387. A call to your local ASPCA may give you other ideas as well.
Step up and help with the problem of pet overpopulation. Have your pets spayed or neutered because it is good for them, it is good for you and it is good for our community.
For further information on the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, call (518) 885-4113 or visit www.saratogacountyny.gov. For more information on the Friends of the Saratoga County Animal Shelter, contact Sandy Zanone at (518) 583-1080. Also, if you have questions about your pets, pet adoption or other related topics, send them to jsweet@skidmore.edu. If we do not have the answers, we will contact people who do!
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